Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-04-26
THEDRIDAL CUP.

wine, cried the young and thought
less Harvey Wood; pledge with
wine, ran through the bridal party
| The beautiful Mide grew pale--the
decisive hour had come. She pressed
her white hands together and the
leaves of the bridal wreath trembled
on her brow her breath came quick
er, and her heart beat wilder
Yes, Marion, lay aside your scru-
pies for this once" said the judge, in
a low tone, going toward his daughter;
"the company expect it. Do not seri-
ously infringe upon the rules of eti-
quite in your own home do as you
please, but in mine, for this once please
me-"
Every eye was turned toward the
bridal party. Marion's principles
were we'll known. Harvey had been a
convivialist, but of late his friends no.
ticed the change in his manners, the
difference in his habits and tonight
they watched him to see, as they sneer-
iDgly said, if he was tied down to a
woman's opinion so soon.
Pouring brimming cup, they held
itwith tempting smiles toward Marion.
She was very pale, though more COM
posed; and her hand shook not, as
smiling back, she gracefully accepted
the crystal tempter, and raised it to her
lips. But scarcely had she done so
when every hand was arrested by her
piercing exclamation of a o. how ter
rible ?''
WHAT'S it?' cried one and all,
thronging together, for she had slowly
carried the glass at arms length, and
was fxedly regarding it as though it
were some hideous object.
Wait, y" she answered, while a
light, which seemed inspired, shone
from her dark eyes wait, and / will
tell you. l see," she added, slowly
pointing one jeweled finger at the
sparkling ruby liquid, "a sigh that beg
gars all description; and yet listen
will paint it for you if | can. 1t is a
lovely spot; mountains crowned with
verdure rise in awful sublimity around;
river runs through and bright flow
ers grow to the waters edge. There is
thick warm mist, that the sun seeks
vainly to pierce. Trees, lofty and
beautiful, wave to the airy motion of
the birds; but there-a group of Indi-
ans gather; they fit to and fro, with
something like sorrow upon their dark
brows. And in their midst lies man
ly form-but his cheek, how deathly;
his eyes, wild with the fifful fire of fe-
yer. One friend stands behind him
nay, / should say kneels, for see, he is
pillowing that poor head upon his
breast.
Genius in ruins-O the high, holy
looking browl why should death mark
it, and he SO young? Look how he
throws back the damp curls see
him clasp his hands, hear his
thrilling shrieks for life mark
how he clutches at the form of
his companion, imploring to be saved.
D hear him call piteously his fathers
name-see him twine his fingers to-
gether as he shrieks for his sister his
only sister-the twin of his soul weep
ing for him in his distant native land
'Seel" she exclaimed, while the
bridal party shrank back, the untasted
wine trembling in their taltering
grasp, and the judge fell, overpowered,
upon his seat" see his arms are lift
ed to heaven-he prays, how wildly for
mercy! Hot fever rushes through his
veins The friend beside him is
weeping; awe-strieken, the dark men
move silently away, and leave the liv-
ing and the dying together.
There was a hush in that princely
parlor, broken only by what seemed
smothered sob from some manly bosom.
The bride stood yet upright, with quiv-
ering lip, and tears stealing to the out
ward edge of her lashed. Her beau
tiful arm had lost its tension, and the
glass, with its little troubled red waves,
came slowly toward the range of her
vision. She spoke again every lip
was mute. Her voice was low, faint,
yet awfully distinct; she still fixed her
sorrOwful glance upon the wine cup.
1T is evening now; the great white
moon is coming up, and her beams lie
gently on his forehead. He moves not;
his eyes are set in their sockets; dim
are their piercing glances; in vain his
friend whispers the name of father
and sister-death is there. Death
and no soft hand, no gentle voice to
bless and soothe him. His head sinks
back One convulsiye shudder-he is
dead ~
A groan ran through the assembly.
So vivid was her description, so un-
earthly her look, so inspired her man
ner, that what she described seemed
actually to have taken place then and
there. They noticed also that the
bridegroom laid his face in his hands
and was weeping.
Dead" she repeated again, her
lips quivering faster and faster, and
more broken; and there they scoop
him in a grave, and there, without a
shroud, they lay him in that damp
reeking earth; the only sen of
a proud father, the onlyidolized broth
er of a fond sister. And he sleeps
to-day in that distant country. with no
stone to mark the spot. There he
lies-my fathers SONNY cwn twin
brother ! victim to this deadly poison.
" Father" she exclaimed, turning sud
denly, while the tears rained down her
beautiful cheeks, l" father, shall l
drink it now?"
The form of the old Judge was con-
vulsed with agony. He raised not his
head, but in smothered voice he falt-
cred: No no, my child-no? "
She lifted the glittering goblet, and let
it suddenly fall to the floor it was dash
ed in thousand pieces Many a tear
full eye watched her movement, and
instantaneously every glass was trans
ferred to the marble table on which it
had been prepared. Then, as she !
looked at the fragments of crystal, she !
turned to the company saying: Let |
no friend hereafter, who loves me,
tempt me to peril my soul for wine
Not firmer are the everlasting hills
than my resolve, God, helping me,
never to touch or taste the poison cup |
And he to whom | have given my
hand-who watched over my brothers
dying form in that last solemn hour,
and buried the dear wanderer by the
river, in that land of gold, will trust,
sustain me in that resolve. Will you
not, my husband?"
His glistening eyes, his sad, sweet
smile was her answer. The judge left
the room, and when, an hour after, he
turned, and with more subdued man
ner took part in the entertainment of
the bridal guests, no one could fail to
read that he, too, had determined to
Danish the enemy at once and forever
from his princely home.
Those who were present at that we'd
ding can never forget the impressions
so solemnly made. Many from that
L IL IL