Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1878-09-04
THE BRIDAL WINE.CUP.

"Pledge with wine-pledge will
wine :" cried the young an(
thoughtless Harvey Wood. "Pledgc
with wine," ran through the crowd
The beautiful bride grew pale
the decisive hour had come. Sh,
pressed her white hands together
and the leaves of her bridal wreatl
trembled on her pure brow hei
breath came quicker and her heart
beat wilder.
ayes, Marion, lay aside your
scruples for once" said the Judge
in low tone, going toward hi:
daughter, "the company expect it
Do not seriously infringe upon the
rule of etiquette; in your owr
home act as you please, but il
mine, for this once, please me-
Every eye was turned toward
the bridal pair. Marion's princi'
pies were well known. Henry hac
convivialist, but of late his
friends noticed the change in his
manners, the difference in his hab'
its-and tonight they watched to
see, as they sneeringly said, if he
was tied down to woman's opin'
ion so soon. Pouring a brimine
beaker, they held it with tempting
smiles toward Marion. She was
very pale, though more composed
and her hand shook not, as smiling
back, she gracefully accepted the
cystal tempter, and raised it to hei
lips. But scarcely had she done
so, when every hand WAS arrested
Ivy her piercing exclamation o.
"Oh how terrible !"
"What is it ?" cried one and all
tbronging together, for she had
slowly carried the glass at arms
length. and was fixedly regarding
it as though it were some hideous
object.
"What," she answered, while an
inspired light shone in her dark
ewes, "wait, and l will tell you. |
see," she added, slowly, pointing
one jeweled finger at the sparkling
liquid, ga sight that beggars all
description, and yet listen-I will
paint it for You if l can. 1t is a
lovely spot tall mountains crown
ed with vurdue, rise in awful sub
Unity around; river runs
through, and bright flowers grow
to the waters edge. There is a
thick warm mist, that sun seeks
vainly to pierce. Trees. lofty and
beautiful, wave to the airy motion
of the breeze. But tbere-a
gronp of Indians gather; they fit to
and fro with something like sorrow
upon their dark brows and in
their midst lies a manly form, but
his dark cheek, how deathly, his
ewes wild with the fitful fever
One friend stands beside him
should say kneels-for see, he's
pillowing that poor head upon his
breast.
"Genius in ruins on the high,
bolylooking brow, why should
death mark it, and he is so young
Look he throws back his 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 b'
saved. Oh hear him call pitious'
" his fathers name see him twin'
his fingers together as he shriek'
for his sister-the twin of his sou
weeping for him in his distant
native land.
"See 2" she exclaimed, while th'
bridal party shrank hack, the up
tasted wine trembling in thei'
grasp. and the Judge fell, over
powered, upon his seat, "see, hi
arms are lifted to heaven ! h.
prays, how wildly, for mercya bn
fever rushes through his vains
The friend beside him is weeping
awe-stricken, the dark men move
silently away, and leave the living
and the dying together"
There was a hush in that prince
ly parlor, broken only by wha
seemed smothered sob from
some manly bosom. The bride
stood yet upright, with quiverins
lips. aud tears stealing to the ont
ward edge of her lasbes. He
beautiful arm had lost its exten
sion, and the glass, with its little
troubled red wave came slowly to
ward the range of her vision. Sh'
spoke again: every lip was mute
Her voice was low. faint, yet awfu
distinct. She still fixed her sor
rowful glance upon the wine-cup.
at is evening now; the grea
white moon is coming mp, and be
beams lay on his forehead. Ill
moves not-his eyes are set in thei
sockets--dim are their piercing
plances; In vain his friend whisp
ers he name OF father and sister