Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-03-29
A BRIDES VISION.
Temperance Telegram.

"Pledge with wine-pledge with
wine !" cried the yOunga and thought
less Harry Wood. "Pledge with
wine," ran through the brilliant
crowd.
The beautiful bride grew pale
the decisive hour had cOme-she
pressed her white hands together,
and the leaves of her bridal wreath
trembled on her pure brow; her
breath came quicker, her heart
beat wilder. From her childhood
she had been most solemnly OPP
posed TO the use of all wines and
liquors.
scruples for this once" said the
Judge in low tone, going towards
his daughter, "the company expect
il: do not so seriously infringe
upon the rules of etiquette-in
your own house act as you please (;
but in mine, for this once, please
me-"
Every eye was turned toward the
bridal pair. Marion's principles
were we'll known. Henry had been
a. convivialist, but Of late his
friends noticed the change in his
manners, the difference In his habits
and tonight they watched him to
see, as they sneeringly said, II he
was tied down do a woman's opin-
ion so soon.
Pouring out a brimming beaker,
as 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 crystal
tempter and raised it to her lips.
But scarcely had she done so when
every hand was arrested by her
piercing exclamation of "Oh, how
terrible!' What is it ?" cried one
and all, thronging together, for she
had slowly carried the glass at arms
length and was fixedly regarding it
as though it were some hideous
object. "Wait," she answered,
while an inspired light shOne from
her dark eyes: "wait, and L will
tell YOU, see," she added, slowly
pointing one jeweled finger at the
sparkling ruby liquid, "a sight that
beggars all description; and yet lis
ten; 1 will paint it for you if | can.
1t is lonely spot, tall mountains,
crowned with verdure, raise in aw-
full sublimity around; river runs
through, and bright flowers grow to
the waters edge. There IS thick
warm mist that the sun seeks vain
ly to pierce trees, lofty and beauti-
full, wave to the airy motion OF the
birds; but there, group 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 cheek how
desthly; his eye wild with the fitful
fire of fever. One friend stands be-
side him, nay, should say kneels,
for he is pillowing that poor head
upon his breast.
"Genius i'm ruins. Obi the high,
holy looking brow! Why should
death mark it, and he 80 young.
Look how he throws aside 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 be saved.
Oh hear him call piteOusly his fa-
theirs name, see him twine his fin
gers together as he shrieks for his
sister-hls only sister-the twin OF
his weeping for him in his
distant native land.
"See I" she exclaimed, while the
bridal party shrank back, the un-
tasted wine trembling in their falter-
ing grasp, and the Judge fell, over
powered, upon his seat; "see! his
arms are lifted to Heavan; he eprays
how wildly, for mercy; hot fever
now rushes trough his veins. The
friend beside him is weeping awe
stricken, the dark men move silent
ly and leave the living and dying
together"
There was hush in that princely
parlor, broken only by what seemed
q smothered sob, from some manly
bosom. The bride stood yet up
right, with quivering lips, and tears
stealing to the outward edge of her
lashes. Her beautiful arm had lost
its tension, and the glass, with its
little troubled red waves, came
slowly towards the range OF her
vision. She spoke again; every
ZIP "do 1ACL WIZ
faint vet awfuIIy distinct; she still
.iNea . .,e. soIio " .ssa s. s glance Spoa the
wine cup.
at is evening now; the great
white moon is coming up, and her
beams lay gently upon his fore
head. 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
backl one conyulsive shudder! he
is dead :"
A groan ran through the assem-
bly,, so vivid was her description,
so uuearthly her look, so inspired
her manner, that what she describ-
ed seemed actually to have taken
place then and there. They mo-
ticed also that the bridegroom hid
his face in his hands and was weep
Mig.
SDead I" she repeated again, her