The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1884-04-10

= pressed her white hands togethe
and the leaves of her bridal wreat
trembled on her pure brow; ht
breath came quicker, her hea
y beat wilder. From her childhoo
she had been most solemnly oppo
ed to the use of all wines and
quors.
"Yes, Marion, lay aside you
, scruples for this once" said tn
judge in low tone, going toward
his daughter, "the company expec
it; do not so seriously infringe up
on the rules of etiquette-in you
own house act as you please; but il
mine, tor this once, please me-"
Every eye was turned toward tn,
bridal pair. Marion's principles
were well known. Henry had beer
convivialist, but of late his friend:
noticed the change in his manners
the difference in his habits-and
tonight they watched him to see
as they sneeringly said, if he was
tied down do wOman's opinion so
soon.
Pouring out a brimming 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 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 fxedly 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, ga sight that
beggars all description; and yet lis
ten; 1 will paint it for you if 1 can.
1t is lonely spot, tall mountains,
crowned with verdure, raise in aw-
full sublimity around; a river runs
through, and bright flowers grow to
the waters edge. There is a 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
deathly; his eyes wild with the fitful
fire of fever. One friend stands be-
side him, nay, 1 should Isay kneels,
for he is pillowing that poor head
upon his breast.
"Genius in ruins. Oh! the high,
holy looking brow! Why should
death mark it, and he so 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-his only sister-the twin of
his soul-weeping for him in his
distant native land.
"See!' 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 Heaven; he prays
how wildly, for mercy; hot fever
now rushes through 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
a 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
it's tension, and the glass, with its
little troubled red waves came, slow
ly towards 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.
at is evening now; the great
white moon is coming up, and her
beams lay gently upon his forehead.
He moves not, his eyes are set in
their socket; 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 convulsive shudder he is deadp
A groan ran through the assem-
bly,, so vivid was her description,
so unearthly her look, so inspired
her manner, that what she describ
ed seemed actually to have taken
place then and there. They MOTTO
ed also that the bridegroom hid his
face in his hands and was weeping.
"Oeadr' she repeated again, her
lips quivering faster and faster, and
her voice more and more broken
sand there they scooped him a
grave; and there, without a shroud,
they lay him down in the damp,
reeking earth. The only son of a
proud father, the only idolized
brother of a fond sister. And he
sleeps to-day in the distant country,
with no stone to mark the spot.
There he lies-my fathers SONNY
own twin brother! a victim to this
deadly poison. Father" she ex-
claimed, turning suddenly around,
while the tears rained down he1
beautiful cheeks, "father, shall ]
drink it now?"
The form of the old judge was
convulsed with agony. He raised
his head, hat in a smothered voice
he faltered: mo, no, my child, il
Gods name, no."
She lifted the olitteriup goblet