The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-02-23
PLEDGED WITH WINE.

winer cried the young and thoughtless
Harry Wood. "Pledge with wine, }"
ran through the brilliant crowd.
The beautiful bride grew palette
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 solemn
ly opposed to the use of all wines and
liquors.
"Yes, Marion, lay aside your scruples
for this once said the Judge, in low
tone, going towards his daughter, 1.-THE
company expect it, 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 towards the
bridal pair. Marion's principles were
well known. Henry had been a con-
vivialist. but of late his friends noticed
the change in his manners, the differ
ence in his habits-and tonight they
watched him to see, as they sneeringly
said, if he was tied down to q woman 5
opinion so soon.
Pouring out trimming 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 gratefully ac-
cepted 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 ter
rible!" ''What is it?" cried one and
all, thronging together, for she had
slowly carried the glass at arm length
and was fiXedly regarding it as though
it were some hideous object. "Wait, y
she answered, while an inspired light
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 sight that
beggars all description; and yet listen
will paint it for you if l can 1t is q
lonely spot, tall mountains, crowned
with verdure, rise in awful sublimity
around; river runs through, and bright
flowers grow to the waters edge. There
is thick warm mist that the sun seeks
vainly TO pierce; trees, lofty and beau
tiful. wave to the airy motion of the
birds; but there, a group of indians
gather; they fit to and fro with some
thing like sorrow upon their dark brow
ard in their midst lies manly form,
but his cheek how deathly; his eye wild
with the titful fire of fever One friend
stands beside him, nay, 1 should say,
kneels, for he is. pillowing that poor
| head upon his breast.
SsCnpi,,c in ,.,inS bo1,
looking brow! Why should death
mark it, and he so young9 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, implor.
ing to be saved. Oh! hear him call
piteously his fathers name, see him
Irvine his fingers together as he shriekS
for his sister-his only sister-the twin
of his soul-weeping for him in his dis.
tant native land.
''See." she exclaimed, while the
bridal party shrank back, the untasteC
wine trembling in their faltering grasp
and the Judge fell, overpowered, upor
his seat; ''see! his arms are lifted tc
Heaven; he prays, how wildly, fol
| mercy; hot fever now rushes through
his veins. The friend beside him i:
| weeping; awe-stricken, the dark mer
move silently and leave the living anG
| dying together"
There was hush in that princely
| parlor, broken only by what seemed 9
smothcred sob, from some manly
bosom. The bride stood yet upright
with quivering lip, and tears stealing tc
the outward edge Of her lashes. Hel
beautiful arm had lost its tension, and
the glass, with its little troubled rec
waves, came slowly 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.
1T 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 sockets
dim are, their piercing chances; 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 deadn'
A groan ran through the assembly
so vivid was her description, so unearth.
| ly her look, so inspired her manner,
| that what she described seemed actual.
ly to have taken place then and there
They noticed also that the bridegroom
hid his face in his hands and was weep.
ing.
Dead" she repeated again, hei
lips quivering faster and faster and hen
voice more and more broken; "and
there they scoop him agrave and there,
without a shroud, they lay him down
in the damp, reeking earth. The only
son OF proud father the only idolized
brother OF fond sister. And he sleeps
to day in that distant country, with nc
stone to mark the spot. There he lies
r. my fathers sonny own twin broth
er! victim to this deadly poison