The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-10-22
Prohibition Department.
by
J. b. JONES.
The BRIDAL Wine. Gun.

Wlnei ran InrouSh the Dflual party.
The beautiful bride 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.
eyes, Marion, lay aside your scru-
Piles for this once" said the Judge in a
low tone, going towards his daughter
"the company expect it, Do not so
seriously infringe upon the rules Of
etiquette. In your owl home do as
you please; but in mine, for this once, |
please me-"
Pouring a trimming cup, they held
it, with tempting smiles, toward Ma
rion. She was very pale, though
composed; and her hand shook not,
as, smiling back, she gracefully accept
ed 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 90,
how terriblep
"What is it?" cried one and all,
thronging together, for she had slow
ly carried the glass at arms length,
and was fixedly regarding it.
"Wait," she answered, while light
which seemed inspired, shone from
her dark eyes--"wait, and / will tell
you. ! see," she added slowly, point
ing one finger at the sparkling ruby
liquid, "a sight that beggars all de-
scription; and yet, listen. / will
paint it for you if I can. 1t is love-
ly spot; tall mountains crowned with
verdure rise in awful sublimity
around: river runs through, and
bright flowers grow to the waters
edge. But there a group Of Indians
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 fitful fires OF fe-
ver One friend stands before him
nay, should say, kneels; for see,
HE is PILLowING THAT POOR HEAD
upon his breast,
30, the high, holy-looking brow
Why should death mark it, and he 81
young? Look, how he throws bacl
the damp curls! See him clasp hi
hands Hear his thrilling shrieks 70
life! Mark how he clutches at tn
form of his companion, imploring t
be saved! 0, hear him call piteousl
his fathers namel See him Irvine hi
fingers together, as he shrieks for hi
sister-his only sister, the twin of HI
soul-weeping for him in his distar
native land.
"SeeW she exclaimed, while I'll
bridal party shrank back, the untas
ed wine trembling in their falterin
grasp, and the Judge fell oyerpowere
upon his seat-"seel his arms are LITE
to Heaven he prays, how wildly Il
mercy; hot fever rushes through h
veins. He moves not; his eyes a
set in their sockets; dim are the
piercing glances; in vain his frier
whispers the name of father and 81
ter-Death is there. Death, and i
soft hand, no gentle voice to scott
him. His head sinks back; one co
vulsive shudder-he is deadp
A groan ran through the assernbl
So vivid was her description, SO u
earthly her look, so inspired her ma
ner, that what she described seem
actually to have taken place then Al
there They noticed also that {
bridegroom hid his face in his hant
and was weeping.
"Deadl" she repeated again, h
lips quivering faster and faster, a
her voice more broken; 9"and the
without shroud, they lay him do,
in that damp, reeking earth, the OF
son of proud father, the idoliz
brother Of fond sister. There
lies, my fathers son, my own tN
brother a victim to this deadly poisc
Fatherl" she exclaimed, turning 81
denly, while the tears rained do,
her beautiful cheeks-"father, shall
drink it now?"
The form of the old Judge was CT
vulsed with agony. He raised !
his head, but in a smothered voice
faltered
"No, NO, MY CHILD; Mop
She lifted the glittering goblet, 6
letting it suddenly fall to the floor
was dashedin thousand pices. MI
fearful eye watched her movemt
and instantaneously every wine-gl
was transferred to the marble table
which it had been prepared Th
as she looked at the fragments of c.
tai, she turned to the company, {
ing, "Let no friend hereafter '
loves me tempt my soul for W
Not firmer are the everlasting t
my resolve, God helping me, never
touch or taste the poisonous cup.
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