Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-04-13
a BRIDAL STORY.
THE WONDERFUL REVELATION OF
GLASS OF''wINE.


The beautiful bride grew pale, the
decisive hour had come, she pressed
her white hands together, and the
leaves of her bridal wreath trembled Oh
her pure brow; her breath came quick
er, her heart beat wilder. From hel
childhood she had been most solemnly
opposed to the use of all wines an6
liquors. Eyes, Marion, lay aside youl
scruples for this once" said the judge
in low tone, going toward his daugh
ter; 1.-The company expect it, do not sc
seriously infringe upon the rules o1
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. Harry had been 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 the woman's
opinion so soon. Pouring a brimmine
beaker, they held it with tempting
smiles toward Marion. She was very
pale, though more composed, and hel
hand shook not as smiling back she
gratefully accepted the crystal temptel
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 OBJ
ject.
"Wait,n she answered, while an in
spired light shone from her dark eyes,
"wait, and 1 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: I will paint it for you if l
can. 1t is a lonely spot; tall mountains,
crowned with verdure, rise in awful
sublimity around; a 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 beautiful, wave to the airy
motion of the birds; 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 a
manly form, but his cheek, how death
ly; his eye wild with the fitful fire OF
fever. One friend stands beside him,
nay, l should say kneels, for he is pill
| lowing Uldt pun HOebu u pun iiio VI Oeeo u
| Genius in ruins. Oh! the high, holy
looking brow! Why shonld death mark
| it, and he so young? Look how he
| throws the 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
| fathers name; see him tWine his fingers
together as he shrieks for his sister-his
only sister, the twin of his soul-weep-
| ing for him in his native land. See,"
she exclaimed, while the bridal party
| shrank back, the untasted wine trem-
bling in their faltering grasp, and the
Judge fell, overpOwered, upon his seat,
''see! his arms are lifted up to Heaven,
he prays, how wildly, for mercy Hot
fever rushes through his veins. The
! friend beside him is weeping; awe
stricken, the dark men move silently
and leave the living and. dying togeth-
er." There was hush in that prince
ly parlor, broken only by what seemed
a smothered sob, from some manly
bosom. The bride stood yet upright,
to the outward edge of her lashes.
| Her beautiful arm had lost it's ten
sion, and the glass, with its little trOu-
bled red waves, came slowly toward 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. sit is evening now; the
great white moon is coming up and her
beams lay gently on his forehead. 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 back, one convulsive shudder-
he is dead!"
A groan ran through the assembly
so vivid was her description, so un
earthly Ter look, SO inspired her man
ner, that what she described seemed
actually to have taken place then anC
there. They noticed also that the
bridegroom hid his face in his hands
and was weeping. "Deed?" she repeat
ed again, her lips quivering faster anG
faster, and her voice more and more
broken, ''and there they scoop him g
grave; and there, without a shroud
they lay him down in the damp reek
ing earth. The only son of proud
father, the only idolized brother of 6
fond sister, and he sleeps to-day in thai
distant country with no stone to marx
the spot. There he lies-my fathers
sonny own twin brother, a victim tC
this deadly poison. Father" she ex
claimed, turning suddenly, while the
tears rained down her beautiful cheeks
father, shall l drink it now?" The
form of the old judge was convulsed
with agony. He raised his head, bu1
in smothered voice he faltercd mo
no, my child, in Gods name, no."
She lifted the glittering goblet, anf
letting it suddenly fall to the floor il
was dashed into a thousand pieces
Many fearful eye watched her move
ments, and dinstantaneOusly every wine
glass was transferred to the marble ia
BILE on which it had been prepared
Then as she looked at the fragments O
crystal she turned to the company, say
ing: ''Let no friend hereafter, who love
line. tempt to peril my soul for wine
Not firmer the everlasting hills than m,
resolve, God helping me, never to toucl
or taste that terrible poison. And h
to whom l have given my hand, wh'
watched over my brothers dying form
in that same. solemn hour, and burie,
the dead wanderer there by the rive
in that land of gold, will, i trust, sustain
me in that resolve. Will you not, IN,
thusband?" His glistening eyes, his sad
| sweet smile was her answer.
The judge left the room, and whel
an hour later he returned, and with
more subdued air took part in the en-
tertainment of the bridal guests, no on
could fail to read that he too, had dc
II termined to dash the enemy at one
and forever from his princely rooms
Whose who were present at that wee
ding can never forget the impression S
,.olemnly made. Many from that hou
Ift1reswore the social glass.-Mrs. M. A
1D,,nison, in the Voice.