Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1843-12-09
CHAPYER |.

Cold and white as the brldal blossoms
in her hair was the youthful cheek, when
glow OF love and pride should have klo-I
died into color; for Harriet Percy, though
about to become the hlde OF ou' o' i'e
most admired aud dlstIngui'hcu o. "
the country, was 100 well Convinced as
indifference to be pleased OF the prospect
She knew that with him twas mTr -
of expedlency. Tha, he vas poo-; hat
he required means to further hlsamb'uoos
views, and thai, though uniformly KIND
and respectable IN his manner whea thcy
met, he had scarcely bestowed thought
upon her mind, heart or person, during
the three weeks WEIGH interviewed between
their introduction to each other and this,
their bridal morning.
For years before that Introduction,
even from childhood, she had worshipped
his lofty genus, and admired alta distance
MS noble form. He was the idol Of her
every dream; her hero; her ideal! His
naughty bearing, has coldly intellectual
expression, which would have repealed a
less ardent and romantic heart, had for
ner an inexpressihe charm. And when,
1t party gIyen by q mutual, match ma
king friend, during the first season OF her
entrance into society, be had been intro
nuced to her, she was so agltated and con-
fused by her various emotions, that she
could only blush and reply in monosylla-
bIes to his polite attempts at convcrsa.
ton.
Poor Harriet was angry and mortified
at herself; and utterly ,unsusplclous, IN her
own guleiess truth, Of any mercenary
nercenNry motive on HE part, she was not
less amazed than delighted when, after two
or three interviews OF the same description
he formally proposed to her father Tor her
hand, and was at once accepted. EXult'
ing 10 her conquest, yet awed by his dis.
tani demeanot, she hardly knew at first,
VII ether TO be happy or the contrary; bat
loving and gentle as she was, there was a
latent spirit OF pride and lofty resolution
in her soul, which she had never dreamed
of till it was wakened by her present sits
uatlon.
With a woman's instinct she learned to
read his heart. She saw that the demon
Ambition had obscured, without obIltera-
ting, It's nobler and more tender feelings
and she trusted to time and her own truth
to conquer the one and arouse the other.
But in the mean time she would be nc
pinIng victim TO neglect. Her sweet lip
curled-her dark eyes flashed; her hIgt
spirit revolted at the thought! She would
sooner die than humble herself in his eyes
She would love him, it is true, dearly
deeply, devotedly; but it should be in tn,
silent depths of a soul he could not falhom
Not till he should own love, Ieryent a nc
devoted as her own, would she yield to the
tenderness no inspired. Not ill Their
should be unveiled to him the altar upot
which the breath Of affection Tor its IN
cense, ever burning over and around il
and the fruits and flowers of feeling anc
Of thought, It's sacrifice.
She would wed him, because her for.
tune could assist mis- efforts for the good o
his country and his own distinction. Sh,
: would have bestowed that fortune upon hin
, without her hand, but she knew his pride
TOO well to dream no would accept 1t, ant
her resolution was taken.
For his life Mr.. WIN. Earwood coulc
not have told whether his intended bird,
: had any claims TO beauty or talent. IL,
, saw that her manners were refined, hi
knew her fortune was immense, and hi
was satisfied. He needed not; he neve
dreamed of the riches of her heart anC
. mind. But while ambition and selfshnes
y blinded his eyes to her superiority, 1t wat
notso with hers. A dazzllngIy fair com
pleXion, soft wavy hair, Of the paIosl brown
: halle eyes, intensely dark aud frlnget
: with long thick lashes OF the same hue. ,
r struight Greek nose, a mouth of exquisite
beauty, 10 the expression of which sweet
ness and spirit were charmngy combine.
light and gracefully moulded form
these we're the least Of her attractions. A
J thousand nameIess graces, thousand love
y but understandable entertainments in man
ner, look and tone betrayed the soul with
ia; and yet with all this, she was so mod
est, so timid, so thoroughly feminine anc
gentle in all her ways and words, that the
: world never dreamed of calling her a
beauty, or OF making her belle. |; was
those she loued that she enchanted.
CHAPTER