Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-12-09
CHAPTER III.

nuSHeu neT DcdTt anu sDOkc III dSCChio
calm and cold as his own the vows
which were TO bind them for life to
each other. She received the congrat
ulations of friends and acquaintsnces
without sigh, blush, a sign Of emo
tion-modestly but coldly. Even
HARDWOOD himself wondered at her
strange sel:-possession, and while he
wondered rejoiced that she had so lit
tie feeling to trouble him with. But
when her father approached 10 lead her
to the carriage that was TO bear her FAR
from home, her proud resolyegsve way!
She threw herself on his breast and
sobbed passionaieIy and wildly, like
grieved and frightened child, ill her
husband, sstonished at such display
of emotion in one usually so quiet and
subdued, drew her gently away, and
seating himself beside her in the car
riage, ordered the driver to proceed.
Harriet withdrew from his arm
pleaded fatigue, covered her face with
her veil, and soon succeeding in con-
quering every outward sign OF emotion,
sat still during the journey.
1t was the evening of the wedding
day. The bride had retired to dress
for dinner, ana HARDWOOD sat dreaming
before his library fire, when note was
put into his hand by footman. What
was his surprise at the contents!
"You do not love me!-and no pre-
tence Of love which you may adopt
from motives Of duty or compassion
will avail me. You had your obi ect in
proposing this union--l had mine in
accepting that proposal. BE content
that those objects are gained, and let
me be your wife but in name, beseech
you. HARRIET HARDWOOD"
Harwood stared at the paper in as
constituent at first; but he had always
looked upon Harriet as child, and he
SOON began 10 consider this as some
childish and romantic within which re-
quired his indulgence.
Amused, perpIexed, and, if the truth
must be told, little piqued wi,hal, he
hastily wrote on a slip of paper" Be
it SOL" and folding it, laid it on the
table by the side of her plate.
Harriet blushed as she entered, but
took her seat quietly and silently. She
glanced at the paper, and with irem-
bling hand unlolded it. Her cheek
and eye kindled as she read, and her
pretty lip quivered for moment. The
next she put the billet by, and pro-
ceeded, with calm aud graceful self
possession. to the duties of the table.
And Mr.. HARDWOOD thinking to himself,
for the first time, that his wife was a
remarkable pretty woman, dismissed
the subject from his mind. and discus
sed his dinner with grea, zes,, and the
political topics Of the day with still
greater.
Fair reader! you will say that MIR.
William HARDWOOD was a most unfeei-
ing person. But that was by no means
the case. He had been, from child
hood, so devoted TO intellectual pursuits
thar he had never found time even Ia
think Of love. Had his good angel
but whispered to him, a, tha, moment.
that his beautiful uis a pis loved him
as her life, and that her full heart was
waiting and expecting his love in re-
turn, he would have gwen II as in hon
or bound. ana have wondered tina, he
he never thought OF II before: but the
trouble was, he did nj happen to think
any thing about il; and |. for one, can
not find it in my heart TO sculd him for
If he had thought | should have ha d
no story to tell.