Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-12-09
From Graham's Magazine.
THE WIFE.
sr ass. .. .. osoooD, AUTHOR OF "THE cAs8ET
OF FATE, Erc.

hh P't'i"nn h'HbbTs 'i'tSFDitH '"hNt
To those that seek them issue forth;
Fot Love, in sequel, works with Fate,
And draws the veil from hidden worth"
CHAPTER L.
Cold and white as the bridal bios
SONS in her hair was the youthful
cheek, which glow Of love and pride
should have kindled into coior--for
Harric, Percy, though about to become
the bride Of the most admired and dis
tingushed man in the country was too
well convinced of his indifference to
be happy in the prospect. She knew
that with him it was a marriage of ex-
pediency. That he was poor-that he
required means to further his ambitious
views, and that, though uniformly kind
and respectful in his manner when they
met, he had scarcely bestowed tho't
upon her mind, heart or person, during
the three weeks which interviewed be-
tween their introduction TO each other
and this their bridal morning.
For years before that introduction,
even from childhood, she had worship
ped his lofty genius, and admired at a
distance his noble form. lie was the
idol of her every dream her hero
her ideal! His naughty bearing, his
coldly intellectual expression, which
would have repealed less ardent and
romantic heart, had for her an mex
pressible charm. And when, at q par
ty gwen by mutual, matchmaking
friend, during the first season Of her
entrance into society, he had been in
troduced to her, she was so agitated and
confused by her various emotions, that
she could only reply in monos"lIabes
to his polite attempts at conversation.
Poor Harriet was angry and morii-
fled at herself; and utterly uhsuspi
cious, in her own guileless truth, of any
meTcenary motive on his part, she was
no, less amazed than delighted when,
after two or three interviews of the
same d, scrip,ion, he formally propo-
sed 10 her father for her hand, and was
at oncesccepted. Exulting in her con-
quest, yet awed by his distant demean-
or, she hardly knew al first whether to
be happy or the contrary; but loving
aud gentle as she was, there was a latent
spirit Of pride and lofty resolution in
her soul, which she had never dreamed
Of till il was awakened by her present
situation.
With a woman's instinct, she learn
ed TO read his heart. She saw that the
de non Ambition had obscured, with
out obli,erating, its nobler and more
tender feelings, and she trusted to time
and her own turih to conquer the one
aud arouse the other.
But in the mean time she would be
no pining victim to neglect. Her
sweet hp curied-her dark eyes fash
ed-hcr high spirit revolted at the
thought! She would sooner die than
humble herself in his eyes! She wo'd
love him II is true, dearly, deeply, de-
vo,edly; hut i, should be in the silent
depths Of soul he could not falhom.
Not till he should own love, fervent
and devoted rs her own, would she
yield To the tenderness he inspired -
Not I'LL then should be unveiled TO him
the altar on which his image dwelt en-
shrined like a deity Of cid, with the
breath Of affection for its incense, ever
burning over and around il, and the
fruits and flowers of feeling and thought
its sacrifice.
She would wed him because her for
tune could assist his efforts for the good
of his country and his own distinction.
She would have bestowed that fortune
upon him without her hand, but she
knew his pride too well 10 dream that
he would accept it, and her resolution
was taken.
For his life Mr.. William HARDWOOD
could not have told whether his intend
ed bride had any claims TO beauty or
TO talent. He saw that her manners
were refined, he knew that her fortune
was immense and he was satisfied. He u
needed not-he never dreamed of the
riches OF her heart and mind. But
while ambition and selfiShness blinded
his eyes TO her superiority IL was not
so with others. A dszzlinsly fair COM
plexlon, soft. yayy hair al th,, p,las,I