The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1860-11-15
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER II.
She stood like beautiful statue by
his side. She quelled her tears--st @
hushed her heart, and spoke in accents
calm and cold as his own the vows
which were to bind them for life unto
each other. She received the congrat-
ulations of friends and acquaintances
without a sigh, a blush, sign of emo.
tion--modestly but coldy. Even Uar-
wood himself wondered at her strange
self-possession, and while he wondered
rejoiced that she had so little feeling to
troublehim with. But when her father
approached to say farewell, and led her
to the carriage, which was to bear her
far from homo, her proud resolve gave
way. She threw herself on his breast
and sobbed passonately and wildly,
like grievcd and frightened child, till
her husband, astonishcd at such q dis
play of emotion in one usually so quiet
and subdued, drew her gently away,
and seating himself beside her in the
carriage, ordered the driver toproceed.
Harriet withdrew from his arm,
pleaded fatigue, covered her face with
hcrveil, and soon succeeding in con-
qucring every outward sign Of emotion,
sat still and silent during the journey.
1t was the evening of the wedding
day. The bride had retired to dress
for dinner, and Harwood sat dreaming
before his library fire, when note was
put INTO his hand by footman. What
was his surprise at the contents!
"Yoa do not love me-and no pretence of
love which you may adopt from motives Of du-
ty or compassion will avail with me! You
had your object in proposing this union-1
had mine in accepting that proposal. BE con-
tent that those objects are gained, and let me
be your wife but IN name, l besecch you.
HARRIET HARwooD."
Harwood stared at the paper in as
tonishment at first; but he had always
looked upon Harriet as child, and he
soon began to consider this as some
childish and romantic whim, which re-
quired his indulgence.
Amused, perplexcd, and, if tho truth
must be told, little piqued withal, he
hastily wrote on a slip ofpapor-"Be it
sol" and folding it, laid it on the table
by the side of her plate.
Harriet blushcd as sho entered, but
took her seat quietly and silently. She
glanced at the paper, and with a trem-
bling hand 9nfolded it. Her cheek and
eye kindled rs she read, and her pretty
lip quvored fora moment. The next
she put tho billet by, and proceeded,
with calm and graceful selt-possession,
to the duties of the table. And Mr.
Harwood thinking to himself, for the
first time, that his wife was a remarka-
bly, pretty woman, dismissed tho sub
ject from his mind, and discussed his
dinner with great govt, and the political
topics of the day with still greater.
Fair reader! you will say that Mr.
William Harwood was most unfeel-
ing person. But that was by no means
the case. He had been, from child
hood, so devoted to intellectual pursuits,
that he had never. found time even to
think OF love. Had his good angel but
whispered to hm, at that moment, that
his beautiful us us loved him as her
life, and that her full heart was waiting
and expecting his love in return, he
weuld have given it as in honor bound
and have wondered that he never
thought of it before; but the trouble
was, he didn't happen to think anything
about it; and |, for one, cannot find it
in my heart to scold him, for if he had
thought; | should have had no story to
tell.