"
It was not for want of a cordial invitation to both the Oaks and Ion that
Harry was left behind; but business required his presence at home, and he
could only promise himself a week's holiday at the time of the wedding.
CHAPTER TWELFTH
"Bring flowers, fresh flowers for the bride to wear;
They were born to blush in her shining hair;
She's leaving the home of her childhood's mirth;
She hath bid farewell to her father's hearth;
Her place is now by another's side;
Bring flowers for the locks of the fair young bride."
--MRS. HEMANS.
A fair October day is waning, and as the shadows deepen and the stars
shine out here and there in the darkening sky, the grounds at the Oaks
glitter with colored lamps, swinging from the branches of the trees that
shade the long green alleys, and dependent from arches wreathed with
flowers. In doors and out everything wears a festive look; almost the
whole house is thrown open to the guests who will presently come thronging
to it from nearly every plantation for miles around.
The grand wedding has been talked of, prepared for, and looked forward to
for months past, and few, if any, favored with an invitation, will
willingly stay away.
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