The Red Cloud chief., 1882-06-08

was safely and amicably effected. and
Stamford Hall and estate were firmly
and surely made over to Frances Hall
day. spinster. for her and her heirs for
ever. ruust state here that I opposed
as strongly as thought right stephen $
gift of $4,000. and his s~ubsequen,
outlay OF $1,000 on furniture, but both
uncle and aunt said that the settlement,
was small enough for a man of rs
means, and that il would be affectation
to oppose it. And really Stephen man.
aged the whole affair with such fa;herly
kindness and thoughtfulness that | could
not bear 10 oppose him.
At length the wedding day drew near.
IL had been arranged for Wednesday
morning. and we were 10 leave for New
York Immediately after the ceremony.
Cousin jose. who had prepared himself
To look down on all the world from the
pulpit. was To perform the ceremony.
This showed in Jose q very Christian
spirit, seeing that he had once looked
on me and my $4,000 with affection,
and L had not appreciated the honor.
However, he forgave me at this inter
esting epoch, and came bcnignly to blesi
my venture. He brough. me a. n pres
ent a black onyx seal ring, on which was
set a cross in secd-pearls- He had Of
fcred me it oncc before. with hi. afec-
tons and his manse. and had her To-
fused IL. took il this time.
II helped 10 swell the list Of my pres
cnts. and they certainly made a goodly
show. First there was the Stamford
estate from my father and Stephen
Barker, and the settled bills FOR sl.0j1
worth Of new furniture which Stephen
had sent 10 make the old rooms pretty
and comfortable. Uncle gave me a sci
OF silver. and aunt some fine china,
both Of which gifts ] took are to send
TO Stamford before my wedding day.
Ny cousins and aunts and friends gave
me. all sorts Of jewelry and pretty per
sonal knick-knacks. and these ! care
fully packed in the half-dozen trunks
which were already cord d and direct
ell two days before the marriage day.
For Stephen had proposed to send nj
my trunks TO our New York hotel two
DAYS before we left. in order that W,
might have no concern about them, IN,
that | might be surc TO have nil
wanted on my arrival. / opposed thi
plan ut first, but aunt said lit wa.
eminenily proper and thoughtful" 81
all my wardrobe except my wedding
dress and a travelling suit arrived at th'
Fifth Avenue Hotel. New York. on I'll,
last day Of my maiden life.
Norman Strong called that night
and was in remarkably high spirits. III,
wished mo every happiness. and wa
very attentive 10 Malyina. Aun'
thought his behavior charming-so IN
se!fish-and l was also very well salts
fled with it.
81 shall call you about eight o'clock,
Frances" said my aunt. Is | babe hei
goodnight; "the hair-dresser comes a
half-past eight"
sojd: VERY well, aunt" and went
my r"'-Tta first thing did wa
compass rs possible. and then put on ny
travelling costume. This done. | sa
down in the dark. About one o'clock
heard the signal watched for. i wen
. softly down stairs. unlocked the bach
| door, and walked oft. Norman wa
there. We did not speak until we Were
outside the grounds. There n buggy
{ waited, and we drove rapidly 10 n ma;s
line about three miles of. Here ",
/ caught the two O'Clock express, anC
were safe i'm New York and very re-
specially married by ten o'clock. Nj,
trunks, which had arrived the day be
T fore, were then redirectcd for Washing
/, ton. and after a delicious little wedding
brcakfast-all by ~oursclyes-we left fol-
1 that city.
!, In the meantime there was trouble
/ enough in Milford. Our flight was not
1 discovered till near eight o'clock, and
= then Uncle Miles sent word at once &
| Stephen Barker. who secluded himsel
for that day entirely. Ny unit ant
+. Cousins chagrin and disappointment
, were very great; in fact, when | consid
cred the amount of coincidence and Cos
sip they would have to endure. | fcu
that for al the Sights and scorns of IN,
[ un'oved cirlhood | could cry quits Ant
l had got my fortune also. and NormaI
, and l were SD completely happy! w
1 had not a care. for Stephen had givei
1 him a $500 bill and n months holiday
{ and told us to get all the pleasure W
could out of il. We obcyed him In
1 plicitly.
During that month things settled dow
a little. did not expect TO be forgive
| all at once. and l was not; but then
/, was in a position not to worry particuls
T.. ly about it. We returned very quietly
after dark n night, very much lk,
{ two children who have played truant a.
l day. and creep home ut ~night-fall wit
rs little ostentation as possible.
, But at Stamford Hall everything hat
been prepared for my comfort. Tn
fires were blazing. the gas lighted, and
an excellent supper waiting. The mex,
morning Norman went back to his desk
and Stephen took n more notice of hi,
return than il he had never leftit. Peop,t
who had been specializing about b.,
position knew in five minutes that then
. would be no change. And every one
took his tone from Stephen. We wer,
5 treated very much like two children
{ who had been forgiven. and whose fault
was not TO be thrown up 10 them.
;, That was the way the men took II,
l and Norman pretended to be satisfied.
: The women acted with a great deal more
l intelligence. They all came to see NE.
and though l did not give them al
u credit for the kindeSt of motives. | made
A., them all welcome. | told them abou,
my wedding trip. and showed them N s
: new things. and l dare say the men
; talked everything over with them after.
. ward.
: But what most puzzled everybody was
= that Stephen Barker came so often "a
see us, and was so friendly with Nor.
. man. Some thought it very mean-spir.
!, tied in him. and others remembered
. that when he was very young he hsd
: loved my mother dearly. Even these
. who spoke kindly of him did not give
: him credit for half the noble unselfish.
. ness he had shown: for he would no,
!; let me tell any one that il was he hin.
u self who had planned everything abou,
: my property and my wedding.
!. Just let them say You Tilted ne,
= Frances. if they please to do so. We
: know better. and we will keep On,
secret until Uncle Miles comes round
!. Aunt and uncle both came rom