Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-05-06
FRANCES HALLIDAY'S WED
DING.

How CUPID managed to SEND stephen
Barker sfttr pe / never could find ont
but that is between themselves. and il
none OF nv business. 4 man good
enough for Elizabeth and Janet, and all
such ornaments to their sex, to lay lis
horest heart at nay foolish little feet I
own that for n DAY or two the honor AZ
most turned my head.
Then / began 10 consider. ] had loved
Norman Strong ever slice / could re
member, and Norman bad been my
friend wnen no once else said q Kind
word to NE. Tie case stood thus
was an orphan, left TO the care of an
uncle and aunt remarkable for That kind
of propriety that wins our admiration,
and awakens orr hearty desire TO get
away from it. ! had small fortune OF
S25 600: that l.. / was TO have it. If |
remained unmarried until | was thirty
FIVE. or if | married previously with my
urcle's approval.
Now uncle did not approve Of Norman.
In fact, uncle never approved OF any
one that | Liked But with Stephen
Barker disapproval was out of the ques-
ton. Stephen was the great man and
the good man Of our small town. To
have insinuated that Stephen was not
worthy Of a saint, a beauty, and an
heiress united, would have been o
heresy seriously affected my uncle's
social and commercial standing. Stephen
Barker's offer was therefore accepted,
and the next Sunday we walked to
church together.
After this public avowal of our inten-
tions, The marriage was considered in
evitable by every person but me.
must do myself the justice to state that
never regarded my engagement to
Stephen seriously; it was part of a
plan TO secure my happiness and rights.
And rs Stephen fully conceded in If,
do hot expect censure from any one
else.
1 think it was no later than the third
night after Stephen had spoken TO my
uncle that | frankly told him ] thought
I ought not to marry him. He asked
me why; and I said: "All my life long,
Stephen, I have been such a crushed,
unhappy girl. Lave been afraid to
speak, or laugh, or sing, and no one but
Norman Strong ever said kind word
to me until you came"
"And you love Norman % he asked,
bluntly.
So answered, eyes, love i'm. and
he loves me, and when lie got the posi-
ton of cashier in your bank, lie wanted
60 marry me; but uncle said we were
neither Of us to be trusted with my
S25, 0O0."
so you have S25 000?"
SO D.taa taff I,.A IT, ~
Miles can keep it until | am thirty five,
unless | marry to please him, or unless
ne is SO satisfied Of my good sense that
he voluntarily gives it up to me. He
will never do that"
Stephen wac silent for long time,
AMI then he said, little sadly: "You
are 4 good gri 10 be SO honest with me.
If your uncle could he made 10 give up
your lite fortune. do you think YOU
c0nid use i wisely ?"
q conld-with Norman to help me. -
Then we had long conversation,
which il IS no' necessary for me TO e.
! peat it viii be Understood by Whit
follows. There was no change apparent
between Stephen aud |. He behaved
exactly rs q lover of his age and char
Y GtttI Nttbu ic slhtlf ~ bchhfe. lie
selt aunt presents from his hot houses.
and lie made mo presents Of pretty
/ iewelry. tie spent tie evenings at
! Uncle Miles house, ard sometimes we
were left alone together. end sometimes
we went out for a walk Norman came
! to see rs occasionally on q Sunday
night, md my aunt said he had behaved
with more good sense than she ex.
pectcd. ] think size thought that If
married the banker, it might not be 9
bad thing for my cousin Malvina. who
was very plain, TO marry the bankers
cashier.
Everything went on with the greatest
prcpriety. | had announced my inten
ton to have an extraordinary troussea u
and this being o point on which aunt
could feel with me. the next four months
! sers pleasantly spent In shopping and