Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-05-12
FRANCES HALLIDAY's WEDDING

hOW Cuplu managed 10 Senu Stepnen
Barker after me never could find out;
but that is between themselves, and is
none of my business. A man good
enough for Elizabeth and Janet, and all
such ornaments to their sex, to lay his
honest heart at my foolish little feet! i
own that for day or two the honor al
most turned my head,
Then / began to consider had
loved Norman Strong ever since | could
remember, and Norman had been my
friend when no one else said II kind
word TO me. The 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 our hearty desire to get
away from it. l had small fortune of
twenty-five thousand dollars; that is, /
was to have it, if remained unmarried
until l was thirty-five, or if l married
previously with my uncle's approval.
Now uncle did not approve of Nor
man. In fact, uncle never approved of
any one that l 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 insinuate9 that Stephen was not
worthy of :. saint, n beauty, and an
heiress uni ed, would have been here
sy seriOusl, affecting 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
!eyitable by every person but me.
must do myself the justice to state that
never regarded my engagement to
Stephen seriously; it was part of plan
to secure my happiness and rights. And
as Stephen fully coincided in it, do not
expect censure from any one else.
think it was no later than the third
night after Stephen had spoken to my
uncle that frankly told him thought
ought not to marry him. He asked
me why; and / said: All my life long,
Stephen, / have been such crushed,
unhappy girl. l have been afraid to
speak, or laugh. or sing, and no one but
Norman Strong ever said kind word
4 to me until you came.'
4a .'And you love NormanP" he asked,
bluntly.
So answered: Yes, love him, and
he loves me, and when he got the
position of Cashier in your bank, he
wanted to marry me; but uncle said we
were neither of us to be trusted with
my $25,
$50 you have $4,000"
Papa left me that much; but Uncle
Miles can keep it until am thirty-five,
unless marry to please him, or unless
h3. 10 5aficfal nf frpnI hot
he voluntarily gives it to me. He will
never do that
Stephen was silent long time, and
then he said, a little sadly: "You are
a good girl to be so honest with me. If
your uncle could be made to give up
your little fortune, do you think you
could use it wiselyp'
4, 81 could-with Norman to help me. :"
20 Then we had long conversation,
which it is not necessary for me to re-
peat; it will be understood by what fol-
lows. There was no change apparent
between Stephen and /. He behaved
exactly as lover of his age and char
acter would be likely to behave. He
sent aunt presents from his lighthouses,
and he sent me presents of pretty
jewelry. He spent the evenings at
Uncle Miles house, and sometimes we
We're left alone together, and sometimes
we went out for walk. Norman came
to see us occasionally ON Sunday night,
and my aunt said he really behaved
with more good sense than she ex-
pected. think she thought that if ]
married the banker, it might not be d
bad thing for my cousin Malvina, who
was very plain, to marry the banker
Cashier.
Everything went ON with the greatest
propriety. had announced my inten-
ton to have an extraordinary trousseau
and this being point on which aunt
could feel with me, the next four months
were pleasantly spent in shopping and
sewing. Never in our little town haC
there been seen such dozens of elegantly
trimmed under-garments, such lingerie
such hosiery, such morning dresses ant
evening costumes, such wonderful boot
and slippers and jewelry. We held lit
tie receptions every afternoon a montl
before the wedding, and my wardrob,
was laid out in the best bedroom TO
comment and inspection.
1t was about this time that Stephel
Barker said TO uncle: 81 understan'
Frances has twenty thousand dollars
wish her to have it SO settled on her
self, and for her own absolute use. tina
propose, Mr.. Miles, If you are willing
to add $4,000 to il, and buy for her tn
Stamford estate. 1t is only three mile
from here, the house is very fine one
the land excellent. and then, whateye
changes come, it secures her compe
tency, for as soon as the railway is fin
ished II will be worth double. What d
you sayP''
II think your offer extremely geneI
GUS, Mr.. Barker and, of course, for sue
spuypose, am willing to hand over t