The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-06-01

Gle ana aunt Salu CDHC Cu6 SetUlomeuG
was small enough for m IN of his means,
and that it would be affectation to OPP
pose it. And really Stephen managed
the whole affair with such fatherly
kindness and thoughtfulness that I
could not bear to oppose him.
Atlength the wedding day drew near.
It had been arranged for Wednesday
morning, and we were to 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 very Christian
spirit, seeing that he had once looked on
me and my $25, 900 with affection, and
had not appreciated the honor. How
ever, he forgave me at this interesting
epoch, and came benignly to bless my
venture. He brought me as present
black onyx seal ring, on which was set
a cross in seed-pearls. He had offered
me it once before, with his affections
and his manse, and had then refused
it. I took it this time.
1t helped to swell the list of my pres
ents and they certainly made q goodly
show. First there vas the Stanford
estate from my father and Stephen Bar
ker, and the settled bills for $1,000 worth
of new furniture which Stephen had
sent to make the old rooms pretty and
comfortable. Uncle gave me set of
silver, and aunt some fine china, both of
which gifts took care to SEND to STAN
ford before my wedding day. My
cousins and aunts and friends gave me
all sorts OF jewelry aud pretty personal
knick knacks, and these I carefully
packed in the half-dozen trunks which
were already corded and directed two
days before the marriage day.
For Stephen had proposed to send all
my trunks to our New York hotel two
days before we left, in order that we
might have no concern about them, and
that might be sure to have all wanted
on my arrival. opposed this plan at
first, but amt said sit was eminently
proper and thoughtful" So all my ward
robe except my wedding dress and
travelling suit arrived at the Fifth Az
enue Hotel, New York, on the last day
of my maiden life.
Norman Strong called that night, and
was in remarkably high spirits. He
wished me every happiness, and was
very attentive to Malvina. Aunt
thought hir behavior charming-so un-
selfsh-and I was also very we'll
satisfied with it.
ST shall call you about eight o'clock,
Frances" said my aunt, as babe her
goodnight; "the hair-dresser comes at
half-past eight"
] said, Very we'll. aunt" and went to
my room. The first thing I did was to
pack my wedding dress in as small COM
pass as possible, and then put on my
travelling costume. This done, sat
down in the dark. About one o'clock
heard the signal watched for. l went
softly down stairs, unlocked the back
door, and walked out. Norman was
there. We did not speak until We we're
outside the grounds. There = buggy
waited, and we drove rapidly to main
line about three miles of. Here we
caught the two o'clock express, and were
safe in New York and very respectfully
married by ten o'clock. My trunks,
which had arrived the day before, were
then redirected for Washington, and
after delicious little wedding breakfast
all by ourselves-we left for that city.
In the mean time there was trouble
enough in milford. Our fight was not
OlSCONeIcu Jill ucbI cl8ub " CAOCAs nuu
then Uncle Miles sent word at once to
Stephen Barker, who secluded himself
for that day entirely. My aunt and
chagrin and disappointment
were very great; in fact, when cousid-
cred the amount of coincidence and gos-
sip they would have to endure, I felt
that for all the sights and scorns of my
unloved girlhood could cry quits. And
I had got my fortune also, and Norman
and were so completely happy! We
had not care, for Stephen had given
him $500 bill and q months holiday,
and told us to get all the pleasure we
could out of it. We obeyed him i'm
plicitly.
During that month things settled
down little. did not expect to be
forgiven all at once, and was not; but
then I was in . poeition not to worry
particularly about it. We returned very
a uietly, after dark one night, very much
like two children who have played tru-
ant all day. and creep home ct night
fall with ss little ostentation Is possible.
But at Stamford Hall everything had
been prepared for my comfort. The
fires were blazing, the gas lighted, and
an excellent supper waiting. The next
morning Norman went back to his desk,
and Stephen took no more notice of his
return than il he had never left it. Peo-
pie who had been specializing about his
losing his position knew in five minutes