The Cecil Whig., 1882-05-20

| trunks which were already corded and
directed two days before the marriage
I 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 aunt said lit was eminently
proper and thoughtful" SO all my ward
robe except my wedding dress and a
| travelling suit arrived at the Fifth Ave
nue. 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 his
behaviour charming-so unselffsh-and |
was also very well satisfied with it.
81 | shall call you about eight o'clock,
Frances said my aunt, as | baae her
goodnight: 1.-THE h,ir-dresser comes at
half-past eight
said, Every well, aunt and went
to my room. The first thing did was
to pack my wedding dress in as small a
compass 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. | went
softly down stairs, unlocked the back
door, and walked out. Norman was
there We did not speak until we were
outside the grounds. There buggy
waited. and we drove rapidly to main
line about three miles off. 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, We're
then redirected for Washington, and af
ter delicious little wedding breakfast
all by ourselves--we left for that city.
In the mean time there was trouble
enough in Milford. Our flight was not
discovered till near eight o'clock, and
then Uncle Miles sent word at once to
Stephen Barker. who secluded himself
for that day entirely My aunt and cou-
sins chagrin and disappointment were
very great: in fact, when | consider the
amount of coincidence and gossip they
would have to endure, | felt that for all
the Sights and scorns of my unloved
girlhood | could cry quits. And | had
got my fortune also, and Norman and
were SO completely happy. We had not
a care. for Stephen had given him a 500
bill and months holiday, and told us
to get all the pleasure we could out Of it.
We obeyed him implicitly.
| During the month things settled down
little. did not expect to be forgiven
all at once. and | was not: but then was
in position not to worry particularly
about it. We returned very quietly, after
dark one night, very much like two chill
dren who have played truaut all day. and
creep home at night-fall with as little os-
| teutation as possible.
But at Stamford Hall everything had
been prepared for my comfort. The fires
were blazing the gas lighted, and an ex-
cellent supper waiting. The next morn
ing y Jrman went back to his desk, and
Stephen took no more notice of his re-
turn than if he had never left it. People
who had been spcculating about his po-
stion knew in five minutes that there
would be no change. Aud every one took
his tone from Stephen. We were treated
very much like two children who had
been forgiven. and whose fault was not
TO be thrown up to them.
That was the way the men took it, and
| Norman pretended TO be satisfied. The
women acted with Il great deal more dill
gence. They ali came IL see me, and though
| did not give them all credit Tor the very
kindest OF motives, made them all wei
come told them about my wedding trip,
| and showed them my new things, and
dare say the men talked everything over
with them afterward
But what puzzled everybody was that
Stephen Barker came 50 often to see us, and
| WAS SO 1flt1ulN Will >DIIllsin opIlt
thought it very mean-spirited in him, and
| others remembered that when he was very
young he had loved my mother dearly.
| Even those who spoke kindly of him did
not give him credit for the unse.ishneSs
he had shown: for he woai'l not let me tell
anyone ;.at was he himself who had
| planned everything about my property and
my wedding.
"Just let them say you Tilted me, Franc
es if they please to do So We know bet
ter, and we will keep our seafet until Uncle
| Miles comeS rnund,'
| Aunt and l'ucle both came round soon
er than We expected. When it was known
that Stephen speut So much of his time
| with us Aunt Miles considered the advan-
tages of having her daughters brought IA
| miliarly in contact with him, and for their
sakes she came to me and give me the
kiss of reconciliation.
But as taF aa .atchins stephens heart
| tin rebound " was concerned, she was just
| Il little too late. Norman sister, who was
a teacher in one of the public schools of
| New York. came to spend her vacation
with us. and Stephen fell i'll love with her
III :, way which convinced me that his love
for Frances Halliday had only been the
| shadow of the love he had for her mother
| Why, Norman himself never behaved more
fooishly abaut me than Stephen about this
little plain Ruth Stone: for she is plain. ev
cry one must allow that
And the pre{,,.a,sioNs tha, aro going on
for tie marriage quite amuse me, who
might have been the bankers wife myself
Dear me! l think Love must often laugh
az the kind of people he comes in contact
with But hope Stephen will be happy;
do indeed.
That is all | have to say ahum l-4y mar
riage. l thinl; i Wais lather peculiar.
SoAe will oonhtiess san they don't believe
| such men as Stephen exist, hut let II girl
when she discovers she does not like man,
tell him 81, and ask his advice and help
and ten TO one she will find another Stei H.
en- How can men be chivalrous and self
denying if women don't give them oppor-
tunities? l think that Is wrong, and in
tend always to give Norman tGsiI rAapce
to cultivate saah AAn,e qualities.
Watering Telescopes.
Considering the cheap and easy conStruc-
derful they are not used more than thy
are, as, by employing them, extremely in
tereSting obserVatians Gan he made on the