The Red Cloud chief., 1882-06-08
day or two tnd nonvf
Ely heal.

- sh . btUin ~ CDk>lItE. nftl
loved Norman Strong ever since / could
remember, and Norman had been my
friend when no one else said n kind
word 10 me. The case stood thus: l
was an orphan, left 20 the care of an
uncle and aunt remarkable for that kind
OF propricty that wins our admiration,
and awakens our hearty desire To get
away from il. ! had a small fortune of
twenty-five thousand dollars; that is. /
was To have it, if l remained unmarried
until / was thirty-fivc. or if | married
previously with my mcle's approval.
Now uncle did not approve OF Nor
man. In fact, uncle never approved of
any one that 1 liked. liut with Stephen
Barker disapproval was II of the qucs-
= 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 n here
81 seriously affecting my uncle's social
and commercial standing. Stephen
Bankers 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. L
must do myself the justice TO state that
] never regarded my engagement 10
Stephen seriously; il was part of 4 plan
Ia secure my happiness and rights. And
as Stephen fully conceded i n il. | do not
expect censure from any n else.
1 think il was no later than the third
night after Stephen had spoken TO my
uncle that | frankly told him | thought
! ought not to marry him. lie asked
me why; and l said: "All my life long,
Stephen, i have been such n crushed,
unhappy girl. l have been afraid to
speak, or laugh. or sing. and no one but
Norman Strong I'VE said a Kind word
TO me until You came"
"And YOU love Norman?' he asked,
bluntlv.
So 1 answered: "Yes, l 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 S25.0oo."
$50 YOU have $4,000"
Papa left me that much; but Uncle
Miles can keep it until l am ~thirty-fve.
unless | marry t please him. or unless
he is so satisfied of my good n that
he voluntarily gives it to me. lie will
never do that"
Stephen was silent n long time. and
then he said, a little sadly: "Iou are
a good girl 10 be so honest with me. If
your uncle could be made to give up
your little fortune, do you think you
cou,d use it wisely"
Il could-with Norman TO help me-"
Then we had a long conversation.
which it is not necessary for me TO re-
peat; il will be understood by what fol-
lows. There was no change apparent
between Stephen and /. He behaved
exactly as a 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
icwelry. He spent the evenings at
Uncle Miles house. and sometimes we
were left alone together. and sometimes
we went out for a walk. Norman came
to see us occasionally on a Sunday night.
and my aunt said he really behaved
with more good sense than she ex-
pccted. 1 think she thought that If
married the banker, il might not be a
bad thing for my cousin Malvina, who
was very plain, TO marry the bankers
Cashier.
Everything went on with the greatest
propriety. I had announced my inten-
ton to have an extraordinary trousseau,
and this being a point on which aunt
could feel with me, the next four months
were pleasantly spent in shopping and
sewing. Never in our little town had
there been seen suchdozens of elegantly
trimmed under-garments. such lingerie,
such hosiery. such morning dresses and
evening costumes, such wonderful boots
and slippers and jewelry. We held lit
tie receptions every afternoon . month
before the wedding, and my wardrobe
was laid out in the best bedroom fol
comment and inspection.
1t was about this time that Stephen
Barker said to uncle: 81 understand
Frances has twenty-five thousand dollars
wish her to have it SO settled on her
self. and for her own absolute use. thal
Ipropose, MI. Miles. if you are willing
to add $40, 600 to il, and buy for her thu
Stamford estate. 1t is only three mile.
from here, the house is q very fine one
the land excellent, and then, whatever
changes come, it secures her . compe
tency, for as soon as the railway is Tin
ished il will be worth double. What d.
you sayg"
II think your offer extremely gener
ous, Mr.. Barker and. Of course. for sucl
epprposss ] an willing 70 hand oyer =