The Cecil Whig., 1882-05-20
FRANCES HALLIDAY S WEDDING.

HOW cuplu managed TO Senu stephen
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 or
naments to their sex, to lay his honest
heart at my foolish little feet. | own that
for a day or two the honor almost turned
my head.
Then began to consider. had loved
Norman Strong ever since could remem-
Der, and Norman had been my friend
when no one else said kind word to me.
The case stood thus: | was an orphan.
left to the care OF an uncle and aunt re-
markabe for that kind of propriety that
wins our admiration, and awakens our
hearty desire to get away from it. had
4 small fortune of so, 900: that is, | was
to have it. if | remained unmarried until
| was thirty-five, or if married previous
ly with my uncle's approval.
Now uncle did not approve of Norman.
In fact, uncle never approved of any one
that liked But with Stephen Barker
disapproved was out of the question
Stephen was the great man and the good
man of our town. To have insinuated
that Stephen was not worthy of a saint, a
beauty, and an heiresS united. would have
been hcresy seriously affecting my
uncle's social and commercial standing.
"a, how &C,
cepted, 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 ser
iously: it was part of a plan to secure my
happiness and rights. And as Stephen
fully coincided in it, I did not expect cen
sure from any one else.
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. He asked. me
why: and | said "All my life long,
Stephen, | have been such a crushed, un-
happy girl. | have 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 said,
bluntly.
So | answered, "Yes,I 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 We're neither of us
to be trusted with my *25, 000.'
so you have s25, ,000?"
Papa left me that much; but Uncle
Miles can keep it until am thirty-fve.
unless l marry to please him, or unless
he is so satisfied of my good sense that
he voluntarily gives it up to me. He
will never do that
Stephen was silent long time. and
then he said, little sadly: ION are Il
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 wisely?
Il could--with Norman to help me. =
Then we had a long conversation. which
it is not necessary for me to repeat; it
will be understood by what follows.
There was no change apparent between
Stephen and !. He behaved exactly as a
lover of his age and character would be
likely to behave. He sent aunt presents
from his hot houses, and made me pres
| ents of pretty iewelry. He spent the
evenings at Uncle Miles house, and some
times We went out for Il walk. Norman
came to see us occasionally on a Sunday
night, and my aunt said he had really
behaved with more good sense than she
expected. think she thought that if |
married the banker, it might not be a
bad thing for my cousin Malyina who
was very plain, to marry the bankers
C ,shier.
Every thing went off with tl.e greatest
propriety. | 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 such dozens of elegantly
trimmed under-garments, such lingerie,
such hosiery, such morning dresses and
evening costumes, such wonderful boots
and slippers and jewelgy. We held lit
| tie receptions every afternoon a month
before the wedding and my wardrobe
was laid out in the best bedroom for
comment and inspection.
1t was ABOUT this time that Stephen
Barker said 10 uncle: - understand
Frances has so, 900. | wish her to have
it so settled on herself, and for her own
absolute Nap, that propose, Mr.. Miles,
if You are willing, to add SO 900 to it.
and buy for her the Stamford estate. 1t
is only three miles from here. the house
is Il very fine one, the land excellent, and
then, Wh4teYeE niangps poWe, II secures
her a competency, for as soon as the rail
way is finished it will be worth double.
What do you say
Il think your offer extremely gener-
Gus, Nj. ilarl.ct, an. nr eourso. fof such
You at once Frances fortune. The III
tcrest has been applied to her own use
always. Will you look at the accounts -
Your word is sufficient. Mr.. Miles
So in about two weeks the transfer was
safely sad al4iGauiy aila2,ed, .nd STAN
ford Hall aid estate were firmly and
surely made over to Frances Halliday,
spnster, for her and her heirs forever.
must state here that opposed as strong
ly as | thought right Stepen's gift OF
| $4,000, and bis subsequent outlay OF
$1,000 on furniture, but both uncle and
aunt saiti that the settlement was small
enough for q man Of his means, and that
it would be aiiectation to oppose it. And
really stephen managed the whole at1ail
with such fatherly kindness and thought
funess that | could not bear to oppose
him.
At length the wedding day drew near.
It had been arranged for "Wednesday
morning, anu We were IT, 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