Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-05-06

Such hosiery, such morning dresses and
evening costumes, such wonderful boots
and slippers and iewelry. We held
little receptions every afternoon month
before the wedding, and my wardrobe
twas laid out III the best bedroom for
Inspection.
1t was about this time that Stephen
Barker said to uncle: " understand
Frances has $4,000. / wish her TO
have it so settled Oh herself, and for her
own absolute use, that l propose, Mr.
Miles, if you are willing, to add SO, 600
to it, and buy for her the Stamford
estate. 1t is only three miles from
here, the house is very fine one, the
land excellent, and then, whatever
changes come, it secures her a COM
potency, for as soon as the railway is
finished it will be worth double. What
do you say ?"
81 think your off4r extremely
generous, Mr.. Barker, aud of course.
Tor such purpose, ] am willing TO hand
over to Nou at once Francois fortune.
The interest has been applied to her
own nse always. Will you look at the
accounts ?"
Your word is sufficient, Mr. Miles"
So in about two weeks the transfer
was safely and amicably effected, and
Stamford Hall and estate were firmly
and surely made over to Frances
Halliday, spinster, FOR her and her
heirs forever. ] must state here that /
opposed as strongly as | thought right
Stephens gift of $40 600, and his sub
sequent outlay of 81, 600 ON furniture,
but both uncle and amt said that the
settlement was small enough Tor man
OF bis means, and that ii would be
affectatlon TO oppose it. And really
Stephen managed the whole affair with
such fatherly kindness anl thouehtfuI-
ness that [ could not bear to oppose
him.
At length, the wedding day drew
near It had been arranged for We'd
nesday morning, and We were 10 leave
for New York Immediately after the
ceremony. Cousin Jose, who had pre-
pared himself to look down on all the
world from the pulpit, was to perform
the ceremony. This showed in Jose a
very Christian spirit, seeing that he had
once looked on me and my S25. 600 with
affection, and had not appreciated the
honor. However, he forgaYe me at this
interesting epoch, and came benignly to
less my venture. lie brought me as Al
present black onyx seal ring, on
which was set q cross in seed-pearl-.
He bad offered Inc it once before, with
his affections ana his means. and [ had
then refused it. l took it this time.
1t helped TO swell tire list OF my pres
onts, and they certainly made a goodly
show. First, there vas the Stamf )rd
estate from my father and Stephen
Barker, and the settled bills for 81. 600
worth OF new furniture which Stephen
had sent to make the old rooms pretty
and comfortable. Uncle gave me set
of silver, aud aunt some fine CHINA.
both of which gifts L took care to send
to Stamford before my wedding day.
My cousins and aunts end friends gave
me all sorts of jewelry and pretty per
sonal knicknacka, and these | 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 sme to have all l re-
quired on my arrival. / opposed this
plan at first, but aunt said st was emil
nently proper and thoughtful. So all
my wardrobe except my wedding dress
and travelling suit arrived at the hotel.
in New York City, 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 Malvins. Aunt thought
his behavior charmiDg-so unselfish-
and was also very well satisfied with it.
81 shall call you about CLOCK.
Frances, said my aunt, as 1 babe her
goodnight; ''the hair-d1esser comes at
half-past eight.
l said, every well. aunt" and went
TO my room. The first thing I did was
to pack my wedding dress in as small
compass as possible, and then put on
my travelling costume. This done,
sat down in the dark. About one o clock
L 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 n
buggy waited, and we drove rapidly to
a main line about three miles off Here
we caught the two-o'clock express, and
were safe in New York and very respect
ably married by ten o'clock. My trunks,
which had arrived the day bef1re. were
then redire cted for Washington, and
after a delicious little wedding breakfast
all by ourselves-we left for that city
In the meantime there vas trouble
enough at Milford. Our flight was not
discovered till near eight o'clock, aud
then Uncle Miles sent word at once to
Stephen Barker, who secluded himself
for that day entirely. My aunt ana
cousins chagrin and disappointment
were very great in fact, when [ con
sidered The amount of coincidence and
gossip they would have to endure, felt
that for all the Sights aud scorns of nv
unloved girlhood L could cry quits. And
| had got my fortune also, ana Norman
and l were so completely happy We
had not care, for Stephen had given
him a $500 bill and months holiday.
end told us to get all the pleasure we
conld out of 1t. We obeyed him i'm
plicitly.
During that month things settled
down little. L did MOI expect to be
forgiven all at once, aud was not but
then | was in a position not to worry
particularly abontit. Weretnrned verv
quietly, after dark one night very much