Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-11-15

you at once Frances fortune. The in
terest has been applied to her own use
always. Will you look at the ac-
countsp"
"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 Halli-
day, spinster, for her and her heirs for
ever. must state here that l opposed,
as strongly as thought right, Stephens
gift of $4,000, and his subsequent out
lay of $1,000 on furniture, but both
uncle and aunt said that the settlement
was small enough for man OF his
means, and that it would be affectation
TO oppose it, And really Stephen man.
aged the whole affair with such fatherly
kindness and thoughtfulness that ]
could not bear 10 oppose it.
At length the wcdding-day drew near
1t had been arranged for "Wednesday
morning, and we were to leave Tor New
York Immediately after the ceremony.
Jose, a former lover, showed
Christian spirit, seeing that he once
looked on me and my $25, 900 with alice
ton, and l had not appreciated the honor.
However, heforgave me ut this interest
ing epoch, and came benignlyto bless my
venture. He brought me rs presents
black ONYX seal ring, on which was set
cross in seed pearls. He had offered
| me it once before, with his affection and
his mansc, and l had then refused 1t. L
| took it this time.
1t helped to swell the list of my pres
ents, and they certainly made goodiy
show. First, there was the Stamford
| estate from my father and Stephen Bar
ker, and the settled bills Tor $l,OOO
worth of new furniture, which Stephen
/ had sent to make the old rooms pretty
! and comfortable. Uncle gave me set
4 of silver and aunt some fine china, both
| CT which gifts l took care to send to
1 Stamford before my wedding-day. My
4 cousins and aunts and friends gave me
| all sorts of jewelry and pretty per-
| sonal knick-knacks, and these | care
\ fully packed in the half-dozen trunks
which were already corded and directed
! two DAYS before the marriage day.
For Stephen had proposed to send OF
my trunks To our New York hotel two
4 days before we left, in order that we
4 might have no concern about them, and
that | might be sure to have all wanted
on my arrival. 1 opposed this plan at
first, but aunt said lit was eminently
| proper and thoughtful" So all my
wardrobe except my wedding dress and
q travelling suit arrived ut the Fifth
Avenue Hotel, New York, on the last
dav 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 behavior charming-so unselfsh-
and was also very satisfied with it.
81 shall call you about s o'clock
Frances" said my aunt, rs bade hel
! goodnight. THE hair-dresser comes a
4 $50"
| said, Every we'll, aunt" and wen
10 my room. The first thing did wa
4 to pack my wedding dress in as small
| compass rs possible, and then put OF
my travelling costume. This done, l So
4 down in the dark. About l o'clock
heard the signal watched for. / wen
softly down stairs, unlocked the bacl
door and went out. Norman was there
We did not speak until we were outsid
the grounds. There Il buggy waited
! and we drove rapidly to the mann line
| about three miles of. Here we caugf
the . o'clock express, and were safe il
New York and very respectfully marrie
bv 10 O'Clock. NV trunks, which ha
| arrived the day before, were then red
rected to Washington, and after del
cious little wedding breakfast-all b
ourselves-we left for that city.
In the meantime there was trouble j
| Milford. Our flight was not discovere
until nearly 8 o'clock, and then Uncl
; Miles sent word at once to Stephen Bal
L ker. NY aunt and cousins chagrin an
3 disappointment were very great; in fac
when / considered the amount of conf
4 dence and gossip they would have
endure, felt that for all the sights IN
t scorns of my unloved girlhood | coul
4 CRY quits. And / had got my fortur
!, | also, and Norman and were so con
i pletely happy! We had not care, #
), Stephen had given him $500 bill NJ
: months holiday, and told us TO g
o all the pleasure we could out of it. v
obeyed him implicitly.
d During that month things settl,
down n little. / did not expect to
d forgiven all ut once, and was not; b
i then / was in position not to wor
d particularly about it. We return
70 very quietly after dark one night, We
~ much like children who have play
truant all day and creep home at nigl
fall with rs little ostentation rs pr
lie sible.
IS But at Stamford Hall everything II
so been prepared for my comfortable I'll
le blazing, the gas lighted, and an exc
i'll lent supper waiting. The next morni
Norman went back to his desk, a
1d Stephen took no more notice OF his
q turn than if he had never left it. Peol
Ii who had been specializing about
up losing that position knew IN ive I'D
Oh utes that there would be no chans
-. And every one took his tone from ,
. ,>hen. We were treated very mucn II
N, two children who had been forgive
re- and whose fault was not to be thro
VI up to them.
lily That was the way the men took
ed and Norman pretended to be satish
ar The women acted with agreat deal ID
lie intelligence. They all came to see
es' and, though l did not give them
W. credit for the very kindcst OF motve'
Gle made them all welcome. l told til
ere about my wedding trip, and SHOW
we them my new things. and daresay
to men talked over everything with LII
ht, safterward.
red Butwbat most puzzled everybody
ed. nlat Stephen Barker came so oitcn
the :, ,e MS. and was so friendly with \
ing man. Some thought 1t very me
4 <,th