The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1883-11-17
FRANCES HALLIDAY.

EhANCES HALLlDAXsl
How Cupid managed to send Stephen
Barker after me l never could find out;
but that is between themselves and is
none of my business A man rood
enough for Elizabeth and Janet, and
all such ornaments to their sex, to lay
his heart at my foolish little feet! own
that for day or two the honor almost
turned my head.
Then began to consider. Ihad loved
Norman Strong ever since / could re-
member, and Norman had been my
friend when no one else said kind word
to me. The case stood thus: ] was an
orphan, left in the care of an uncle and
aunt remarkable for that kind of pro-
priety that wins our admiration and
awakens our hearty desire to get away
from it. Ihad fortune of 1925, 600
that is, / was to have it if | remained
unmarried until was thirty-fve, or if
married previously with my uncle's
|, approval.
Now uncle did not approve of Nor
MANN fact uncle never approved of
any one that liked. But with Stephen
Barker disapproval was out of the ques-
ton. Stephen was the great man and
the good man of our small town. To
have insinuated that Stephen was not
worthy of saint, beauty and an heir
ess united, would have been heresy
seriously affecting my uncle's social and
commercial standing. Stephen Bar
ker's offer was therefore accepted,
and the next Sunday we walked to
church together
After this public avowal of our in
tentions the marriage was considered
inevitable by every person but me. l
must do myself the justice to state that
l never regarded my engagement with
Stephen seriously; it was a part of
plan to secure my happiness and rights.
And as Stephen fully conceded in it, ]
do not expect censure from any one
else.
/ think it was no later than the third
night after Stephen had spoken to me
that frankly told him that thought
ought not to marry him. He asked me
why, and said .sAll my life long,
Stephen, have been such crushed,
unhappy girl, have been afraid to
speak, or laugh, or sing, and no one
but Norman Strong ever said a kind
word to me until you came. y
"And you love NormanP" he asked,
bluntly.
SO I answered eyes, 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
were neither of us to be trusted with my
$4,000.
$50 you have $25, 0O0P"
s'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. 4"
Stephen was silent long time, and
then he said, little sadly: ''You are a
good girl to be honest withme If your
uncle could be made to give up your
little fortune, do you think you could
use it wiselyP"
II could-witb Norman to help me. -
Then we had a long conversation,
which It is not necessary for me to re-
peat it will be understood by what
follows. There was no change, APP
! parently, between Stephen and l. He
behaved exactly as a lover of his age
and character would be likely to be-
have. He sent aunt presents from his
lighthouses, and he made me presents OF
pretty iewelry. He spent the evenings
at Uncle Miles house, and sometimes
we were left alone together, and some
times we went out for walk. Norman
came to see us occasionally on Sun.
day night, and my aunt said he had
really behaved with more good sense
than she expected. | think she thought
if / married the banker it might not be
a bad thing for my cousin Malvina, who
was very plain, to marry the banker
cashier.
Everything went on with the greatest
propriety. 1had announced my inten
ton to have an extraordinary trousseau
and, this being point on which aun
could feel with me, the next four months
were pleasantly spent in shopping anC
sewing. Never before in our little town
had there been such dozens of elegantly
trimmed undergarments, such lingerie
such hosiery, such morning dresses anC
evening costumes, such wonderful boot
and slippers and jewelry. We hell
little receptions every afternoon
month before the wedding, and m,
wardrobe was laid out in the best bed
room for comment and inspection.
1t was about this time that Stephel
Barker said to uncle: 81 understan,
Frances has $25, 600. wish to have
SO settled on herself, and for her abso
lutte use, that / propose, Mr.. Miles,
YOU are willing, to add $4,000 to il
and buy for her the Stamford estate.
u OILY three miles from here, the hous