Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-10-11
FRANCES HALLIDAY.


Barker after me l 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 ornaments to their sex, to lay his
heart at my foolish feet! Town that for
day or two the honor almost turned
my head.
Then began to consider. l had 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: l
was an orphan, left to the care of an
uncle and aunt remarkable for that kind
of propriety that wins our admiration
and awakens our hearty desire to get
away from it. l had fortune of $685.
000-that is, was to have it if I re-
mained unmarried until l was 3j, or if
married previously with my uncle's
approval.
Now uncle did not approve of Norman
in fact, uncle never approved of any
one that l 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. 10
have insinuated that Stephen was not
worthy of saint, beauty and an
heiress united, would have been heresy
seriously affecting my uncle's social and
commercial standing. Stephen Barker's
offer was therefore accepted, and the
next Sunday we walked 10 church to-
gether.
After this public avowal of our inten-
tions the marriage WAS considered inev-
liable by every person but me. l must
do myself the justice to state that l
never regarded my engagement with
Stephen seriously; it was 4 part of q
plan to secure my happiness and rights.
And as Stephen fully coincided in it,
do not expect ceusure from any one
else.
think it was no later t.l the third
night after Stephen had spoken to my
uncle that l frankly told him l thought
I ought not to marry him. He asked
me why, and l said: "All my life long,
Stephen, l have been crushed, un-
happy girl, | have been afraid to speak,
or laugh, or sing, and no one but Nor
man Strong ever said kind word to
me until you came"
"And you love Norman?' he asked
bluntly.
So answered, ayes, love him, and
he loves me, and when he got the posi-
ton of Cashier in your bank he wanted
to marry me; but uncle said we were
neither of us to be trusted with my
$25,000."
$50 you have 1926, SCOOP"
''Papa left me that much; but Uncle
Miles can keep it until | am IS, unless
l marry to please him, or unless he is so
satisfied with 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 You are
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?"
II could-with Norman to help me-"
Then we had long conversation,
which it is not necessary for me to re-
peat; it will be understood by what fol-
lows. There was no change apparently
between Stephen and 1. He behaved
exactly as lover of his age and char
acter would be likely to behave. He
sent aunt presents from his hot-houses,
and he made mo presents of pretty jew
elry. He spent the evenings at Uncle
Miles house, and sometimes we were
left alone altogether, and sometimes we
went out for a walk. Norman came to
see US occasionally on Sunday night,
and my aunt said he had really behaved
with more good sense than she expected.
l think she thought if married the
banker it might not be very bad thing
for my cousin Malvina, who was very
plain, to marry the bankers cashier.
Everything went on with the greatest
propriety. l had announced my inten-
tion to have an extraordinary trousseau,
and. this being a point on which aunt
could feelwith me, the next four months
were pleasantly spent in shopping and
sewing. Never in our little town had
there been such dozens 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