The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-11-08


of silver and aunt come fine china, both
of which gifts / took care to send to
Stamford before my wedding day. My
cousins and aunts and friends gave me
all sorts of jewelry and pretty personal
kniekknacks, and these | carefully
packed in the half-dszen trunks which
were already corded and directed two
days before the marriage day.
For Stephen had proposed to send off
my trunks to our New York hotel two
days before we left il order that we
might have no coacern about thsm, and
that I might be sure to have all. want
ed on my arrival. | opposed this plan
at first, but aunt said 1T was eminently
proper and thoHghtful. " So all my
wardrobe except my wedding dress and
travelling salt arrived at the Fifth Ave
nue. Hotel, New York, on the last day
OF nav maiden life.
Norman Strong called that night and
was ia remarkably high spirits He
wished me every happiness and was
very attentive TO Malvina. Aunt thought
his behavior sharfing-so unselfish--
and | was also very satisfied with
it.
Il shall call You about eight O'Clock,
Frances. said my aunt, as babe her
goodnight ''The hair-dresser comes
at $50"
said, VERY wek, aunt" and went
to my room The first thing | 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 daF& About one O'Clock
/ heard the signal | watched for |
went softly down stairs, unlocked the
back door and went out. Norman was
there. We did not speak until we were
outside the grounds. There a buggy
waited, and we drove rapidly to the
main line about three miles off. Here
we caught the two-o' clock express, and
were safe in New York, and very re-
specially married at ten o'clock. Nv
trunks, which had arrived the day be-
fore, were then redirected to Washing
ton, and after delicious little wedding
brsakfast-all by ourselves-we left fol
that city.
Ia the meantime there was trouble
in Milford. Our flight was not discOV-
cred until nearly sight o'clock. aAd then
Uncle Miles ssht word at once to Ste
phen Barker. Ny aunt and cousin 9
ehagIin and disappointment were very
great; in fact, when | considered the
amount of confidence and gossip they
would have to endure, felt that fol
all the Sights and scorns of my unloved
girlhood [ could cry quits. And l had
got my fortune also, and Norman and |
were so completely happy! We had
not care, for Stephen had given him
$500 bill and a month holiday, and
told US to get all the pleasure we could
out of it, We obeyed him implicitly
During that month things settled
down little l did not expect to be
forgiven all at once, and was not; but
then I was in a position not to worry
particularly about it. We returned
very quietly after dark one night, very
much like children who have PLAYED
truant all day and creep home al
nightfall with as little ostentation 81
possible.
But at Stanford Hall everything
had been prepared for my comfort the
fires blazing, the gas lighted, and al
excellent supper waiting. The mex
morning Norman went back to hi,
desk, and Stephen took no more notice
of his return than if he had never lief
it. People who had been specializing
about his losing that position knew IL
five minutes that there would be nc
change. And everyone took his tone
from Stephen We were treated yer,
much like two children who had beer
forgiven, and whose fault was not tt
be THROWN up to them.
That was the way the men took it
| and n orman pretended to be satisfied
The women acted with great dea
more intelligence, They all came t.
see me. and though | did not Civ,
them all credit for the very kindest 0
motives, | made them all welcome.
told them about my wedding trip, AM
showed them nay new things, and
dare say the men talked over everything
with them afterward.
But what most puzzled eyesybod,
was that Stephen Barker came 80 oftel
to see us, and was so friendly with Nor
man. Some thought it very mean
spirited in hin, and others remembers
that when he was very young he ha,
loved nv mother dearly. Even thos
who spoke kindly of him did not Civ
him credit for half the noble unselfish
ness he had shown; for he would no
| let me tell any one that it was he him
self who had planned everything abou
my property and my wedding.
Just let them say you Tilted m
Frances, if they please to do 50. "
know better, and we will ( - ea
secret until UnGle Miles CONES. ~ -
Aunt. and uncs0 . III a-n' rrn =
sooner than wa cXacctc y ~
was known that stephen
of his time with us. Aunt Miles consid
cred the advantages of having he
daughters brought farni1iarly in contac
with him, and for their sakes she cam
TO see me and give me the kiss of recon
ciiaticn.
But as far as catching Stephen hear
) 'Sn the rebound" was concerned, sh
was Just little too late Norman
sister, who was teacher in one of tn
| puDliC kCHOUiS Vi NeN 1OIh1 Cdiilb u
spend her vacation with us, and Stephel
fell in love with her in way whic
convinced mt that his love for France
Halliday had only been the shadow {
the love he had for the mother. Why
Norman himself never behaved NOR
feoGshly about me than Stephen abou
this little, plain Ruth, for she is plain
, everyone must allow that
And the preparations that are goin
on for the marriage quite amuse ms
who might have been the bankers VIII
myself: Dear me / think love mni
often laugh at the kind of people h
4 comes in contact with. But / HOP
Stephen viii be happy; l do, indeed.
That is all | have to say about m
g marriage. think it was rather pecu
: lar. Some twomcn win doubtless sa
they don't believe such men as Stephe
exist. But let girl, when she disco
r ers she does not like man, tell hi
l so, and ask his advice and help, an
J ten to one she will find anotht
Stephen. How can men be chivalro,
8 and sef-denying if women don't gin
: them opportunities? / think that