The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-10-11

Frances has $4,000. I wish to have it
so settled on herself, and for her abso-
lutte use, that | propose, Mr.. Miles, if
you are willing, to add $4,000 to it and
buy for her the Stamford estate. 1t is
only three miles from here, the house is
a very fine one, the land excellent, and,
then. whatever changes come, it secures
her a competency, for as soon as the
railway is finished it will be worth
double. What do you say?"
Il think your offer extremely gener-
Gus, Mr.. Barker, and, of course, for such
a purpose, | am willing to hand over to
you at once Frances fortune. The in
terest has been applied to her own use
always. VIII you look at the ac-
counts?"
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 opposed,
as strongly rs | thought right, Stephens S
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 a 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 I
could not bear to oppose it.
At length the wedding-day drew near.
1t had been arranged for Wednesday,
morning, and we were to leave for New
York Immediately after the ceremony.
Jose, a former lover, showed a
Christian spirit, seeing that he once
looked on me and my S25, 900 with affec-
ton, and Ihad not appreciated the honor.
However, he forgave me at this interest
ing epoch, and came benignlyto bless my
venture. He brought me as present q
black onyx seal ring. on which was set
a cross in seed pearls. He had offered
me it once before, with his affection and
his manse, and had then refused it.
took it this time.
1t helped to swell the list of my pres
ents, and they certainly made a goodly
show. First, there was the Stamford
estate from my father and Stephen Bar
ker, and the settled bills Tor $1,000
worth of new furniture, which Stephen
had sent to make the old rooms pretty
and comfortable. Uncle gave me set
of silver and aunt some fine china, both
cf which gifts l took care to send 10
Stamford before my wedding-day. My
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 off
my trunks TO our New York hotel two
days before we left, in order that we
might have no concern about them, and
that m ght be sure to have all wanted
on my arrival. l opposed this plan at
first, but aunt said sit was eminently
proper and thoughtful " So all my
wardrobe except my wedding dress and
q travelling suit arrived at 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-
Il shall call you about o'clock,
Frances" said my aunt. as bade her
goodnight. 1.-The hair-dresser comes at
$780,
l said, Very well, aunt" and went
to my room. The first thing did was
to pack my wedding dress in as small q
compass as possible, and then put on
my travelling costume. This done, Isat
down in the dark. About o'clock /
heard the signal l watched for. l 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 mics of. Here we caught
the o'clock express, and were safe in
New York and very respectfully married
by 10 o'clock. My trunks, which had
arrived the day before, were then redi-
rected to Washington. and after deli
cious little wedding breakfast-all by
ourselves-we left for that city.
In the meantime there was trouble in
Milford. Our flight was not discovered
until nearly o'clock, and then Uncle
Miles sent word at once to Stephen Bar
ker. My aunt and cousins chagrin and
disappointment were very great; in fact,
when [ considered the amount of conf
dence and gossip they would have to
endure, l felt that for all the Sights and
scorns of my unloved girlhood | could
cry quits. And l had got my fortune
also, and Norman and | were so CON-
pletely happy! We had not a care, for
l. Il
a months holiday, and told us to get
all the pleasure we could out of it. We
obeyed him implicitly.
During that month things settled
down a little. / did not expect to be
forgiven all at once, and | was not; but
then | 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 at night
fall with as little ostentation as pos
siblo.
But at Stamford Hall everything had
been prepared for my comfort-the fires
p;azing, the gas lighted, and an excel
len, supper waiting. The next morning
Norman went back to his desk, aut
SltJDtH lOOh uO luOlc HOtlCc Vi Ills IT,
turn than if he had never left it. People
$50 i;,d leun spccu a1n "..s,.u - .
.is!ag iaat p >itsoH KusN u i've ~
u : thai there would be- no cilanec
And every one luoa his tone from Sc
phen. We were treated very mae lik,
two children who had been forgiven
and whose fault was not to be thrown
up to them.
That was the way the men took it,
and Norman pretended to be satisfied.
The women acted with q great deal more
intelligence. They ali came to see me.
and, though l did not give them all
credit for the very kindest of motives,
made them ali welcome. l told them
about my wedding trip. and showed
them my new things, and daresay the
men talked over everything with them
afterward.
But what most puzzled everybody was
that Stephen Barker came so often to
see US, and was so friendly with Nor