Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-10-04

settlement was small enough for q
man of his means, and that it would
be affectation TO oppose it. And real
ly Stephen manfSed the whole affair
with such fatherly kindness ano
thoughtfulness that could not bear
to oppose it.
AT length the wedding-day drew
near. 1t had been arranged foi
Wednesday morning, and we were tc
leave for New York Immediately
after the ceremony. This showed in
Jose a very Christian spirit, seeing
that he once looked on me and my
$25, 900 with affection, and | had not
appreciated the honor. However, he
forgave me at this interesting epoch,
and came benignly TO bless my ven
ture. He brought me as present a
black onyx seal ring, on which was
set cross in seed pearl. He had of
fered me it once before, with his af-
lection and his name, and | had
then refused it ! took it this time.
1t helped to swell the list of my
presents, and they certainly made a
g9odly show First, there was the
Stamford estate from my father and
/ Stephen Barker, and the settled bills
| for 81 900 worth of new furniture
which Stephen had sent to make the
| old rooms pretty and comfortable
| Uncle gave me a set of silver, and aunt
some 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 knlck-
knacks, and these | carefully packed
in the half-dozen franks which We're
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 mighthave no concern about them,
and that might be sure to have all /
wanted ON my arrival. | opposed this
plan at first, but aunt said lit was
eminently proper and thoughtful. -
So all my wardrobe except my we'd
ding dress and a travelling suit arriv-
ed at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, New
York, on the last day Of my maiden
life.
Norman Strong called that ngiht
and was in remarkably high spirits
lie wished me every happiness and
was very attentive to Malyina. Aunt
thought his behavior charming 50
unselfsh-and ! was also very satisf-
ed with it,
II shall call you about s o clock,
Francis, said my aunt, as | babe her
goodnight. The hair dresser comes
at $50. -
/ said very well, aunt, and went
to my room. TIE first thing | was to
pack my wedding dress in as small a
compass as possible, and then put on
my travelling costume. This done, |
sat down in the dark About 1 o'clock
l 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 buggy
waited. aud we drove rapidly to the
main line about three miles off Here
we caught the o'clock express, and
were safe in New York and very re
specially married by 10 o'clock. My
trunks, which had arrived the day be-
fore, were then redirected TO Washing
ton, and aftera delicious little wedding
breakfast-al by ourselves-we left
for that city
In the meantime there was trouble
in Milford. Our flight was not discoy
cred until nearly o'clock, and then
Uncle Miles sent word at once to Ste
phen Barker My aunt and cousins
and disappointment were very
great; in fact, when | considered the
of confidence and gossip they
would have TO endure, l felt that for
all the Sights and scorns of my unlov-
ed girlhood | could cry quits. And
had got my fortune also, and Norman
and | were 50 completely happy We
had not a care, for Stephen had given
him a $500 bill and "A month S holiday,
and told us to get all the pleasure we
could out of it, We obeyed him i'm
phcitly.
During that month things settled
down a little. | did not expect to be
forgiven all at once, and was not; but
then | was in position not to worry
about it. We returned
very quietly after dark one night very
much like children who have played
truant all day and creep home at
nightlau with as little ostentation as
possible.
But at Stamford Hall everything
had been prepared for my comfort
the fires blazing, the gas lighted, and
an excellent supper waiting The
next morning Norman went back to
his desk, aud Stephen took no more
notice of ais return than if he had
never leftu People who had been
specializing about his losing that po-
sition knew in five minutes that there
would be NO change. And every one
took his tone from stephen We are
treated very much like 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 great deal
more intelligence, They all came to
see me, and, though | did not give
them all credit for the very kiudeSt of
motives, l made them all welcome. |