Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-04-02

forgiven all at once, and / was not /;
but then / was in position not to
worry particularly about it, We re.
turned very quietly after dark one
night, very muA like two children
who lave played truant all day and
creep home at nightfall with as little
ostehtation as possible.
But at Stamford Hall everything
had been prepared for my comfort
The fires were blazing, the gas lighted,
and an excellent supper waiting. The
next morning Norman went back to
his desk, and Stephen took no more
notice of his return than if he had
never left. People who had been
specializing about his losing his posi-
ton knew in five minutes that there
would be no change. And every one
took his tone from Stephen. We
were 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 1 did not give
them all credit for the very kindest of
motives | made them all welcome.
told them about my wedding trip, and
showed them my new things, and |
dare say the men talked everything
over with them afterward.
But what most puzzled everybody
was that Stephen Barker came so often
to see us, and was so friendly with
Norman. Some thought it very mean
spirited in him, and others remember
ed that when he was very young he
had loved my mother dearly. Even
those who spoke kindly of him did
net give him credit for half the noble
unselfshness he had shown for he
would not let me tell any one that it
was he himself who had planned
everything about my property and
my wedding
Just let them say you Tilted me,
Frances, if they please to do so We
know better, and we will keep our
secret until uncle Miles comes round. s"
Aunt and uncle both came round
sooner than we expected. When it
was known that Stephen spent so
much of his time with us, aunt Miles
considered the advantages of having
her daughters brought Familiarity in
contact with him, and for their sakes
she came to see me and give nae the
kiss of reconciliation.
But, as far as catching Stephen
heart ''in the rebound was concerned,
she was just little too late, Norman's
sister, who was a teacher in one of the
public schools Of New York, came to
spend her vacation with us, and
Stephen fell in love with her in way
that convinced me that his love for
Frances Holiday had only been the
shadow Of the love he had for her
mother. Why Norman himself never
behaved more foolishly about me than
Stephen about this little plain Ruth
Strong; for she is plain-every one
must allow that.
And the preparations that are going
on for the marriage quite amuse me,
who might have been the bankers
wife myself Dear me, / think Love
must laugh at the kind of people he
toIuGS III coutdsCb WIN. bhl L nOpc
Stephen will be happy. / do indeed.
This is all | have to say about the
marriage. l think it was rather pc
culiar. Some women will doubtless
say they don't believe such men as
Stephen exist. But let q girl, when
she discovers she does not like man,
tell him so and ask his advice and
help, and ten to one she viii find
another Stephen. How can men be
chivalrous and selfdenying if women
don't give them opportunities L
think this is wrong, and / intend to
give Norman every chance to cult
vate such noble qualities.