St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-15

my room. The first thing did was TO pack
my wedding-dress in as small compass Us
possible, and then put on my travelling eos
tune: This done, sat down in the dark.
About / O'Clock heard the signal watched
for. I went softly down stairs, unlocked the
back door and walked out Norman was
there. We did not speak until we were out
side the grounds. There buggy waited,
and we drove rapidly to a main &line about
three miles off. Here we caught the2 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 redirected for Washington, and
after a delicious little wedding breakfast-all
by ourselves-we left for that city.
In the meantime there was trouble enough
in Milford. Our flight was not discovered
till near s o'clock, and then Uncle Miles
sent word at once to Stephen Barker, who
secluded himself for that day entirely. My
aunt and Cousins chagrin and disappoint-
ment were very great; in fact, when l con-
sidered the amount of coincidence and Cos
sip they would have to endure l felt that for
all the Sights and scorns of my unlove0 girl
hood / could cry quits. And had got my
fortune also, and Norman and 1 were so
Stephen had given him $500 bill and 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. l did not expect to be forgiven all at
once, and was not; but then / was in a
position not to worry particularly about lit.
/ We returned very quietly after dark one
night, very much like TWO children who have
| PLAYED truant all dav and creep home at
nightfall with as little ostentation as pos
| sible.
! 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 Nor
man went back TO his desk, and Stephen took
| no more notice of his return than if he had
never left it. People who had been specu-
lating about his losing his position knew in
! five minutes that there would be no. change.
And everyone took his tone from Stephe n.
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 intelli
i gence They ali came to see me, and though
4 l did no. give them all credit for the very
kindest Of motives, l made them all welcome
| told them about my wedding trip, ant
showed them my new things, and dare say
the men talked everything over with then
afterward.
But what most puzzled everybody was tina
Stephen Barker came 50 often to see US, an'
was so friendly with Norman. Somt
thought it very mean-spirited in him, ant
Others remembered that when he wa
| very young he had loved my mother dearly
Even those who spoke kindly OF him did no
! give him credit for half the noble unselfsh
ness he bad shown for he would not let mi
tell anyone that it was he himself who hat
planned everything about my property ant
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 Mile
comes round"
Aunt and uncle both came round sooner
than We expected. When it was know
that Stephen spent so much of his time will
us Aunt Miles considered the advantage o
having her daughters brought Familiarity il
contact with him, and for their sakes she
| came TO see me and gave me a kiss of recon
citation.
But as far as catching Stephens heart I'm
the rebound'' was concerned, she was just
little TO late. Norman's sister who was
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 onvinced me that his love for Frances
Halliday had only been a shadow of the low,
he had for her mother. Why, Norman him
self never behaved more foolishly about M
than Stephen about this little plain Rutl
Strong; for she is plain-every one mus
allow this
And the preparations that are going on fol-
the marriage quite amuse me, who might
have been the bankers wife. myself. Dea
me, think love must laugh at the kind Q
people lie comes in contact with. But
hope Stephen will be happy; do indeed.
That is all l have TO say about my mar
riage, think it was rather peculiar. Som'
women will doubtless say they don't believ,
such men as Stephen exist. But let girl
when she discovers she does not like a man
tell him so and ask his advice and help, ant
ten to one she will find another Stephen
How can men be chivalrous and self deny
ing II women don't give them opportunities
| think it very wrong, and | intend to giv'
Norman every chance to cultivate such no
BILE qualities.