The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-04-03

tol1y packed IN . halt-doQ9 tTu1k
which wsre already corded ~ directo,
TWO days before the marriage day.
For Stephen had proposed % sen,
ell my trunks to our New York hoss
two days before we left, IN order ths
We might have no concern about them
and that I might DO sure 10 have all
wanted on my arrival. ] opposed thi
| plan ct first, but aunt said u ~ sem
inently proper and Thoughtful" 8,
I'll my wardrobe except my wedding
dress and travelling suit arrived at th,
6th.avenue hotel, New York. on Oh,
last day Of my maiden life.
Norman Strong called that night and
was in remarkably high spirits. 81,
wished mo every happiness, and W.
very attentive to MalvinA. Aunt thought
his behavior ohatming-so tnssifs6=
and Was very we'll satisfied aith Il;
II shall cali You about S6,clpSk, Fran:
Ses, said my aunt; ~ bads hSf good:
night; "ths hair dresser coms1 q B 80.
I said: Every we'll; auntS and went
to my room: The first thing I did wa
to pack my wedding. dress IN - small
compass as possible, and then put on
my travelling costume: This done; SAT
down in The dark. About one O'Clock
heard the signal I watched for. I went
softly down stairs; unlocked tho back
door and walked out. Norman was
there. We did not speak un.
til We were outside the grounds.
There buggy waited. and we
drove rapidly to . main line about
three miles Of. Here We caught the
2 o'clock express, and were safe in New
York and very respectfully married ct
10 O'Clock. Ny trunks, which had or.
rived the day before, were then re-di.
rected for Washington, and after q do.
licious little wedding breakfast-all by
ourselves-ws left for that city.
In the meantime there was trouble
enough in Milford. Our fight was not
discovered till near 8 O'CLOCK, aud then;
Uncle Miles sent word at once to Stsph.
en- Barker, who secluded himself for
that day entirely. Ny aunt and eous-
ms chagrin and disappointment we're
very great; in fact. when I considered
the amount Of condolences and gossip
they would have TO endure felt that
for all the sights and scorns of my I'M:
loved girlhood could cry quits. And
I had got my fortune also, and Norman
and I were SO completely happyi We
had not care, for Stephen had given
him $500 bill and . months holiday,
and told us to get all the pleasure We
could ont oft. We obeyed him implic-
lily.
During that month things settled
down little. I did not expect TO be
forgiven all at once, and I was not; but
then I was in 1 position not to worry
particularly about it. We returned very
quietly after dark ono night; very
much like two children who have played
truant all day and creep home at
nightfal with Is little ostentation o.
possible.
But at Stamford hall everything had
been prepared for my comfort. The
fres 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 il.
People who had been specializing about
his losing his position knew in five min.
utes that there would be no change.
And every one took his tone from Steph.
en-. We were treated very much like two
children who had bean forgiven, and
whose fault was not to he thrown up to
them.
That was the way the men took II,
and Norman pretended to be satisfied.
The women acted with . great deal
moro intelligence. They all came to
see me, and though I did not give them
credit for the very kindest of motives I
made them all welcome. I told them
about my wedding trip. and showed
them my new things, and I 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 remembered
that when he was very young he had
loved my mother dearly. Even those
who spoke kindly Of him did not give
him credit for half the noble unselfish-
ness he had shown; for he would not
let me tell any one that it was he him
self who had planned everything about
my property and my wedding.
"Just let them say you Tilted me.
Frances, il they please to do 30. We
know better. and We will keep our &C.
cret until Uncle Miles comes round. /"
Aunt and uncle both came round
sooner than We expected. When it
was known that Stephen spent 20 much
of his time with us Aunt Miles consid-
cred the advantages of having her
daughters brought familiarly in contact
with him, ani for their sake she came
to see me and gave me the Kiss of rec
onciliation.
But e. far e. catching Stephens
heart "in the rebound" was concerned,
she was just little too late. Norman's
sister, who was . teacher in ono of the
public schools of New York, came to
spend her vacation with us, and Steph-
en- fell in love with her in way that
convinced me that his love for Frances
Halliday had only been the shadow Of
the love he had for her mother. Why,
Norman himself never behaved more
foolisnly. 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 peopls he comes in
contact with. But I hope Stephen will
be happy; lido indeed.
That is all I have to say about my
marriage. I think it was rather pecu-
liar. Some women will doubtless say
they don't believe such men as Stephen
exist. But let a girl, when she discov-
ers she does not like q man, tell him 80,
and ask his advice and help, and ten to
one she will find another Stephen.
How can men be chivalrous and self
denying if women don't give them OPP
portunities? I think that is wrong.
and intend to give Norman every
chance to cultivate such noble qualities
The Insidious Punch of Washing.
ton.
Warrington correspondence New York World