New Ulm weekly review., 1885-04-01

morning, nnd we wereto leave. for New
York Immediately after the ceremony
Cousin Jose who had preparedI himself
to look down on all tho world: from the
pulpit was to perform the ceremony.
This showed in Jose avery forgiving
spirit, seeing that he had once looked
on. me ond my $25, 900 with affection
and L had not appreciated. the honor.
However, he forgave me at this inter
esting epoch. and came benignly to
bless my venture. He brought me as q
present black onyx seal ring, on which
was setsa cross in seed pearls. He had
offered me it once before, with his af-
fectlons and his manse, andl had then
refused it,. [ took it this .time..
It helped to swell the list of my pres
ents; and they certainly made good
ly show, First there was,the Stamford
estate from. my father and Stephen
Barker, and: the settled bill for ST 900
worth of new furniture. which Stephen
had sent to make the old rooms look
pretty and oomfortable:. Uncle gave
me a. set of silver; and aunt some fine
china, both ofwhich gifts I took care to
send to Stamford before my wedding
day. My cousins and aunts and friends
gave me all sorts of jewelry and pretty
i personal knioknacks,. and these ]. care
fully packed in. a half-do1en trunks
which were already; cordedand directed
two. days before the marriage day.
For Stephen had; proposed to send
all my trunks to our, New York hotel
two days before we left, in order that
we might have no, concern about them,
and that I might be: sure to have all I
wanted on my arrival. I opposed this
plan at first, but aunt said it was tenn
inently proper and thoughtful. So
all my wardrobe except my wedding
dress and travelling SUIT arrived at the
9th avenue hotel, New York, on the
last day 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 unselfsh-
and / was very we'll satisfied with it.
Il shall call YOU about 8oclock, Fran
ces,' said my aunt, as bade her good
night; "the hair dresser comes at 80.
said: every we'll, aunt" and went
to my room. The first thing did was
to pack my wedding dress in as small
compass as possible, and then put on
my travelling costume. This done, I sat
down in the dark. About one 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 un-
til we were outside the grounds.
There a buggy waited. and we
drove rapidly to main line about
three miles off. Here we caught the
2 o'clock express, and were safe in New
York and very respectfully married at
10 o'clock. My trunks, which had ar
rived the day before, were then re-di-
rected for Washington, and after de-
licious little wedding breakfast-all by
ourselves-we left for that city.
In the meantime there was trouble
enough in Milford. Our fight was not
discovered till near o'clock, and then,
Uncle Miles sent word at once to Steph-
en- Barker, who secluded himself for
that day entirely. My aunt and cous-
ms chagrin and disappointment were
very great; in fact, when I considered
the amount Of coincidence and gossip
they would have to endure I felt that
for all the Sights and scorns of my un.
loved girlhood could cry quits. And
I had got my fortune also, and Norman
and I'were SO completely happy! We
had not care, for Stephen had given
him a $500 bill and a months holiday,
and told us to get all the pleasure we
could out of it. We obeyod him implic-
lily.
During that month things settled
down little. I did not expect to be
forgiven all at once, and was not; but
then I was in position not to worry
particularly about it. We returned very
quietly after dark one night, very
much like two children who have played
truant all day and creep home at
nightfall with as little ostentation 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 it.
People who had been speculating 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 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, 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