Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-02-27

every afternoon a mOnth oeioio 'no
wedding, and my wardrobe was laid
out in the best bedroom for COM
ment and inspection.
1t was about this time that Ste
phen Barker said to my uncle; i
understand Frances has $4,000. |
wish her to have it so settled on
herself, and for her own absolute
use that Ipropose, Mr.. Miles, If you
are willing, to add $4,000 to it, and
bnv for her the Stamford estate. 1t
is only three miles from here, the
house is "a very fine one, the land
excellent, and then, whatever
chan ges come, it secures her COM
petency, for as soon as the railway
is finished il will be worth double.
What do you sayP
Il think your offer extremely
generous, Mr.. Barker, and of course
for such purpose am willing to
hand over to you at once Frances
fortune. The interest has been ap-
piled to her own use always. VIII
vou look at the accounts 2
your word is sufficient, Mr..
Miles
So in about two weeks the trans
fer was safely and amicably effected
and Stamford Hall and estate were
firmly and securely made over to
Frances Halliday, splnster, for her
and herheir forever. | must state
here that | opposed as strongly as
| thought right Stephens gift of
$4,000, and his subsequent outlay
of 1000 on furniture, but both
uncle and aunt said that the settle
ment was small enough for a man
Of his means, and that it would be
afectatiOn to oppose it. And real
~ Stephen managed the whole af-
fair with such fatherly kindness and
thoughtfulncss that | could not
bear to oppose him.
At length the wedding day drew
near. 1t had been arranged for
Wednesday morning, and we were
to leave for New York Immediately
after the ceremony. Cousin Jose,
who had prepared himself to look
down on all the world from the pull
pit, was to perform the ceremony.
This showed in Jose very fOrglv-
ing spirit, seeing that he had once
looked on me and my $4,000 with
affection, and had not appreciated
the honor. However, he fOrgave
me at this interesting epoch, and
came benignly to bless my venture.
He brought me as a present black
oynx seal ring, on which was set a
cross in seed-pearls. He had offer
ed me it once before, with his alec
ti0ns and his manse, and had then
refused it. / took it this time.
1t helped to swell the list of my
presents, and they certainly made
a goodly show. First, there was
the Stamford estate from my father
and Stephen Barker, and the set
tied bill for $1,000 worth Of new
furniture which Stephen had sent
to make the old rooms pretty and
comfortable. Uncle gave me set
of silver, and aunt some fine china,
both of which gifts | took care to
send to Stamford before my we'd
ding day. Ny cousins and aunts
and friends gave me all sorts of
jewelry and pretty personal knick-
knacks, and these carefully pack
oil in the hali-dozen trunks which
were already corded and directed
two days before the marriage day.
ForStephen 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 | might be sure to
have all | wanted on my arrival. l
opposed this plan at first, but aunt
said it was 'eminently proper and
thoughtful.' SO all my wardrobe
except my wedding dress and a
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.
lie wished me every happiness, and
was very attentive to Malyina.-
Aunt thought his behavior charm
ing-so unselfsh-and ] was also
very well satisfied with il,
Il shall call you about 8 o'clock,
Frances said my aunt, as | bade
her good night; 'the hair dresser
comes at 500
said: very WE'LL and went to
my room. The first thing Ibid was
to pack my wedding-dress in as
small compass as possible, and then
pat on my travelling costume. This
done, sat down in the dark. About
one o'clock | heard the signal |
watched for. | went softly down
stairs, unlocked the back door and
walked out. Norman was there
We did not speak It'll We were
outside the grounds. There a bug
gy waited, and We drove rapidly to
a main line about three miles of.
Here we caught the 2 o'clock ex-
press, and were safe in New York
and very respectfully married By
10 o'clock. Ny trunts, which had
arrived the day before, were then
re-directed for Washington, and