The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-06-17

aunt said that it was "eminently proper
and thoughtful So all my wardrobe,
except my wedding dress and a travelling
suit, arrived at the Fifth Avenue hotel,
New YSrk, 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-so unselfsh-and l
also was very well satisfied with it
Il shall call you about 8 o'clock,
Frances, said my aunt as l babe her
goodnight; the hairdresser comes at
$50.
said: "Very well, aunt, and went to
my room. The first thing l did was to
pack my wedding dress in as small COM
pass as possible, and then put on my
travelling costume. This done, sat down
in the dark About 1 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 until we were outside the grounds
rapidly to main line about three miles
of. Here we caught the 2 o'clock ex
press, and were safe in New York, and
were 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 fight was not
discovered till near 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 disappointment were very
great; in fact, when / considered the
amount of coincidence and gossip they
would have to endure, felt that for all
the sights and scorns of my unloved girl
hood l could cry quits And l had got
my fortune also, and Norman and were
50 completely happy We had not care,
for Stephen had given him a $500 bill
and 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. did not expect to be forgiven
all at once, and l was not; but then was
in position not to worry particularly
about it. We returned very quietly after
dark one night, very much like two chill
dren who have played truant all day and
creep home at nightfall with as little os-
tentation as possible
But at Stamford hall everything had
been prepared for my comfort The fires
were blazing the gas lighted, and an ex-
cellent supper waiting. The next morn
ing 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 position
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 for
given, 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 a great deal more in
telligence. They all came to see me. and
though did not give them all credit for
the very kindest of motives l mao them
all welcome told them about my wed
ding trip and showed them my new
things, and l 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-spiTited i'll
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 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 Sc
cret until uncle Miles comes round
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 aim,
and for their sakes she came to see me
and gave me the kiss of reconciliation.
But. as far as catching Stephens heart
I" in the rebound" was concerned, she was
just a little too 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 q wav 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 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 my
self. Dear me, think Love must laugh
at the kind of people he comes in contact
with. But hope Stephen will be happy;
l do indeed
4 MS is ali nave 10 say ABOUT b0e mar
rage / think it was rather peculiar
Some women will doubtless say they
don't believe such men as Stephen exist
But let girl, when she discovers that
she does not like man, tell him SO 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 opportunities? l
think this is wrong, and intend to give
Norman every chance to cultivate such
noble qualities
Nicknames of English Regiments.