Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1885-05-09
MY WEDDING.

How Cupid managed to send
Stephen Barker after me | never
could find out; but that is between
themselves, and is none of my bus
mess. A man good enough for
Elizabeth and Janet and all such
ornaments to their sex, to lay his
honest heart ut my foolish little
feet! own that for a day or two
the honor almost turned my head.
Then began to consider. | had
loved Norman Strong ever since ]
could remember, and Norman had
been my friend when no one said a
kind word to me. The case stood
thus: | was All Orphan, left to the
care of an uncle and aunt remarka-
bic for that kind of propriety that
wins our admiration and awakcns
our hearty desire to get away from
it. | had IL small fortune Of S25,
600; that is, ] was to have it if re.
manned unmarried until [ WAS 80,
or if | married before with my un-
cle's approval.
Now, uncle did not approve oil
Norman. In fact, uncle never APP.
proved of amy one that liked. But
with Stephen Barker disapproval
was ont of the question. Stephen
was the great man of our small
town. To have inSinuated that
Stephen was not worthy of Il saint,
Il bca ~ and an heiress united
would fnlve been Il IiercSy seriously
affecting my uncle'S social and com
mercial standing. Stephen Bankers
offer was therefore accepted, and
the next Sunday we walked to
church together.
After this public avowal Of ON
intentions the marriage was conSid-
cred inevitable by every person but
me. L must do myself the justice
to state that | never regarded my
engagement to Stephen seriously;
it was part of a plan to secure my
happiness and rights. And as Ste
phen fully conceded in it l do not
expect censure from any one else.
| think it was no later than the
third night after Stephen had
spoken to my uncle that frankly
told him that I thought ought
not to marry him. He asked me
WHY, and | said: "Allmy life long,
Stephen, have beena crushed, un-
happy girl. have been afraid to
speak, or laugh, or sing, and no one
but Norman Strong ever said a
kind word to me until you came.n
"And you love Norman?" he
asked, bluntly.
SO / answered: "Yes, l love him,
and ne loves me, and when he got
the position of cashier in your bank
he wanted to marry me, but uncle
said We were neither of us to lie
trusted with my $4,000"
$50 you have S25,0OOW
0Papa left me that much, but
Uncle Miles can keep it until am
80 unless | marry to please him, OF
unless he is so satisfied of my good
sense that he voluntarily gives il
up to me. lie will never do that
Stephen was silent a long time
and then he said, a little sadly;
''You are q good girl to be so hon
est with me. If your uncle could
be made to give up your little for
tune, do you think you could use il
wisely9"
81 could-with Norman to hell
me-"
Then we had long converse
ton, Which it is not necessary fol
me to repeat; it will be understood
by what fellows. There WAS nc
change apparently between Ste
phen and me. He behaved exact
IL as a lover Of his age and charac
ter would he likely to behave. He
sent aunt presents from his hot
houses, and he made me presents
of pretty iewelry. He spent the
evenings at Uncle Miles, house, and
sometimes we were left alone to-
gctIcr, aud sometimes we went ou1
for walk. Norman came to me
occasionally on Sunday night
and my aunt said he had really be-
haved with more good sense than
she had expected. | think she
thought that if | married the bank
Ell it might not be bad thing fol
couslL Malvina, who was very
plain,to marry the bankers cashier
Everything went on with the
the greatest propriety. had an
nounced my intention to lave an
extraordinary troussean, and this
being a point OH which aunt could
feel with me, tue next four months
were pleasantly spent in shopping
and sewing. Never in our little
town had there been seen sucl
dozens of elegantly trimmed under
garments, such lingerie, such hos
iery, such morning dresses and CIV
ening costumes, such wonderful
boots and slippers and jewelrl.-
We had little receptions every at
ternoon, IL mouth before the wed
ding, aud my wardrobe WAS laIf
out III the best bedroom for com
ment and inspection.
TWAS about this time that Ste
phen Barker said tomyuncle: II un
derStand Frances has $50, 900.
wish her to have it settled on her