The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-06-17
MY WEDDING.
Philadelphia Record.I

honest heart at my foolish little feetl
own that for day or two the honor al
most turned my head
Then / began to consider. l had loved
Norman Strong ever since could remem.
Der, and Norman had been my friend
when no one said a kind word to me.
The case stood thus: l was an orphan,
left to the care of an uncle and aunt re.
markable for that kind Of propriety that
wins our admiration and awakens our
hearty desire to get away from it had
q small fortune of $25 900; that is, / was
to have it if l remained unmarried until
was 35, or if l married before with my
uncles approval.
Now, uncle did moi approve of Nor
man. In fact, uncle never approved of
any one that liked. But with Stephen
Barker disapproval was out of the ques-
tion. Stephen was the great man and the
good man OF our small town. To have in.
sinuated that Stephen was not worthy of
saint, q beauty and an heiress united
would have been heresy seriously affect
ing my uncle's social and commercial
standing. Stephen Bankers offer was
therefore accepted, and the next Sunday
we walked to church together.
After this public avOwal of our inten-
tions the marriage was considered newt
able by every person but me. must do
myself the justice to state that / never re-
garded my engagement to Stephen seri-
ously; it was part of plan to secure my
happiness and rights. And as Stephen
fully conceded in it 1 do not expect CEN
sure 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 /
thought l ought not to marry him. He
asked me why, and l said: "AlI M life
long, Stephen. l have been a crushed, un.
happy girl l have been afraid to speak,
or laugh. or sing, and no one but Norman
Strong ever said kind word to me until
you came.
"And you love Norman?" he asked,
bluntly.
So l answered: Eyes. l love him. and
he 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 be trusted with my $25, 600"
$50 you have $25, DOOR"
Papa lef me that much, but Uncle
Miles can keep it until l am 30 unless !
marry to please him, or unless he is so
satisfied of my good sense that he volun.
tariiy gives it up to me. He will never
do that.
Stephen was silent a long time, and
then he said, little sadly: "You are a
good girl to he so honest with me- If your
uncle. could be made to give up your lit
tie fortune, do you think you could use it
wisely2"
Il could-with Norman to help me.
Then we had a long conversation,
which it is not necessary for me to re-
peat; it will be understood by what fol
lows There was no change apparently
between Stephen and me. He behaved
exactly as a lover of his age and charac
ter would be likely to behave He sent
aunt presents from his lighthouses, and he
made me presents of pretty jewelry He
spent the evenings at Uncle Miles house,
and sometimes we were left alone together,
and sometimes we went out for walk.
Norman came to me occasionally on
Sunday night and my aunt said he had
really behaved with more good sense than
she had expected. i think she thought
that if / married the banker it might not
be bad thing for cousin Malvina, who
was very plain, to marry the bankers
cashier
Every thing went on with the greatest
propriety. l had announced my intention
to have an extraordinary trousseau, and
this being point on which aunt could
feel with me, the next four months were
pleasantly spent in shopping and sewing.
Never in our little town had there been
seen such dozens of elegantly trimmed
undergarments, such lingerie, such
hosiery, such morning dresses and even
ing costumes, such wonderful boots and
slippers and jewelry. We held little re-
the wedding, and my wardrobe was aid
out in the best bedroom for comment and
inspection.
1t was about this time that Stephen
Barker said to my uncle: Il understand
Frances has $25, 600 l wish her to have
It settled on herself and for her own alb
solute use, thaen l propose, Mr.. Miles. If
you are willing, to add $4,000 to it, and
buy for her the Stamford estate 1t is
only u - miles from here, the house is
very fine one, the land excellent, and then,
whatever changes come, it secures her
competency, for as soon as the railway is
finished will be worth double. What
do you say2"
81 think your offer extremely generous,
Mr.. Barker, and of course for such pur-
pose / am willing to hand over 70 you at
been applied to her own use always. Will
you look at the accounts?"
Your word is sufficient, Mr. Miles.
So in about two weeks the transfer was
safely and micably effected, and Siam
ford hall and estate were firmly and
surely made over to Frances Halliday,
spiuster, for her and her heirs forever. /
must state here that l opposed as strongly
as / thought right Stephens gift of
$40. 000 and his subsequent outlay of
81, 600 on furniture; but both uncle and
aunt said that the settlement was small
enough Tor man OF his means, and that
it would be affectation to oppose it. And
really, Stephen managed the whole affair
with such fatherly kindness and thought
fulness that could not bear to oppose
him.
At length the wedding day drew near.
It 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 forgiving spirit.
seeing that he had once looked on me and
my $25, 600 with affection, and had not
appreciated the honor. However, he for
gave me at this interesting epoch, and
came benignly to bless my venture. He
brought me as a present black onyx
ring, on which was set a cross in seed
pearls. He had offered me it once before,
with his affections and his manse. and /
had then refused it. / took it this time.
It helped to swell the list of my pres
ents. and they certainly made a goodly
show. First, there was the stamford es-
tate from my father and Stephen Barker
and the settled bills for 81, 600 worth of
new furniture, which Stephen had sent to
make the Old rooms comfortable. Uncle
gave me set of silver and aunt some fine
r. IL 20,