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

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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 | was
not; but then | was in a 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 OstentatiOn as possible.
But as Stamford hall everything
had been prepared for my comfort.
The fires were blazing, the gas light
ed, and an excellent supper waiting.
The next morning Norman went
back to his desk, and Stephen to' P
no moro notice Of his return than
if he had never left It. People who
had been specializing about his los
ing his position knew in five min
utes 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 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 sat
isfed. The women acted with a
great deal more intelligence. They
all came to see me, and though |
did not give them all credit for the
very kindest of motives | made
them all welcome. | told them
about my wedding trip, and showed
them my new things, and | dare say
the men talked everything over
with them afterward.
But whatmost puzzled everybody
was that Stephen Barker came 50
often to see us, and was so friendly
with Norman. Some thought it
very mean-spiritedin him, and 9th
ers remembered that when he was
very young he had loved my moth
er dearly. Even those who spoke
kindly Of him Gid not give him cred
it for half the noble unselishness
he had shown; for he would not let
me tell any one that it was he him.
self 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 secret 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 IA
miliarly in contact with him, and
for their sakes she came to see mo
and gave Inc the kiss Of reconcilia-
ton.
But as far as catching Stephens
heart in the rebound was con-
cerned, she was just a little too
late. Norman's sister, who was a
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 a way that con.
vinced me that his love for Frances
Halliday had only been the shadow
of the love he hal for her mother.
Why, Norman himself never be-
haved more foolishly about me than
Stephen about this little plain Ruth
Strong, for she is plain-eyery one
must allow that.
And the preparations that are
going on for the marriage quito
amuse me, who might have been
the bankers wife myself Dear me,
| think Love must laugh at the kind
of people he comes in contact with.
But hope Stephen will be happy ;
| do indeed.
That is all have to say about
nv marriage. | think it was rather
peculiar. Some women will doubt.
less say they don't believe such
men as Stephen exist. But let
girl, when she discovers she does
not like a 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-de-
nying if women don't give them
opportunities? | think that is
wrong, and l intend to give Nor
man every chance to cultivate such
noble qualities.
Several weeks since, Ii tile Genie,
four years old, while travelling in
company with his parents from
their old home in Maine to a new
one in California, occupied at night
with his mother an upper berth in
the sleeping car. Awaking once
in the middle Of the night, his
mother asked him if he knew
where he was.
'Tourse | do he replied. Tm
in the top drawer
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