The Northern Pacific farmer., 1885-04-02
MY! WEDDING.

MI WEDDlN6.
How Cupid ever managed to send
Stephen Barker after me I never could
find out; but that is between them
selves, and is none of my business:
A man good enough for Elizabeth and
Janet, and all such ornaments to their
sex, to lay his honest heart at my fool:
tsh little feet. I own that for day or
two the honor almost turned my head.
Then I began to consider. I had
loved Norman Strong ever since I could
remember, and Norman had been my
friend when no one said kind word to
me. The case stood thus: was an
orphan, left to the care of an uncle and
aunt remarkable for that kind of pro-
priety that wins our admiration and
awakens our hearty desire to get away
from it. / had small fortune of $685.:
900; that is, was to have it if I Iremain:
ed unmarried until I was thirty five, or
if married before with my unc]e's ap-
proval.
Now, uncle did not 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 insinuated that Stephen was not
worthy of saint, beauty and an
heiress united ould have been heresy
seriously affecting my uncle's social and
commercial standing. Stephen Bark
er's offer was therefore accepted, and the
next Sunday Wa walked to church to-
gether.
After this public avowal of our inten-
tions the marriage was considered in
evitable by every person but me. I
must do myself the justice to state that
I never regarded my ngagoment to
Stephen seriously, it was part of plan
to secure my happiness and rights. And
as Stephen fully coincided in it I do not
expect censure from any else.
I think it was no later than tho third
night after Stephen had spoken to my
uncle that 1 frankly told him that I
tiionght ought not to marry him. He
asked me why, and I said, Call my
life long, Stephen, have been crush
ed, unhappy girl. I 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 I answered: Eyes, love him and
he loves me, and when he got the posi-
tion of cashier in your bunk he wanted
to marry me, but Uncle said we were
neither of US to be trusted with my
$25, ,O0O:"
$50 you have $25, ,00O."
Papa left mo that much; but Uncle
Miles can keep it until am thirty five,
unless marry to please him, or unless
he is 80 satisfied of my good sense that
he voluntarily gives it up to me. He
will never do that"
Stephen was silent long time and
then he said, little sadly: "You are
good girl to be so honest with me. If
your uncle could be made to give up
your little fortune do you think you
could use it wisely?"
II could-with Norman to help me-"
Then We had long conversation,
which it is not necessary for mo to re-
peat; it will be understood by what fol-
lows. There was no change apparently
between Stephen and I. He behaved
ter would be likely to behave. He
sent Aunt presents from his lighthouses,
and he made me presents Of pretty jew
elry. He spent the evenings at Uncle
Niles 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 expected.
I think she thought that if I married
the banker it might not be a bad thing
for my Cousin Malvina, who was very
plain, to marry tho bankers cashier.
Everything went on with tho greatest
propriety. I had announced my inten-
tion to have an extraordinary trousseau,
and this being point on which aunt
could feel with me, the next four
months wero pleasantly spent in shop
ping and sewing. Never in our little
town had there been seen such dozens
of elegantly trimmed undergarments,
such lingerie, such hosiery, such morn
ing dresses and evening costumes, such
wonderful boots and slippers and jew
elry. We held little receptions every
afternoon month before the wedding,
an1 my wardrobe was laid out in the
best bedroom for comment and inspec-
tion.
1t was about this time that Stephen
Barker said to my uncle: II under
stand Frances has 1925, 1000. I wish her
to have it so settled on herself, and for
her own absolute use, that I propose,
Mr.. Miles, if you are willing, to add
$4,000 to it, and buy for her the Stam-
ford estate. It is only three miles from
here, the house is very fine one, the
land excellent, and then, whatever
changes come, it secures her compe.
tency, for as soon as the railway is fin
ished it will be worth double. What do
you say?"
II think your offer extremely gener-
Gus, Mr.. Barker, and of course for such
purpose I am willing to hand over to
you at once Frances fortune. The in
terest has been applied to her own use
always. Will you look at the accounts?"
"Your word is sufficient, Mr.. Miles,"
So in about two weeks tho transfer
was safely and amicably effected and
Stamford Hall and estate we're firmly
and surely made over to Frances Halli-
day, spinster, for her and her heirs for
ever. must state here that ! opposed
as strongly as I thought right Stephens
gift of $4,000, and his subsequent out
lay of 81 900 on furniture, but both un-
Gle and aunt said that the settlement
was small enough for a man of his
means. and that it would be affectation