Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-03-04
laid out in the best bedroom for com

Barker said to my uncle: 81 under
stand Frances has $25, 900. [ wish
her to have it SO settled on herself, and
for her own absolute use, that | pro-
pose, Mr. Miles, if you are willing to
add $4,000 to it, and buy for her the
Stamford estate. 1t Is only three
miles from here, the house is very
fine one, the land excellent, and then,
whatever changes come, it secures her
a competency, for as soon as the rail
way is finished it will be worth double.
What do you say?"
II think your offer extremely gener-
Gus, Mr.. Barker, and ofcoursefors such
a purpose l am willingto hand over to
you at once Frances fortune. The
interest has been applied to her own
use always. Will you look over the
accounts?"
''Your word is sufficient, Mr.. Miles"
So in about two weeks the. transfer
was safely and amicably effected and
Stamford Hall and estate were firmly
and surely made over to Frances Hal
liday, spinster, for her and her heirs
forever. [ must state here that | OPP
posed as strongly as [ thought right
Stephens gift of $4,000, and his sub
sequent outlay of 81 900 onfurniture;
but both uncle and aunt said that the
settlements were small enough for
man of his means, and that it would
be affectation to oppose it. And re-
ally Stephen managed the whole affair
with such fatherly kindness and
thoughtfulness that | couldn't bear to
oppose him.
At length the wedding day drew
near. It had been arranged for We'd
nesday morning, and we were to leave
for New York Immediately after the
ceremony. Cousin Jose, who had pre-
pared himself to look down on all the
world from the pulpit, was to perform
the ceremony. This showed in Jose a
very forgiving spirit, seeing that he
had once looked on me and my $685.
600 with affection, and | had not APP
preciated the honor. However, he
forgave me at this interesting epoch,
and came benignly to bless my ven
ture. He brought me as a present a
black onyx sealring, on which was set
a cross in seed-pearls. Hehad offered
me it once before, with his affections
and his manse, and | had then re-
fused it. [ took it this time.
1t helped to swell the list of my
presents, and they certainly made a
goodly show. First, there was the
Stamford estate from my father and
Stephen Barker, and the settled bill
for 81 900 worth of new furniture
which Stephen had sent to make the
old rooms pretty and comfortable.
Uncle gave me a set of silver, and aunt
some fine china, both of which gifts [
took care to send to Stamford before
my wedding day. My cousins and
aunts and friends gave me all sorts Of
iewelry and pretty personal knick-
knacks, and these [ carefully packed
in the half-dozen trunks which were al
ready and directed two days be-
fore the marriage day.
For Stephen had proposed to send
all my trunks to our New York hotel
two days before we left, in order that
we might have no concern about them,
and that | might be sure to have all |
wanted on my arrival. Iopposed this
plan at first, but aunt said it was
"eminently proper and thoughtful"
So all my wardrobe except my we'd
ding dress and a travelling suit arrived
at Fifth-Avenue Hotel, New York, 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
[ was also very well
satisfied with it.
Il shall call you about s o'clock,
Frances" said my aunt, as [ babe her
good night; ''the hair dresser comes at
$50"
said: every well, aunt" and went
to my room. The first thing I did
was to pack my wedding-dress in as
small compass as possible, and then
put on my travelling costume. This
done, [ sat down in the dark About
l O'Clock | heard the signal | watched
for. [ went softly down stairs, I'M
locked the back door and walked out.
Norman was there. We did not speak
until we were outside the grounds.
There buggy waited, and we drove
rapidly to a main line about three
miles off. Here we caught the 2
o'clock express, and were safe in New
York and very respectfully married
by 10 o'clock. My trunks, which
had arrived the day before, were then
re-directed for Washington, and after
delicious little wedding breakfast
all by ourselves-we left for that city.
In the meantime there was trouble
enough in Milford. Our flight 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 I con-
sidered the amount of coincidence and
gossip they would have to endure
felt that for all the Sights and scorns
of my unloved girlhood [ could cry
quits. And [ had got my fortune also,
and Norman and | were so completely
happy! We had not a 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 little. did not expect to be
forgiven all at once, and [ was not;