St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-15

MY WEDDING.

to their sex, to lay his honest heart at my
foolish little feetl l own that for a day or
two the honor almost turned my head.
Then l began to consider. | had loved
Norman Strong ever since I could remember
and Norman had been my friend when no
one said a kind word TO me. The case stood
thus: Twas an orphan, left to the care of
an uncle and aunt remarkable for that kind
of propriety that wins our admiration and
awakens our hearty desire to get away from
it, | had a small fortune of $50, 600; that is,
was to have it if l remained unmarried
until | was 3d. Or If | married before, with
my uncle's approval.
Now, uncle did not approve of Norman.
In fact, uncle never approved of any one
that liked But with Stephen Barker dis
approval was out of the question. Stephen
was the great man and the god man of our
small town. To have insinuated that Stephen
was not worthy of a saint, beauty and an
heiress united would have been heresy seri-
ouslv affecting my uncle's social and COM
mercal standing. Stephen Bnker's offer
was therefore accepted, aud the next Sunday
we walked to church together.
After this public avowal of our intentions
the marriage was considered inevitable by
every person but me. must do myself the
Justice to state that never regarded my en-
gagement to Stephen seriously; it was part
of a plan to secure my happiness and rights.
And as Stephen fully colncided in 1t do not
expect ceusure 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 l thOughtI ought not
to marry him. He asked me why, and said:
'tAll my life long, Stephen, have been e.
crushed, unhappy girl. l 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"
''And you love Norman.'' he asked
| bluntly.
So answered.: ''Yes, love him and he
loves me, and when he got the position of
| cashier in YOUR bank he wante Ito marry me
but uncle said we were neither of US to be
trusted with my S25, 600"
$50 you have S25. 00O.''
'.Papa left Inc that much; hut Uuele Miles
can keep it until l am 30, unless marry to
please him, or unless he is SO Satisfied of my
|
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 1t wlselyP
~ could-with Norman 10 help me-"
Then we had long conversation, which il
Is not necessary for me 10 repeat: IT will be
understood by what follows. There was no
change apparent between stephen and me.
He behav ed exactly as lover Of his age and
character would be likely TO behave. He
sent aunt presents from his lighthouses. and
he made me presents of pretty jewelry. He
spent the evenings Mt Uncle Miles house,
aud sometimes we were left alone together,
| and sometimes we went out for walk.
Norman came to see me occasionally on a
| SUNDAY night, and my aunt said he had really
behaved with more good sense than she ex-
pected. | think she thought that ii l mar
ried the banker II might not he q bad thing
for nv cousin Malyina, who was very plain,
to marry the bankor's cashier.
Everything went on with the greatest pro-
priety. / had announced my intention TO
have an extraordinary trOusseau, add 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 evening costumes, such wonder
full boots and slippers and jewelry. We
held little receptions every afternoon month
before t1e wedding, and my wardrobe was
laid cut in the best bedroom for comment
and inspection.
| bo, Do ~ ar
| said TO nv uncle: II understand Frances
has S25. 600. wish her to have it settled ON
herself, and for her own absolute use, that
propose, Mr.. Miles, If you are willing, to add
$40, 900 to ii. and buy for her the Stanford
estate. 1t is only three miles from here, the
house is a very fine one, the land exec lent,
and then. whatever changes come, II secures
her n competency, for as soon as the railway
is finished il will be worth double. What do
you ssyl''
Il think your offer extremely generous,
Mr.. Barker, and of course, for such pur-
pose, am willing to band over to you al
once frances fortune. The interest has
been applied to her own use always. VIII
you look at the secounts"
'sYour word is sufficient, Mr.. Miles"
So In about two weeks the transfer was
safely and amicably effected, and Stamford
Hall an estate we're firmly and surely made
over to Frances Halliday, sSinster, for her
and her heirs forever. / must state here
that opposed as strongly as though right
Stephens gift of $4,000; and his suisse
quent OUTLAY of 81, 900 on furniture, but both
uncle and aunt said that the settlement Was
small enough for man Of his means, and
that it would be affectation to oppose 1t.
Aud really Stephen managed the whole aifair
with such a fatherly kindness and thought
fuluess that could n OF bear to oppose him
At length the wedding day drew near. II
had been arranged for Wednesday morning
and we were 10 leave for New York immedi
ateiv after the ceremony. Cousin Joe, who
had prepared himself to look down on all the
world from The pulpit, vas TO perform the
ceremony. This showed in Jose a very for.
giving spirit. seeing that he had once looked
on me and nv s25, 900 With affection. and
had not appreciated the honor. However,
be forgave me at this interesting epoch aht
came benignly to bless.my venture. H'
brought me IS a present black onyx sea
ring. on which was set cross in seed pearls
He had offered me It once before, With bis
Elections and his mause, and had then re-
used it. / took il this time.
II belped 10 swell the list OF nv present.
aud they &c rtauly made q goOdly show. Firs
there was the Stamford estate from my father
aud Stephen Barker, and the settled bills for
81. 900 worth OF new furniture which stephen
! had sent to make the old rooms pretty aut
comfortable. Uncle gave me q set Of silver
and aunt some fine china, both OF which gift
took care to send n Stamford hefOre M
wedding dsy. My cousins and suuts an,
friends gave me al sorts Of iewelry and prrt
" persona knicEnacks, aud these care ullI
; packed in the hslf-dozen trunks which yer
sireadv corded aud directed two days befor'
the marriage day.
For Stephen bad proposed to send AL ms
trunks to Our New York hOtei tao DAYS b.
fore ve left. in order that might have NJ
I cc,,..-,, sf,r,f them and that I ruigbt be sur