Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-04-02
STEPHENS MANAGEMENT.

How Cupid managed TO send Ste
phen Barker after nae | could never
find out; but this is between them
selves, ard is none of my business
A man good enough for Elizabeth
and Janet and all such ornaments tc
their sex, 10 lay his honest heart al
my feet own that for a day or two
the honor almost turned my head.
Then began TO consider, | had
loved Norman Strong ever since ]
could remenher, and Norman had
been my friend when no one said 9
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 property that wins our
admiration and awakens our hearty
desire to get away from it. | had a
small fortune of S25, 900, that is, /
was to have it if / remained unmar-
ried until was 80, or if / married be-
fore with my uncle's approval.
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 question. Stephen was the
great man aud the good man of our
small town. To have jnsinuated that
Stephen was not worthy OF a saint, a
beauty and an heiress united would
have been a heresy seriously affect
ing my uncle's social and commercial
standing. Stephen Barkers offer was
therefore accepted, and the next Sun
day we walked TO church together.
After this public avowal OF our IN
tentions the marriage was considered
inevitable by every person but me, /
must do myself the justice to state
that | never regarded my engagement
to Stephen seriously; it was part of a
plan TO secure my happiness and
rights. And as Stephen fully COIN
cided in it l do not expect censure
from any one else.
l think il was no later than the
third night after Stephen had spoken
to my uncle that ! frankly told him
that | thought | ought not to marry
him. He asked me why, and | said
"All my life long, Stephen, I have
been a crushed unhappy girl have
been afraid to speak or laugh, or
sing, and no one but Norman Strong
ever SAID q kind word to me until you
came.
"And you love Norman he asked,
bluntly,
So i answered: yes, I 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 trust
ed with my $25,000 ~
$50 you have $25,00O2'
Papa left me that much, but
Uncle Miles can keep it until am s.
unless | marry to please him, or un
less he is so satisfied OF my good
sense that he voluntarily gives 1T uI
to me. He Will never do tE8t.
Stephen was silent long time anC
then he said a little sadly You art
a good girl to be so honest with me
If your uncle could be made TO Civ,
up your little fortune, DO you thinl
you could use it wisely
81 could-with Norman TO he'll
me"
Then we had a long conversation
which it is not necessary for me (,
repeat; it will oe understood by wha
follows. There was no change aD
parently between StepheH and me
He behaved exactly as lover of hi
age and character would be likely t.
behave. He sent aunt presents from
his hot-hcuses, and lie made m,
presents of pretty iewelry He spen
the evenings at Uncle Miles house
and sometimes we were left alon,
together and sometimes we went on
for a walk. Norman came occasional
ly on a Sunday night and my auA
SAID he had really behaved with NOR,
good sense than she had expected.
think she thought that if ! marrleC
the banker it might not be baC