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

| was very plaln, 10 marry the panKef
cashier.
Every thing went on with the great
est propriety. / had announced my
| intention to have an extraordinary
rousseau, and this being a 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 uu
dergarments, such lingerie, such
hosiery, such morning dresses and
evening costumes, such wonderful
boots and slippers and jewelry. We
neld little receptions every afternoon,
a month before the wedding, and my
wardrobe was laid out in the best
bedroom for comment and inspee-
! ton
1t was about this time that Stephen
Baker said to my uncle: i under
stand Frances has $25, 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 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 sayl"
81 think your offer extremely gener-
Gus, Mr., Barker, and of course for
such a purpose l am willing to hand
over to you at once Frances fortune.
The interest has been applied to her
own use always. Will you look at
the accounts2'
"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 $40, 600, and his sub.
sequent outlay OF 81 600 on furniture;
but both uncle and aunt said that the
settlement was small enough for a
man of his means, and that 1t would
be attectation to oppose it, And
really, Stephen managed the whole
affair with such fatherly kindness and
thoughtfulness that i could not bear
to oppose him.
At length the wedding day drew
near 1t had been arranged for We'd
nesdsy morning, and we were to leave
for New York Immediately after the
ceremony. Cousin Jose, who had
prepared himself to look down on all
the world from the pulpit, was to
perform the ceremony. This showed
in Jose very forgiving spirit, seeing
that he had once looked on me and
my $25, 900 with affection, and | had
not appreciated the honor. However,
he forgave me at this interesting
epoch, and came benignly to bless my
venture. He brought me as present
black onyx ring, on which was set
a cross in seed pearls. He had offer
ed me it once before, with his atfec-
tions and his manse and | had then
refused it. took it this time.
1t helped to swell the list of my
presents. and thew certainly made a
goodly show. First, there was the
Stamford estate from my father and
Stephen Barker and the settled bills
for $1,000 worth of new furniture,
which Stephen had sent to make the
old rooms comfortable. Uncle gave
nae a set of silver, and aunt some fine
china, both of which gifts | took care
to send to Stamford before my we'd
ding day, My cousins and aunts and
friends gave me all sorts of iewery
and pretty personal knickknacks and
these | carefully packed in the half
dozen trunks, which were already
corded and directed two days before
the marriage day.
For Stephen lad proposed to send
all my trunks to our New York hotel
two days before we left, in order that
we might have ne concern about
them, and that | might be sare to
have all wanted on my arrival. l
opposed this at first, but aunt said that
il was 'eminently properand thought
fHl. y So all my wardrobe, except my
wedding dIess and q travelling suit,
arrived at the Fifth Avenue Hotel,
New York, ON the last day of my mai
den life.
Norman Strong called that night,
and was in remarkable high spirits.
He wished me every happiness. and
was very attentive TO Malvina. Aunt
thought ais behavior charming
unselhsh-and | also was very well
satisfied with it.
81 shall cali you about o'clock,
Francis, said my aunt as / babe her
good night; the hairdresser comes
at $50"
1 said VERY well, Aunt" and
went To my room. The FIRST thing /
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
] o'clock / heard the signal | watched
for. / went softly down stairs. UNI
locked the back door and walkes out
Norman was there. We did not
speak until We were outside the
grounds. There "A buggy waited, and