The Press., 1885-03-26
MY WEDDING.


 Barker after me I never could find out but that is between themselves, and is none of my business. A man good enough for Elizabeth and Janet, and all such or naments to their sex, to lay his honest heart at my foolish little feet ! own that for day or two the honor almost turned my head.
 Then began to consider. I had loved Norman Strong ever since ] could remem- Der, and Norman had been my friend when no one said kind word to me. rire Case stood thus 1 was au orphan, left to the care of an uncl4 aud aunt remarkable for that kind of propriety that wins our adm rat,ou and awakens our hearty desire to gei away from 1t. l had a small fortune of s25, ,OO0; that is, was to have'it if I remained unmarried until was 35, or, if ! married before, with my uncle's approval Now, uncle did not approve of Norman. In fact, uacle nev' approved of any one that I liked. But with Stephen Barker l disapproval was out of the question: Stephen WAS the great man and the good man of our small town. To have insinu- ated that Stephen was not worthy of a saiut, a beauty and an heress united would hav,, bean heresy seriously affecting my uncle's social and commercial s anding. Stephen Barker's offer was therefore ac cepted, and the next Sunday we walked to church together.
 After this public avowal of our inten. tions the marriage was considered inevita. ble by every person but me. must dc myself the iustic, to state that never re. 'garded my engagement to Stephen scri. ously; it was part of a plan to secure my happiness and rights. And as Stephen fully coinc,ded ill it do not expect cen sure from any one else.
 I think it was no later than the third night after Stephen had spoken to my un cle that frankly told him that thought I ought not to marry him. He asked mt why, and I said "All my life long, Stephen, have been crushed, unhappy girl. I have been afraid to speak, ol laugh, or sing, and no one but Norman Strong ever said kind word to me until you came"
 "And you love Norman ?" he asked, b!untly.
 So answered.: "Yts, love him, and he loves me, and when he got the position of cashier in your bank he wanted to m ,r- ! rv me but uncle said we were neither of us to be trusted with my 1925, ,00O.'
 'So you have $25, ,OO0?"
 1 s.Pnpa left me that much but Uncle l Miles can keep it until am thirty five, unless ] marry to please him, or unless he is so satisfied of my good sense that he voluntarily gives it to ne. He will never 1 do that
 i Stephen was silent long timA, and then he said, little sadly: ''You are gn girl to be SO honest with me. If your uu- ! ole could be made to give up your littl fortune do you think you could use 1t ! wisely?'
 1 "I could-with Norman to help me-"
 Then we had long conversation, which ] it is not necessary for me to repeat it will be understood by what follows. Ther, was DO change apparently between Stephen and I. He behaved exactly as lover of his age and character would be likely to behave. He sent aunt presents from his hor-houses, and he made me presents of pretty jewelry. He spent the evenings at Uncle Niles house, and sometimes We were left alone together, and sometimes we went out for walk. Norman came t' me occasionally on Sunday night, and my aunt said he had really b~havel with more good sense than she expected. think she thought that if l married tn banker it might not be bad thing for my Cousin Malvina, who WAS vero plain. t, marry the bankers cashier.
 
 propriety. I had announced my intention to have an extraordinary trosseau aud thi. being point on which aunt could fee with me, the next four months Wire pl- as antly spent in shopping and sewing. Nev CT in our little town had there been seer such dozens of elegantly trimmed under garments, such lingerie, such hosiery such morning dresses and evening COS tunes, such wonderful boots and slipper and j-welry. We held little reception every afternoon month before the wed ding, and my wardrobe was laid out Ill tn best bedroom for comment and inspection
 It was about this time that Stephel Barker said to my uncle: ''I understant Frances has s25,OOO. wish her to hay it so settled on herself, and for her owl absolute use, that propose, Mir. Miles, you are willing, to add BIO, ,OOO to it, an, buy for her the Stamford estate. It i only three miles from here, the house is very fine one, the land excellent, and then whatever changes come, it cures her competency, for as soon as the railway finished 1t will be worth donble. Wha f do you say?'
 ''I think your offer extremely generous MT. Barker, and of course for such a pun ) pose I am willing to hand over to you a once Frances fortune. The interest ha been applied to her own use always. Wi you look at the accounts ?"
 "Yonr word is sufficient, MT. Miles"
 So in about two weeks the transfer wa safely and amicably effected, and Stamfor, hall and estate were firmly and surel. made over 10 Frances Halliday, spiuster for her and her heirs forever. I mus state here that I opposed as strongly as thought right Stephens gift of $10, ,OO0 and his subsequent outlay of $1 ,OO0 ol furniture but both u,cle and aunt sai' that the settlement was small enough f.'r man of his means, q that it would b. atfectation to oppose it, And really Steph en managed the whole affair with suc| fatherly kindness and tn'ughtfulness t.:a I could not bear to oppose him.
 At length the wedding day drew near It had been arranged for Wed lesda, morning, and we were to leave for N-v York immediately after the cerem my Cousin Jose, who had prepared himself t. 5 look down on all the world from the pull pit, was to perform the ceremony. I'm 2 showed in Jose a very forgiving spirit, see ing that he had ol.ce looked on me an, f my $25, 900 with affection, and I had nc appreciated the honor. However, he fo1 :; gave me at this interesting epoch, an' I came benignly to bless my venture. H f brOup ht me AS a present a black Oynx SCH