River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-04-02


his behavior charming unselfish-
and was very well satisfied with it.
II shall call you about 8o'clock, Fran
ces, said my aunt, as babe her good
night; "the hair dresser comes at 8 30"
| said Every 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 one o'clock /
heard the signal watched for. l went
softly down stairs, unlocked the back
door and walked out. Norman was
there. We did not speak I'M
til we were outside the grounds.
There a buggy waited. and we
drove rapidly to a main line about
three miles off. Here we caught the
2 o'clock express, and We're safe in New
York and very respectfully married at
10 o'clock. My trunks, which had ar
rived the day before, were then re-di-
rected for Washington, and after a de-
hcious little wedding breakfast-all by
ourselves-we left for that city
In the meantime there was trouble
enough in Milford. Our fight was not
discovered till near s o'clock, and then,
Uncle Miles sent word ut once to Steph-
en- Barker, who secluded himself for
that day entirely. My amt and cous-
ms chagrin and disappointment were
very great; in fact, when l considered
the amount of coincidence and gossip
they would have to endure / felt that
for all the Sights and scorns of my I'M
loved girlhood l could cry quits. And
had got my fortune also, and Norman
and were so completely happy We
had not care for stephen had given
him q $500 bill and months holiday,
and told us to get all tho pleasure We
could out of it. We obeycd him implie-
lily.
During that month things settled
down a little. l did not expect to be
forgiven all at once, and was not; but
then I was in a position not to worry
particularly about it. We returned very
quietly after dark one night, very
much like two children who have played
truant all day and creep home at
nightfall with as little ostentation as
possible.
But at Stamford hall everything had
been prepared for my comfort. The
fires were blazing, the gas lighted, and
an excellent supper waiting. The next
morning Norman went back to his desk,
and Stephen took no more notice Of his
return than il he had never left it.
People who had been specializing about
his losing his position knew in five min
utes that there would be no change.
And every one took his tone from Steph-
en-. We were treated very much like two
children who had been forgiven, and
whose fault was not to be thrown up to
them.
That was the way the men took it,
and Norman pretended to be satisfied.
The women acted with a great deal
more intelligence. They all came to
see me. and though I did not give them
credit for the very kindest of motives l
made them all welcome. | told them
about my wedding trip, and showed
them my new things, and ! dare say the
men talked everything over with them
afterward
But what most puzzled everybody
was that Stephen Barker came SO often
to see us, and was so friendly with
Norman. Some thought it very mean
spirited in him, and others remembered
that when he was very young he had
loved my mother dearly. Even those
who spoke kindly of him did not give
him credit for half the noble unseltish-
ness he had shown; for he would not
let me tell any one that it was he him
self who had planned everything about
my property and my wedding.
Just let them say you Tilted me,
Frances, If they please to do SO. We
know better, and we viii keep our Sc
cret until Uncle Miles comes round. "
Aunt and uncle both came round
sooner than we expected. When it
was known that Stephen spent so much
of his time with us Aunt Miles consid-
cred the advantages of having her
daughters brought familiarly in contact
with him, AMI for their sake she came
to see me and gave me the kiss of rec
onciliation.
But as far as catching Stephens
heart "in the rebound" was concerned,
she was Just little too late. Norman's
sister, who was teacher in one of the
public schools of New York, came to
spend her vacation with us, and Steph-
en- fell in love with her in way that
convinced me that his love for Frances
Halliday had only been the shadow of
the love he had for her mother Why,
Norman himself never behaved more
foolishIy about me than Stephen about
this little plain Ruth Strong, for she is
plain-eyery one must allow that.
And the preparations that are going
on for the marriage quite amuse me,
who might have been the bankers wife
myself. Dear me, think Love must
laugh at the kind of peopl9 he comes in
contact with. But hope Stephen will
be happy; / do indeed.
That is al l have to say about my
marriage. ! think it was rather pecu-
liar. Some women viii doubtless say
they don't believe such men as Stephen
exist. But let girl, when she discov-
ers she does not like man, tell him so,
and ask his advice and help, and ten to
one she Will find another Stephen.
How can men be chivalrous and self
DENYING if women don't give them OPP
portunities I think that is wrong
and I intend to give Norman every
chance TO cultivate such noble qualities