The Press., 1885-03-26
Avenue hotel, New York, on the last day

F4-
 Avenue hotel, New York, on the last day of my maiden llfe
 Norman Strong called that night and was in remarkably high spirits. He wish ed me every happiness, and was very at- tentlve to Malvina. Aunt thought h,s be- havior charming-so unse!fish--and l was l also very well satisfied with it.
 "l shall call you about 8 o'clock, Fran ces, said my aunt, as l bale her good night ''the hairdresser comes at 83O.' l said: "Very we'll, aunt, and went to my room. The first thing d'd was to pack my wedding dress ill as small com pass as possible, and then put on my trav- cling costume This done, sat down in the dark. About l o'clock I heard the signal I watched for. [ went softly down stairs, unlocked tfsa back door and walked out. Norman was there. We did not speak until we Welt. outside the grounds. There buggy waited, and we drove rap- Idly to maiu line about three miles off
 Here We caught the o'clock express, and wee safe in New York and very respecta- bly married hy 10 o'clock. My trunks, which had arrived the day b fore, were then redirected for Washington, and after delicious little wedding hreakfast--all by onrs-lves-we left for that city.
 In the meantime there was trouble enough in Milford Our flight was not discovered till near 8 o'clock, and then
 Uncle Miles sent word at once 70 Stephen Barker, who secluded himself for that day
 entirely. My aunt and cousins chagrin and disappointment were very great in
 fact, when I considered the amount of condolence and gossip they would have to endure felt that for al the slights and scorns of my unloved girlhood could cry
 quits. And I had got my fortune also,
 and Norman and I were so completely hap py! We had not a care, for Stephen had
 given him a $500 bill and months holi- day, and told Us to get all the pleasure We
 could get out of 1t. We obeyed him i'm. p!ictly.
 During that month things settled down little. d,d not expect to be forgiven
 all at once, and was not; but then was
 in position not to worry particularly
 about it. We returned very quietly after
 dark one night, very much like two chil-
 dren who have played truant all day and
 creep home at nightfall with as little os-
 tentation as possible.
 But at Stamford hall everything had
 been prepared for my comfort. The fires
 were blazing, the gas lighted, and an ex- cellent supper waiting. The next morn-
 ing Norman went back to his desk, and Stephen took no more notics of his return
 than if he had never left -ir. People who
 had been speculating about his losing his position knew Tn five minutes that there
 would be no change. And every one took
 his tone from Stephen. We were treatc d very much like two children who h d b en
 forgiven, and whose fault was not to Ee thrown up to them.
 That was the way he men took it, and Norman pretended to be satisfied. The
 women acted with great deal more intel fligence. They all came to see me, aud
 though did not give them all credit for
 the very kindest of motives I made them all welcome. I told them about my We'd ding trip, and showed them my new
 things, and I dare say the men talked everything Over with them afterward.
 But what most puzzled everybody was
 that Stephen Barker came 80 often to see
 us, aud was so friendly with Normal Some thought 1t very mean-spirited in him, and others remember, d that when 6
 was very young he had loved my mother
 dearly. Even those who spoke Ri dly ot
 him did not give him credit for half the noble urselfshness he had shown; for h,
 wonld not let me tell any one that it Was he
 himself who had planned everything ab put
 my property aud my wedding
 ''Just let them say you Jill ed me, Frar ces, If they please to d , so. We know bet ter, and we will keep our secret until Un- cl.. Miles comes round." Aunt,and uncle both came lound sooner ] than we expected. When 1t Was known that Stephen spent 50 much of his time with lis Aunt M les considered the alvan ! tages of having her daughter brought ia . miliarlv in cnOtaof uith hin, on1 f., boi , sakes she came to see me and gave me the - kiss of reconciliation.
 But as far as catching Stephens hear ''ln the rebound" was c ncerned, she was - just little too late. Norman's sister, wht was teacher in one of the public school: . of New York, came to spend her vacation , with us, and Stephen fell in tove with he "A in a way that convinced me that his love e for Frances Halliday had only been th' as z shadow of the love he had for her mother . . Why, Norman himself never b. ahaved nor, a foolishly about me than Stephen nbou . this little plain Ruth rong; for she, !. ' plain-every one must allow that.
 :, And the preparations that are going ol |" " for the marriage quite amuse mr, wht :. :. might have been the banker's wife myself U Dear me, think love must laugh at th'
 kind of people he come in contact with 7 but nope Stephen Will De happy 1 dt ;, iude.
 as u That is all have to say about my mar 1 11 riage. 1 think 1t rather peculiar IL Some women will doubtless say tLey dou
 believe such men as Stephen exist. Blu
 let girl, when she d scovers she d. no . like a man, t l. him SD an,i .,sk h,s advc, = anti help, and tea to one she will find an other Steph,n. How cal men be chival /, rols and sclf-denylng If wom' don't giy. IT r them oppor uuitles? I think tn Il \ wrong, aud lntend to give Norman ever, 2 chanc 10 cultivate such noble 4ualities. ' SMUGGLING THROUGH THE MAJLs.--Oi a of tine most il.ei esil ing fed ur,s uf ih' post offics is the depart ment ill ~h:cl al l. o oil xx, oh o