The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-03-11
MY WEDDING,

could remember, and Donald had been
my friend when no one else had kind
word or look for me.
1 was an orphan, left to the care of an
uncle and aunt remarkable for that kind
of propriety that wins our admiration,
and awakens our hearty deaire to get
away from it. had small fortune OF
$25, 900; that is, l was to have it, if re-
manned unmarried until was thirty
five, or if l married previously with my
uncle's approval.
Now uncle did not approve of Donald.
In fact, uncle never approved of anyone
that l liked. But with Hiram Elklns
disapproval was out of the question. Hi
ram was the great man and the good
man of our small town. To have in
simulated that he was not worthy of
saint, beauty, and an heiress united,
would have been a hereSy seri Ously
affecting my uncle's social and CONNER
cial standing His offer was therefore
accepted, and the next Sunday we walk
ed to church together
After this public avowal of our inten-
tions, the marriage was considered inc
vitable by every person but me.
l think it was no later than the third
night after Hiram had spoken to my
uncle that l frankly told him l thought
/ ought not to marry him.
He asked me why, and | said: "Al
my life long, Hiram, | have been such
crushed, unhappy girl. 1 have been
efraid to speak, or laugh, or sing, and no
one but Donald Ross ever said kind
word to me until you came"
"And you love Donald p he asked,
bluntly.
So answered, Eyes, love him, and
he loves me, and when he got the posi-
ton of cashier in your bank, he wanted
to marry me; but uncle said we were
neither of us to be trusted with my $780,
OOO"
$50 you have $25,000?"
S'Papa left me that much; but Uncle
James can keep it until l am thirty-tive,
unless l marry to please him, or unless
he is so satisfied of my good sense that
he voluntarily gives it up to me. He
will never do that"
Hiram was silent for long time, and
then he said, little sadly: you are
good girl to be so honest with me. If
your uncle could be made to give up
your little fortune, do you think you
could use it wisely ?'
81 could-with Donald to help me-"
Then we had a long talk. Thereafter
there was no change apparent between
Hiram and |. He behaved exactly as a
lover of his age and character would be
likely to behave. He sent aunt presents
from his hothouses, and he made me
presents of pretty jewelry. He spent
the evenings at Uncles James's house,
and sometimes we were left alone to-
gether, and sometimes we went out for
a walk. Donald came to see us occasion
ally on Sunday night, and my aunt
said he had really behaved with more
good sense than she expected. | think
she thought that if married the banker
it might not be a bad thing for my cousin
Helen, who was very plain, to marry the
bankers cashier.
1t was about this time that Hiram Ell
kins said to uncle:
81 understand Martha has S25, 900.
wish her to have it so settled on herself,
and for her own absolute use, that l pro-
pose, Mr.. James, if you are willing, to
add $4,000 to it, and buy for her the
Rawling 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 COM
potency, for as soon as the railway is
finished it will be worth double. What
do you say ?''
81 think you extremely generous, Mr..
Elkins, and, of course, for such a pur-
pose, am willing to hand over to you at
once Marthas fortune"
So in about two weeks the transfer
was safely and amicably effected, and
Rawling Hall and estate were firmly and
surely made over to Martha Stanwood,
for her and her heirs forever. must
state here that l opposed as strongly as
| thought right Hiram's gift of $4,000,
and his subsequent outlay of $1,000 on
furniture, but both uncle and aunt said
that the settlement was small enough
for a man of his means, and that it
would be affectation to oppose it.
At length the wedding day drew near.
1t had been arranged for Wednesday
morning, and we were to leave for New
York Immediately after the ceremony.
Hiram had proposed to send all my
trunks to our New York hotel two days
before we left, so all my wardrobe, ex-
cept my wedding dress and travelling
suit, arrived at the hotel in New York
on the last day of my maiden life.
Donald Ross called that night, and was
in remarkably high spirits. He wished
me every happiness, and was very atten,
tive to Helen. Aunt thought his be.
haviOr charming-sO unselfish-and
was also very well satisfied with it.
81 shall call you about s o'clock Mar
tha," said my aunt, as l babe her good
night; "the hair dresser comes at half
past eight"
said, Every we'll aunt" and went tc
my room. The first thing did was tc
pack my wedding dress in as small com
pass as possible, and then put on my
travelling costume. This done, sa
down in the dark, About one o'clock ]
heard the signal watched for. l went
softly down stairs, unlocked the bacl
door and walked out. Donald was
there. We did not speak until we were
outside the grounds. There buggy
waited and we drove rapidly to mali
line about three miles off. Here We
caught the two o'clock express, anC
were safe in New York and very respect
ably married by ten o'clock. My trunks
which had arrived the day before, were
then redirected for Washington, anC
after delicious little wedding break
fast-all by ourselves-we left for tina
city.
In the meantime there was trouble
enough in Winston. Our fight was no
discovered till near o'clock, and ther
Uncle James sent word at once to Hiram
Ellxins, who secluded himself for tina
day entirely. My aunt and cousins cha
grin and disappointment were yer!
great; in fact, when l considered thu
amount of coincidence and gossip the