Dodge City times. [volume], May 18, 1882, Image 3

About Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892

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THE DODGE CITY TIMES
Sabscription, $2 per year, in advance.
NICHOLAS B. XLAINE. EDITOR.
FltAXCES HAU.IDAY'S WElfDIXO.
How Cupid managed to scml Stephen
Iiarker after me I never could liml out;
but tliat is between themselves, anil is
none of my business. A man good
enough for'Elizabcth and Janet, ami all
Mich ornaments to their sex. to lay his
honest heart at my foolish little feet! I
own that for a day or two the honor al
most turned my l'cad.
Then I began to con-idcr. I hail
loved Norman Strong over since I could
rememler, and Norman had lieen my
friend when no one else said a kind
word to me. The ease stood thus: I
was an orphan, left to the care of an
uncle and aunt remarkahlo for that kind
of propriety that wins our admiration,
and awakens our 'hearty desire to get
away from it. I had a small fortune of
twenty-five thousand dollars; that is, I
was to have it. if I remained unmarried
until I was thirty-live, or if I married
previously with iny uncle's approval.
Xow linelo did not approve of Nor
man. In fact, uncle never approved of
any one that I liked, lint with Stephen
Iiarker disapproval was out of the ques
tion. Stephen was the great man anil
the good man of our small town. To
havo insinuated that Stephen was not
worthy of a saint, a beaut-, and an
heiress united, would have been a here
by seriously affecting my uncle's social
and commercial standing. Stephen
Marker's offer was therefore accepted,
and the next . Sunday we walked to
church together.
After this public avowal of our inten
tions, the marriage was considered in
evitable by every person but me. I
mut do myself the justice to state that
I never regarded my engagement to
Stephen seriously; it was part of a plan
to secure my happiness and rights. And
as Stephen fully coincided in it, I do not
expect censure from any one else.
1 think it was no later than the third
night after Stephen had spoken to my
uncle that I frankly told liim I thought
1 ought not to marry him. He asked
me why; and I said:"" All my life long,
Stephen, I have been such a crushed,
unhappy girl. 1 havo lieen afraid to
speak, or laugh, or sing, and no one but
!orman Strong ever said a kind word
to mo until you came."
" And you love Norman?" he asked.
So 1 answered: " Yes, I love him, and
lie loves me, and when he got the
position of Cashier in jour bank, ho
wanted to marry me; but uncle said we
were neither of us to be trusted with
my $2.5,000."
"So you have $2j,000."
" Papa left me that much; bnt Uncle
Miles can keep it until I am thirty-live,
unless I marry to please him, or unless
he is so satislied 6f my good sense that
bo voluntarily gives it to me. Ho will
never do that."
Stephen was silent a long time, and
then he said, a little sadly: " You are
a good girl to be so honest with mcl If
your uncle could be made to give up
your little fortune, do you think you
could use it wise"?"
" I could with Norman to help me."
Then we had a long conversation,
which it is not necessary for mo to ro-
!eat; it will be understood by what fol
ows. There was no change apparent
between Stephen and I. He behaved
exactly as a lover of his age and char
acter would be likely to behave. Ho
sent aunt presents from his hot-houses,
and ho sent mo presents of pretty
jewelry. He spent the evenings at
UncIe'Miles' house, and sometimes we
were left alone together, and sometimes
wo went out for a walk. Norman came
to see us occasionally on a Sunday night,
anil my aunt said ho really behaved
with more gopd sense than sho ex
pected. I think she thought that if I
married the banker, it might not be a
bad thing for my cousin Malvina, who
was very plain, to marry the bankcr'3
Ca'hier!
Everything went on with the greatest
propriety. I had announced my inten
tion to h'ave an oxtraodinary trousseau,
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 under-garments. such lingerie,
uch hosiery, such morning dresses and
evening costumes, such wonderful boots
and slippers and jewelry. We held lit
tle receptions every afternoon a month
before the wedding, and my wardrobn
was laid out in the best bedroom for
comment and inspection.
It was about this time that Stephen
Iiarker said to uncle: " I understand
Frances has twenty-live thousand dollars.
I wish her to have it so settled on her
self, and for her own absolute use. that
I prox-.e, Mr. Miles, if vou arc willing,
to add 810,000 to it. ami buy for hertho
Stamford estate. It is only three miles
lrom here, the house is a ery tine one,
the land excellent, and then" whatever
changes come, it secures her a compe
tenev, for as soon as the railway is fin
ished it will be worth double. Vhat do
you say?"
"I think your offer extremely gener
ous, Jlr. Iiarker and. of course, for such
a purpose, I am willing to hand over to
you at once Frances' fortune. The in
terest has been applied to her own use
alwavs. Will you look at the accounts?"
" Your word is sufli icnt, Jlr. 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 Halli
day, spinster, for her and her heirs for
ever. I must state here that I opposed
as strongly as I thought right Stephen's
gift of $10,000, and his subsequent
outlay of I,IHW 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. And really Stephen man
aged the whole affair with such fatherly
kindness and thoughtf illness that I could
not bear to oppose him.
At length the wedding daydrewnear.
It had been arranged for "Wednesday
morning, and we were to leave for New
York immediately after tho ceremony.
Cousin Jose, who had prepared himself
to look down on all the world from tho
pulpit, was to perform the ceremony.
This showed in Jose a very Christian
spirit, seeing that ho had once looked
on me and my 25,000 with affection,
and I had not appreciated tho honor.
However, ho forgave me at this inter
esting epoch, ami came bcnignlyto bless
my venture. He brought me as a pres
ent a black onyx seal ring, on which was
set a cross in seed-pearls. He had of
fered mo it once before, with his affec
tions and hs manse, and I bad then re
fused it. I took it this time.
It helped to swell the list of my pres
ents, and thev certainly made a goodly
show. First there was .the Stamford
estate from my father and Stephen
Iiarker, and tho settled bills, for $1,000
worth of new furniture which Stephen
had sent to make the old rooms pretty
and comfortable. Uncle gave me a set
of silver, and aunt soma, fine china,
both of which gifts I took care to send
to Stamford before my wedding day.
My cousins and aunts and friends gave
mo all sorts of jewelry and pretty per
sonal knick-knacks, and these I care
fully packed in tho half-dozen trunks
which were already corded and direct
ed two days before tho marriage day.
For Stephen had proposed to send all
my trunks to our New York hotel two
days before we left, in order that we
might Have no concern about them, and
that I might be sure to baro all I
wanted on my arrival. I opposed, this
plan at Erst, but aunt said ''it was
eminently proper and thoughtful." So
all my wardrobe except my wedding
dress and a traveling suit arrived at tho
Fifth Aeuue Hotel, New York, on tho
last day of my maiden life.
Norman Strong called that night,
and was in remarkably high spirits. He
wished mo ever- happiness, and was
very attentive to Malvina. Aunt
thought his behavior charming so un
selfish and I was also very well satis
fied with it.
" I shall call you about eight o'clock,
Frances," said my aunt, as I bade her
good-night; " the" hair-dresser comes at
half-past eight."
I said: " Very well, aunt," and went
to my room. The first thinjj I did was
to pack my wedding dress in as small
compass as" possible, and then put on my
traveling costume. This done, I sat
down in the dark. About one o'clock I
heard the signal I watched for. I went
softly down stairs, unlocked the back
door, and walked out. Norman was
there. We did not speak until we were
outside tho grounds. There a buggy
waited, and we drove rapidly to a main
lino about three miles off. Here wo
canght tho two o'clock express, and
were safe in New York and very re
SDCctably married by ten o'clock. Mv
trunks, which had arrived the day be
fore, were then redirected for Washing
ton, and after a delicious little wedding
breakfast all by ourselves we left for
that city.
In the meantime there was trouble
enough in Milford. Our flight was not
discovered till near eight o'clock, and
then Undo Miles sent wonl at once to
Stephen Iiarker, who secluded himself
for that day entirely. My aunt and
cousin's chagrin and disappointment
were very great; in fact, when I consid
ered tho amount of condolcnco and gos
sip they would have to endure, I felt
that for all the slights and scorns of my
unloved girlhood I could cry quits. Anil
I had got my fortune also, "and Norman
and I were" so completely happy! We
had not a care, for Stephen bad given
him a $.)00 bill and a month's holiday,
and told us to get all tho pleasure we
could out of it.
During that month things settled down
a little. I did not expect to be forgiven
all at once, and I was not; but then I
was in a position not to worry particular
ly about it. We returned iery quietly.
after dark one nijht, very much like
two children who have plaved truant all
day, and creep home at nfght-fall with
as little ostentation as possible.
lint at Stamford Hall everything had
been prepared for my comfort. The
lircs were blazing, tho gas lighted, and
an excellent supper waiting. The next
morninir Norman went back to his desk.
and Stephen took no more notice of his
return tlian if he had neverleft it. People
uho had Ir'ch speculating about hi:
position knew in live minutes that thero
would bo no change. And every one
took his tone from Stephen. 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 bo satisfied.
The women acted with a great deal more
intelligence. They all came to see me.
and though I i!'d not give them all
credit for the kindest of motives, I made
them all welcome. I told them about
my wedding trip, and showed them my
new things, and I dare say the men
talked everything over with them af tcr
wanl. lint what most puzzled everybody was
that Stephen Iiariusr came so often to
see us, and was so friendly with Nor
man. Some thought it very mean-spir
ited in mm. ami others rcmcmbereit
that when ho was very young he had
loved mv mother dearly. Even those
who spoko kind'.f him did not give
him credit for hr4f the noble unselfish
ness he had shown; for he would not
let me tell any one that it wa-t he him
self who had planned everything about
my property and my wedding.
"Just let them say you jilted me.
Frances, if they please to do so. We
know better, and we will keen our
secret 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 considered
tho advantages of having her daugh
ters brought familiarly in contact with
him. and for thuir sal.es she came to
sec me and give me the kiss of recon
ciliation. Hut as far ns catching Stephen's heart
"in the rebound" was concerned, she
was just a little too late. Norman's
sister, who was a teacher in one of the
public schools of New York, came to
spend her vacation with ns, and Stephen
fell in lovo with her in a way which
convinced mo that his lovo for Frances
Halliday had only been tho show of the
love hc had for her mother. Why, Nor
man himself never behaved more fool
ishly about me than Stephen about this
little plain ltuth Strong; for sho is
plain every one must allow that.
And tho preparations that are goiag
on for tho marriage quite amuse me.
who might havo been the banker's wife
myself. Dear me! I think Love must
often- laugh at the kind of ieopIe he
comes in contact with. Hut I hope Ste
phen will be happy; 1 do, indeed.
That is all 'I havo to say about my
marriage. I think it was rather pecul
iar. Some women will doubtless say
they don't believe such men as Stephen
exist. ISut let a girl when she discovers
she does pot like a man, tell him so.
and ask his advice and help, and ten to
one she will find another Stephen. How
can men bo chivalrous and self-denying
if women don't give them opportuni
ties? I think that is wrong, and I in
tend always to give Norman every
chance to cultivate such noble qualities.
llaqxr's Weekly.
I'Er.SOXAL AXf MTEUAKY.
Mr. Dayton, of New Jersey, wno
goes as Minister to the Netherlands, is
a son of tho candidate for Vice-President
on the Fremont ticket In 1H38.
His father was Minister to France, under
lresident Lincoln, and died In Paris.
In Siinsburr, Conn., Joseph To-,
a wealthy manufacturer, o seventy-two
years, lo-t his wife last September. Si.-c
weeks ago his son died, leaving a
widow. Mar-, aged thirty. Tho U.
reaved Toys consoled each other re
cently by becoming man and wife.
Mr. lilaine's oration upon tho lKo
and character of President (.articld ha
iiecn engrossed upon a sheet of Hristol
board by a resident of Phllade lphia.wlm
proposes to present this result of a long
and patient labor to Mrs. (i.trtieliL
Imhannjiolis Jaurtfil.
Prof. Vennor has the rheumatism,
ami is not in an angelic huniur. In
reply to inquiries about tho meaning of
the aurora ami sun sjots, he says ho
thinks wo will havo a cold and wet
summer, and ho is not sure but he will
allow its one frost a month from now
until next September. Chicago Triln
tine.
Cardinal Manning is preparing Ids
reminiscences for publication. Speak
ing of his boyhood, he remarked that
hu had been looking over somu' of tho
letters ho had written in his adolescence,
"and it struck me while reading them."
said the Cardinal. what a particularly
lively youth I must havo been!" The
first part of the reminiscences will te
issued erelong Chicnij Tribune.
Almost every one remembers the
i)eripatetic crank, Daniel Pratt, calling
himself the "(ireat American Travel
er." and announcing himself as a can
didate fur President of tho United
States. That venerable old tramp has.
it is reported, just passed his seventy
third birthday, and the Buffalo JCstress
gives currency to the report that he con
tinues to lio with all his pristine celeri
ty and fluency.
Senator Fair gave a dinner to the
Justices of the Supreme Court and their
wives. Mr. and Mrs. Illaino and Miss
Dodge ((Jail Hamilton) a few evenings
ago. The affair was said to be the
handsomest of his banquets yet given,
ami all the arrangements on a princely
scale. The table was an oval l'owcf
bed, lighted with crimson wax lights,
and tho cards and menus the most cost
Iv souvenirs of their kind.
IIC.MOKDU.S.
-The Irishman's definition of proph
ecythe memory of events that are not
yet transpired.
Thackeray's idea of a dandy is given
in the following note lately printcdin a
newspaper of Hull. England: "My
dear Edward, a dandy is an individual
who would be a lady if ho could, but as
he can't, does all ho can to show the
world he's not a man. That Is my idea
at any rate."
Several new motors fur propelling
horse cars am being invented. They
are really not needed. If you want to
mako a horse car travel fast, signal to
the driver that you want togeton boanL
If it is alKut his dinner time he can be
relied on to furnish all the motor the car
needs. Texas Sifting.
"Dad, were you ever a fish?1' The
individual thus addressed lowered his
chin and gazed over his spectacles at
the boy in speechless astonishment.
"Oh, don't get mad at me. dad, for
asking you," continued his inquisitive
offspring. --Mrs. Cooly came in after
you had gone, yesterday, and asked ma
what she would do if you were dead,
and ma laughed and said thai sho
guessed there were just as good salmon
in the sea as you are." VrooltlynEagU.
Mary is very kind to her mamma.
When her mamma Is busy washing tho
floor, Mary remains at home and per
forms pretty oeratie airs upoa the
fiiano, to gladden her dear mamma's
ieart. When her mamma has sewing
to do, Mary sits by her sldo and reads
entertaining stories to herself. In short,
Mary docs everything she can to lighten
her mamma's toil and make her happy.
As the chief delight in life is seeing oth
ers happv. Mary rives her mamma ev
ery possible opportunity to see happi
ness in her daughter. Some daughters
are so neglectful of their mamma's
happiness as to selfishly refrain from
piano-playing when there U work to be
dine. llmlmx Trarucript.
m