Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1882-06-14
ELK POINT, UNION DAKOTA, 1882
Frank for nerser. even ~ me elevenrn

FRANK Tor herself, even ~ the eleventh
hour.
Her first interview with Grace con-
WINGED her that ardent and impulsivs
generosity was the strong point of her
character. On this she acted.
"How oddly the gifts Of fate are dis
tributed !" said she, with sigh, as they
were talking together the night before
the wedding. "One would think it was
enough to get beautiful wife, without
grasping at great fortune, too but
then Frank always had keen eye for
the main chance"
Grace's face flushed deep, indignant
crimson; her fall, bright eyes flashed
with sudden anger as she looked at May
Prescott steadily. 81.
Pray explain yourself, Miss rfsst-
colt, she said. II do not understand
you in the least"
"What! have you never heard of the
will Of Franks eccentric old Uncle Paul.
But am sorry perhaps have done
wrong in mentioning it. No doubt he
meant to deceive you-no, no! don't
mean that mean perhaps he did not
wish you to know"
She affected to be overcome with con-
fusion at her own inadvertence, and pre-
tended to regret having said SO much.
Grace quietly but firmly demanded to
know all.
"You have said too much to reoede |"
she exclaimed. "Tell me oil there is
TO tell"
This was just the opportunity May
desired. She arose to see that the door
was closed; then, satisfied that she aud
Grace were alone together, she poured
into her victim S ear the story whose no.
suit was Grace's fight from home.
The week passed anxiously enough to
the three people who were awaiting the
hayward brides return. The appointed
day came, and early in the morning a
carriage stopped before the Sylvester
mansion, and Grace alighted from it,
followed by an old nurse, of whom she
had always been fond, and whose pres
ence explained the fact that Grace had
been staying in her home, not five miles
away.
Grace walked into the house with an
air of mingled triumph and depreciation.
After the strange greetings were over
Mr.. Sylvester, with attempted sternness,
demanded the promised explanation, and
this was the story:
The night before my wedding day I
learned, from some one who thought
already knew it. that Frank was about
to inherit 100000 upon strange con-
dition. His uncle had died and left that
amount to him, provided he married me
within year after the testatot's death.
Il had never seen this uncle, but, as
1 learned from my informant, he had
met me by chance in one of the New York
hospitals, and, after taking the trouble
to inquire my name, and no doubt salts
flying himself Of the suitability Of the
connection, he made up his eccentric
mind that Frank should marry me or
lose large fortune in the event Of dis
obeying his command.
"Now, though I am deeply obliged
for the distinguished honor meant me by
the deceased, I positively decline to be
bartered away to any one at q stated
price.
cit was sufficiently embarrassing to
me to know that the old gentleman was
attracted by within Of mine, and
mistook it for Observation-Disclosures. The
fact is, during that winter-my first in
New York; was seized with fancy to
vary my round Of pleasures by an after
noon among the sick, to whom carried
the ever-welcome gift of fruits, and it
was while I was distributing these offer-
ings that the matrimonial project oc-
Cured to Franks uncle.
"Do you not understand, and-can you
not sympathize with me? Had re-
manned here, no explanation could
have altered the case, and / should
inevitably have become Franks bride,
under conditions alike painful to my
love of truth and self-respect. / have
always declared / would be loved for n.y.
self alone, not for qualities l did not
possess, nor the money If q whimsical
old gentleman.
She drew long breath as she finished
her recital, and held out her hand with
her own winning frankness.
"The last week Of the year expired
yesterday, she said, with On unmistak-
able sparkle Of triumph in her handsome
eyes. eff you take me now, Frank, it
must be all for love. There's no longer
any money in the question.
with all my hearth" cried the in
dulgent lover. "Since you have come
back to me OF your own free will, and
have no further objections to make to
our union, I consider myself one Of the
happiest and most fortunate Of BRIDE
grooms."
he caught Grace's pretty, unreluctant
hand in his and pressed it rapturously
to his lips, with smile quite ~ trium-
phan1as her own, and glance whose
intense and mischievous meaning was
not explained until after the quiet we'd
ding, at which May Prescott was the
only guest, for Mr.. and Mrs. Sylvester'a
prudence and worldly wisdom still con-
demned their impulsive daughters esca-
pade. though their partial tenderness
forgavsit.
lyon have chosen poverty in prefer
ence to wealth, they said, "and 80 must