Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-06-08

she arose TO see CIldC the uOOT was Clooeu IhCl
satisfied that she and Grace were alone togetl
er, she poured into her victims ear the story
whose result was Grace's flight from home.
The week passed anxiously enough to the
three people who were awaiting the wayward
brides return. The appointed day came, and
early in the morning carriage stopped before
the Sylvester mansion, and Grace allghted
from it, followed by an old nurse, OF whom she
had always been fond and whose presence eX-
planned 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 prom
ised explanation, and this was the story:
''The night before my wedding day learned
from some one who thought already knew it,
that Frank was about to inherit 500, 600 upon
strange condition. His uncle had died and
left that amount to him provided he married
me within year after the testator's death.
II had never seen this uncle, but, as 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 lame, and no
doubt, satisfying 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 disobeying his COM
mand.
"Now, though am deeply obliged for the
distinguished honor meant me by the deceased,
I positively decline to be bartered away to any
one at stated price.
cit was sufficiently embarrassing to me to
know that the old gentleman was attracted by
whim of mine, and mistOOk it for character
istic virtue The fact is, during that winter
my first in New York; was seized with a
fancy to vary my round Of pleasures by an at
ternoon among the sick, to whom carried the
ever welcome gift of fruits, and it was while
I was distributing these offerings that the
matrimonial project occurred to Franks uncle.
s'Do you not understand, and can you not
sympathize with me9 Had I remained here,
no explanation could have altered the case,
and I should inevitably have become Frank s
bride, under conditions alike painful to my
love of truth and self-respect. 1 have always
declared I would be loved for myself alone, not
for qualities did not possess, nor the money
of whimsical old gentleman"
She drew long breath as she finished her
recital. and held out her hand with her own
winning frankness.
1.-THE last week of the year expired Yester-
day." she said, with al unmistakable sparkle
of triumph in her handsome eyes. 'lf you
take me now, Frank, it must be all for love-
There's no longer any money in the question. -
"With all my heart - cried the indulgent
lover. ''Since you have come back to me OF
your own free will, and have no further obJec-
tions to make to our union, consider myself
one of the happiest and most fortunate OF
bridegroOms."
He caught Grace's pretty, unreluctant hand
in his and pressed it rapturously to his lips,
with smile quite as triumphant as her own,
and glance, whose intense and mischlevous
after
quiet wedding, at which May Prescott was the
only guest, for Mr.. and Mrs. Sylvester's pru-
dence and worldly wisdom still condemned
their impulsive daughters escapade, though
their partial tenderness fOrgaye it.
"You have chosen poverty in preference to
wealth." they said, land so you must be con-
tent to do without the grand wedding we had
contemplated.
Grace submitted with the best humor possi-
be she had tested Franks love and gained
her own end, and all was bright before her in
experienced eyes.
After the wedding, Frank asked his bride
care you quite satisfied with your choice OF
poverty, and glad that your marriage occurred
to-day instead of week ago 20
81 am perfectly delighted, " Grace answered.
"Will you take a little wedding gift from
me, as have not yet presented you with
one 20 Frank asked, meekly.
"With pleasure Grace answered, as she
extended her hand expecting to receive jewel
case.
But, instead of that, a ponderous legal doc
ument was produced, at which Grace gazed in
blank surprise.
Then Frank explained that, despite Miss
Prescott's kind interest in their affairs, the
fortune was not lost, as she had made slight
mistake in dates and his uncle'S diScernment
in selecting so charming wife for him had
made him the happiest of men.
May Prescott's chagrin at the failure OF her
conspiracy, and the delight of Grace's parents
at her good fortune can easily be imagined
Grace bore her partial defeat with charming
equanimity, as she was quite convinced, by
some mental process of her own, that she had
her husbands love. So she was reconciled to
the possession of fortune