Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1882-06-14
FLEElNG IRON A FORTUNE.

The sun rose propitiously bright on
Grace Sylvester's wedding mora; the
air was halmy, the sky blue, and all
nature seemed in sympathy with tho
happy day.
Presently stir awoke in the house.
hold. that soon swelled into a murmur
of Consideration The bride was miss.
ing. some one had gone to her cham
Der to u AIKEN her and found it empty.
Iume lately u search was instituted,
which proved fruitless. The bride
groom was sent for, but he could off r
no eSphnei on; like the parents, he was
dis'.n ssl with anxiety.
Gracs- Sylvester WAS n proud, impul-
si,e p:rs. wisa warin heart aud IMP C.
notss Dpcr. She was an only Child,
AMI SOM, what spoiled, rs was natural !;
but aasoiag that could be imagined or
a3Jit3te cnali account for this pnhearl-
ol frcad she rad not even fastened q
note OF the ,oilut- cushion, as n key to
the M ssery, after the custom OF hero
ines.
For week previous to this now un-
lucky day, the Sylvester mansion had
cl..t.su.u " opened lite hospitable por..
tails 10 arriving guests. Friends and
relations OF Mr.. Frank Howard, the ex-
pcctant bridegroom, crowded to do
hoAor TO the occasion, which the Syl-
vester connection were not less eager to
EN- }cil.-h with their presence.
THIS singular occurrence. therefore,
could Euf possibly be preserved secret,
aud tl,e chagrined aud distracted host
sad NOS. IS hid al the added misery Of
knowing tuat their daughters inexpli.
cable iisht was the subject Of all sorts
of surnises and discussions by those
who IN set phrase cndeavored to condole
with tiiem, and at the same time hint at
insaait, as the only solution Of such an
unprecedented freak.
81 4 sp2ci gieam WAS soon destined
beca H@Daaatiiul of her dear parents, nor
her yfei lover. A letter addressed
to ths tormer had Ieen dropped by her
in sac post fl e. TWAS brief, and evil
deDt.y written under the pres sure Of
excitement; but, even in its fragmentary
he;t., Mr.. and Mrs. Sylvester could
IN e. til il daughters t,nderness and
her lover, despite the undispnted mys-
tciS Cf It's tone, took coasola ion from it.
lis contents may be rendered thus:
She had left OF her own free will and
mae ompanied, though she admitted
tha' she would be met at her journeys
end BY a worthy guardian, in whose caro-
Size would remain, and who, at the ex-
piraiiou of a week, would bring her
home again; until then. she begged
they would wait for her explanation,
ana above all forgive any pain or annoy.
auce her hasty disappearance had
caused.
This cpislie, though gratefully re-
ceived, since it assured them of her
safety, was not. of course, entirely salts
factory TO her parents and lover.
Despite her promise to ret;rn, they
could not remain quiet till the expira,
ton Of the time named, but sought her
in every conceivable place; but, as was
evident from the security Of her retreat,
Grace did not mean to be found til at.
ter the interval she had named.
One by one, or in small parties, as
they had come. the wedding guests dc.
parted. They carried to their own
houses a charmingly inexhaustible theme
for gossip and wonderment. Every one
held separate solution and theory, and
the subject promised to be one Of unu'
sual variety and entertainment
But only one Of them possessed any
clew to the truth--and she, shy, insidi
GUS plottel that she was, had laid train
whose success promised even beyond
her hopes. She watched its develop
| ment in silence. It was not her cue Il
| speak but to await the fulfillment Of hel
design, and 50 she fingered, processing
| the intensest sympathy for all, and a
the same time contriving to bestow ths
most Of it on Frank Howard, her distan,
] cousin.
1 eIlus y