The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1882-05-11
suit WIS Gracc's flight from

The week passed anxiously
enough to the three people who
were awaiting tile wayward brides
return. The appointed day came,
and early in the morning a car
riage stopped before the Sylvester
mansion, and Grace alighted from
it, followed by an old nurse, of
whom she had always been fond,
and whose presence explained
the fact that Grace had been stay
ing in her home, not FIVE miles
away. =. ~
Grace walked into the house
with an air of mingled triumph
and. deprecation. After the strange
greetings were over Mr.. Sylvester,
with attempted sternness, de-
manded the promised explanation,
and this was the story:
The night before my wedding
day Ilearned, from some one who
thought, l already knew 1t, that
/ Frank was about to inherit $780,
600 upon a strange condition. His
uncle had died and left that
amount to him, provided be mar
ried me within a year after the
testator's death.
I had never seen this uncle,
but, as I learned from my infor-
mant, be had met me by chance
in one Of the New York hospitals,
and, after taking the trouble to
inquire my name, 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
command.
Now, though 1 am deeply
obliged for the distinguished hon.
or meant me by the deceased, l
positively decline to be bartered
away 10 any one at u stated
price. ..
1T was sufficiently embarrassing
10 me to know that the old gen
tleman was attracted by whim
of mine, aud mistook it for charac-
tcrislic 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 afternoon 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 oc-
Cured to Franks uncle.
DO you not understand, and
can you not sympathize with me ?
Had l remained here, no explana
tion could have altered the case,
and l should inevitably hare be.
come Franks bride, under con.
> ditions alike painful to my love Of
truth and self-respect. have
/ always declared I would be loved
for myself alone, not for qualities
| did not possess, nor the money
of a whimsical old gentlemao.'
: She drew long breath as she
: finished her recital, and held ou'
; her hand with her own winning
frankness.
, The last week of the year ex
pired yesterday she said, witt
: an unmistakable sparkle o.
, triumph in her handsome eyes
If you take me now, Frank, il
: must be all for love. There's nc
longer any money in the ques
, tion.'
with all my heart = cried the
: indulgent lover. Since you have
t come back to me of your own fret
$ will, and have no further objec
: tions to make to our union,
consider myself one Of the hap
8 piest and most fortunate of bride
: grooms.'
He caught Grace's pretty, IN
reluctant hand in his and pressed
c it rapturously to his lips, with 1
; smile quite as triumphant as he
own, and o glance whose intens'
t and mischievous meaning was no
t explained until after the quie
e wedding, at which May Prescott
was the only guest, for Mr.. an'
e Mrs. Sylvester's prudence ant
J. worldly wisdom still condemned
t their impulsive daughters esca
e pade, though their partial tender
o ness forgave it.
You have chosen poverty il
o preference to wealth. they said
e and so must be content to d.