The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-02-08

eeite. she SASiaiiicus teAt IA lHtiN
Is to tell
Tins was just tbs opportunity
Nav desired. She arose 10 see that
the door was closed then, satisfied
that she and Grace were alone 10
gether, she poured in to her
victims ear the story, whose re-
suit was Grace's fight from home.
Tho week passed anxiously
enough to The three persons who
were awaiting the wayward bridess 5
return. The appointed day came,
and early in the morlAns a earriage
stopped before the Sylvester man
sion. and Grace aiig.lted from II,
followed by an old nurse, OF whom
she had always been fond, and
whose presence 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 depreca.
tion. After the strange greetings
were over. Mr.. Sylvester, with at
tempted sternness. demanded the
promised explanation a,ld this was
the story
..The night before my wedding
dav. ! learned from some one who
thought I knew that Frank was
about inherit 100000 upon a very
strange condition. His uncle had
died and left that amount TO him,
iprovided be married me within a
wear after the testators 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 tax
ing 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 a
large fortune in the event of disc
beying his command.
Now, though | am deeply oblig-
ed for the distinguished honor meant
me by the deceased, positively de-
cline to be bartered away to anyone
at a stated price"
s.It was sufficiently embarrassing
/ to me to know that the old gentle
man was attracted l'v a whim OF
mine. and niistook IL Iur character
is,ic virtue. The fact is during that
winter-my first in New York.
was seized with ? fancy TO vary my
round of pleasures by an afternoon
among the sick, 10 whom | carried
the ever-welcome gift of fruits and
flowers, and it was while | was dis
tributing these offerings that the mat
rimonial project occurred to Frank s
uncle.
"Do YOU not understand and can
you not sympathize with me Had
| remained here, no explanation
could have altered the case, and |
should inevitably have become
Franks bride under circumstances
alike painful to .nv love of truth
and self respect. / have always de-
clared that | would be loved for my
sell alone, nor for qualities | did not
possess, nor the money of 4 whimsi
cal old gentleman
She drew long breath as she fin
ished her recital, and held out her
hand with her own winning frank
ness.
The last week of the year expir-
ed yesterday" she said, with an un-
nistakable sparkle of triumph in
her handsome eyes. If you take me
now, Frank, it must be all for love
There's no longer any money in the
lquestion."
with all my heart r cried the
lindulgent lover. "Since you have
come back to me OF your own free
will, and have no further objections
TO make to our union, ! consider
myself one Of the happiest and
most fortunate of fbridegrooms."
lie caught Graces pretty, unre-
lluctant h;,nd in his and pressed i
rapturously 10 his lips. with smile
lquite as triumphant as her own, at 8
glance whose intense end mischiey
Gus meaning was not explained un
til after the quiet wedding at which
May Prescott was the guest, for Mr.
and Mrs. Sylvester's prudence anC
worldly wisdom siill condemned
their inpulsive daughters escapad'
lthonch their partial tenderness for
gave her
"lou have chosen poverty il
preference to wealth they said
"and so must be content to d.
without the grand wedding we haC
contemplated"
Grace submitted with the bes
humor possible she had testee
Franks love and gained her owl
end, and all was bright before he
inexperienced eyes.
After the wedding. Frank asket
his bride:
"Are you quite satisfied will
your choice of poverty and glad tha
your marriage occurred to-day in
stead of week ago p
Il am perfectly delighted Grac
answered.
~Will you take little weddin,
gift from me, rs have not yet pre-
sente6 yon with one ?" Frank asket
meekly.
with pleasure Grace answered
as she extended her hand, expecting
to 7, ceive a jewel case. But insteat
OF that. ponderous legal documen
was produced, at which Grace gazet
in blank surprise.
: Then Frank explained that, de
spite Miss Prescott kind interest il
their affairs, the fortune was not lost
as she had made . miscalculatiol
in dates, and his uncle's discern
nent in selecting so charming
! wife for him had made bim the hap
, lpiest man.
May Piescotis chagrin at th
D failure OF her conspiracy, and tn
: delight Of Grace's parents at he
e good fortune can easily be imagined