Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1882-01-25
most Of it on Frank Howard, her distant

name, had long been hopelessly in love
with her Cousin Frank. She knew that
his heart was devoted to another, but
had never had an opportunity of seeing
her rival till the generous and unsus-
pecting Grace, wishing to give botE her
and Frank pleasure, had asked her by
letter to be one az her bridesmaids.
Mays darling object was then gained.
She had unlimited faith in her, own pow
or Of creating discord, and had secretly
resolved to separate the lovers aud win
Frank for herself, oven at the eleventh
hour.
Her first interview with Grace con-
vinced 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. Zone 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 full, bright eyes flashed
with sudden anger as she looked at May
Prescott steadily.
pray explain yourself, Miss Pres
colt" she said. "I do not understand
you in the least"
"Whatl 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-nosn 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 inadyertence, and pre-
tended to regret having said so much.
Grace quietly but firmly demanded to
know all.
"You have said too much to recede" |"
she exclaimed. "Tell me all there is
to tell"
This was just the opportunity May
desired. She arose to see that the door
was closed; then, satisfied that she and
Grace were alone together, she poured
ipla her victims ear the story whose re-
suit was Grace's fight from homo.
The week passed anxiously enough ia
the three people who were awaiting the
wayward brides return. The appointed
day came, and early in the morning q
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 l
learned, from some one who thought /
already knew it. that Frank was about
to inherit Sl00,00 upon strange con-
dition. His uncle had died and left that
amount to him, provided he married me
within year after the testator's death.
81 had never seen this uncle, but, as
l learned from my informant, he had
met me by chance in one of the New Yusk
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 r
lose large fortune in the event Of dis
obeying his command.
"Now, though / am deeply obliged
for the distinguished honor meant me by
the deceased, positively decline to be
bartered away to any one at stated
price.
at was sufficiently embarrassing to
me to know that the old gentleman was
attracted by whim Of mine, and
mistook it for characteristic virtue. 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-welcomo gift of fruits, and it
was while I was distributing these cffer-
ings that the matrimonial project oc-
CURED to Franks uncle.
"Do you not understand, and can you
not sympathize with me2 Had l re-
mained here, no explanation could
have altered the case, and 1 should
inevitably lave become Franks bride,
under conditions alike painful to my
love of truth and self-respect. i have
always declared would be loved for n.y.
self alone. not for qualities ! did not
| possess, nor the money of 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 an unmistak-
able sparkle of triumph in her handsome
eyes. "n you take me now, Frank, ii
must be all for love. There's no longer
any money in the question:"
"With all my heart |" cried the IN
| lrln,.t Iovar ~ Sinea Won have connA