Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-12-24
! L. and artistienlly bound with bands Of

u
solid gold.
Grace opened ber eyes In wonder, and
she found it impossible to sit still any
lonHer.
Rowland now produced key, unlocked
The box, raised the inside silk lid, and
then-well, then Grace uttered cry Of
wonder.
Nesting amid pile OF white silk was
a wreath of orange blossoms, and in the
center of that pair of bracelets. the dia-
monds upon which flashed and glittered
like running brook in the suns rays.
"Oh, bow lovely" cried Grace.
(which do you meanr asked Rowland
'"The wreath or the braceletsi'
"0h, both" But even rs she said thie
her face wore an expression Of wonder.
What was meant by the wreath Of or
ange- blossoms
Rowland took it out of the box and laid
IL carefully upon the table. Then lie took
Grace by the hand and led her to seat.
and sitting beside her, her hand still
within his own, he said:
my love, in presenting that 10 you l
obey the commands Of my dear dead
| mother
| Grace started.
"Your mother, Rowland" I" she said.
"Yes. When my mother was dying she
said MY dear boy, there is one thing /
wish you to promise me. You may think
it rather singular. but it is something ]
have always wished. You know that in
! aa1ipat ;a r,akornnx- low hon md
with gold. In that is the wreath Of or
ange- blossoms wore when your father
married me. There also are the brace
let's wore for twenty years Of my life
Now, will you promise that the lady you
marry shall wear that wreath on the day
she is married, and the bracelets also .
OF course, Grace, promised. And am
sure you viii please me 10y assisting int
in keeping that promise. Will you not =
"Ob. Rowland replied Grace, as she
kissed him tenderly, "that / will. That
promise must be sacredIy kept. And
see nothing strange in the idea. All wo-
men have some idea. you know. And
when we-when We"
"Are married. Yes, my dear"
"When we are married / shall wear It
and no one will know but what it is qui.s
new. 1t does not look old, does itf"
mo. that il certainly does not"
"And the bracelets; are they not bean
tifulf"
"They are indeed. Let me place then
upon your wrists"
And Rowland fixed the glittering jewels
upon Grnce's white wrists, where sh,
surveyed them rapturously.
"And now said Rowland, II must b<
of. Grace. / shall return at one. ant
then. no doubt, you viii be ready for tht
Row"
"Wha.. Leon. my boy! how the deuce
are youi Where have you beenl Wher,
are you of to, and where on earth have
you been hidingf"
And Rowland laid his hand lightly up
on the shoulder Of Leon Cathcart. IL,
had not proceeded far from Graces resi-
dence when he met him.
"Just half moment, Rowland. my
friend" replied Leon, as he slowly re
moved his cigar from his mouth. Il an
not well up in memory. you know, and
am utterly unused TO running fire Q
questions. In the first place. how th'
deuce am II Well. am seedy, and
look it. Where am off tol Haven't th'
least idea. Where have l been hiding,
think you said7 Well, I've been to Paris
AMI as found every one over there pre-
cisely the same as they ere here, l cam'
sorrowfully back"
'.How did you find them"
"Dull, my boy. dull. and awfully slow
They say the world is continually eoin:
round. but, alas, am Of different opin
ion, for am certain it is continual,
staudiur still"