The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-06-13
RATHER REMARKABLE.
A Good Story of Two Very Queer
Proposals.

An orchard separated Mr.. Fishers
door-yard from Mr.. Dunbar's The two
families were very good friends, and
used the path which led from one gar
den to the other as means of a quicker
communication than the road.
Both families kept summer boarders.
Across the road, and a beautiful
stretch of meadow, was the sea rolling
in on wide sandy beach.
Harry Curtis and VIII Blake came
down from their business in Boston
every Saturday night and boarded at
the Fishers over Sunday.
During the summer the same thing
had happened to both Of them. They
had both fallen desperately in love with
Miss Grace Derry, who boarded at the
Dun bars.
1t was Sunday. Harry had taken a
hammock and VIII a reclining chair
out under the apple tree to read.
Over on the Fishers porch they could
hear Grace's voice singing to her own
guitar accompaniment. 1t was a sweet
voice, and it brought her face wildly
into the minds of both young men.
Harry was thinking:
Il will get up presently and stroll
over and ask her to go out for drive
on the beach tonight"
VIII drew himself slowly out of his
reclining chair and yawned indiffer-
emily.
''Well, guess I'll leave you," he
said, and went down the orchard path
and over to the porch where Grace was
sitting.
Come, walk down to the beach with
me, will you?" he asked.
Yes; only wait until get my hat
and put away my guitar
Across the road and down through
the meadow they strolled to the beach
Grace dropped down on the sand look
ing out across the rolling blue-green
waves.
81 am so happy" she said. ''Some
say the sea makes one gloomy, but it
doesn't me- This has been the happiest
summer Of my life"
1T has been the happiest summer of
my life, so far" he said. but the sum-
mer is not half over. You have it in
your power to make it completely hap
Ply. l wonder if you will?"
Grace looked at him quickly, but did
not speak.
rubies better than any other stone" he
said, after moment He put his hand
in his pocket and drew out a little mo-
rocco case and laid it m her lap. See
how you like those"
Grace opened the case There was a
little ring. set beautifully, with three
small rubies. She gave gasp of de-
light.
''Oh, how perfectly lovely!'
Then she looked at him,curlously and
closed the case and held it out to him.
He folded his hands around his knees
and looked across the sea.
Gould anything induce you to put
that ring on your third tinger?" he
asked.
Grace dropped the case on the sand
81 don't know what you meant she
said.
He turned and caught both her hands
in his.
at seems that love you, Grace. more
than all else in the world. Don't tell
me you do not love me in return
She drew her hands away slowly, and
stood up.
did you get that ring for me?"
''Yes, / got it in the hope it would be
yours some time. Oh. Grace, don't say
you don't care for me-"
well, you did have faith in me to go
and get that ring before you knew. l
never heard of such thing she said,
Indignantly.
You can throw the ring into the
ocean if you'll only tell me that You
love me. thought that was nice way
of telling you. see rye made fool of
myself"
He caught up the case from the sand
and threw it far out into the waves.
''oh, how could you? That beautiful
ring"
She turned and walked across the
beach and he followed her.
I'm dive till l get it if you say so.
You dolove me, Grace, say that you do
No" she said, II don't, and think
this IS the queerest proposal / ever
heard of-the idea of You daring to get
that ring before you'd asked me,''
Il never dreamed you could be SO
heartleSs and cruel" he said, angrily.
Then he turned and walked away in the
other direction up the beach.
Harry Curtis went through the or
chard after supper and found Grace on
the porch. She got up and went to meet
him
Il want to see Mr.. Blake" she said
"Wiil You go and send him over here?'
We'll, no" Harry answered; Il can't,
for the reason that he took the five
O'Clock train to Boston"
We'll, never mind II don't know,
but I'd rather write 1t to him. anyway"
Grace said.
''oh, you would" Harry answered.
Now, perhaps You don't care about \
ride with me?''
Yes. / do: but must write to him
before | can sleep"
This confidence did not make Harry
particularly happy, but he went for the
dog cart.
Harry was silent aud gloomy on the |
ride, but Grace was very happy and
talked on csaselessly.