Middletown transcript., 1893-06-17
RATHER REMARKABLE.

An orchar separated Mr.. Fisher
dooryard from Mr.. Dul bars. Th'
two families were very good friends
and used the gate which led from on'
garden to the other as a means OF
quicker communion than the road.
Both families kept summer boardefs
Across The road, and a beautiful
stretch of meadow, vas the sea rolling
in on vide sandy beach.
Harry Curtis and Will 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 Desry, ho boarded at the
Dunbars.
IL was Sunday. Harry had taken a
hammock and Will reclining chair
out under the apple tree to read.
Over on the Dnnbars' porch they
c,uld hear Grace's voice singing to hei
own guitar accompaniment. 1t was
sweet voice, and it brought her face
vividIy to the minds OF both young
men. Harry was thinking:
81 will get up presently and stroll
over and ask her to go out for a drive
on the beach tonight"
Will drew himself slowly out of his
reclining chair and yawned indiffer-
emily.
swell, | 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 the beach with
me, will you2" 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 hap
piest Summer of my life."
ss1t has been the happiest Summer of
my life, SO far" he said, 'but the Sum-
mer is not half over. You have it in |
yonr power to make it completely happy. |
l wonder if yon will2"
Grace looked at him quickly, but did
not speak.
aYou know you told me you liked
rubies better than any other stone," he
said, after moment. He put his
handinto his pocket and drew out a
little morocco case and laid it in he lap.
''See how yeulike those"
Grace opened the case. There was
little ring set beautifully with three
small rubirs. She gave a gasp of de-
ligh
'Oh. how perfectly lovelyl"
Then she looked at him curiously
and closed the case and held it out to
him. He folded bis hands around his
knees and looked across the sea.
.sConld anything induce you to put
hat ring on your third finger9" he
asked.
Grace dropped the case on the sand.
Il don't know what you meanl'' she
,aid.
He turned and caught both'her hands
in his.
1T seems that I love you Grace,
more than all else in tie world. Don't
tell me you do not love me in re-
.urnp'
She drew her hands away slowly and
to0d up.
ibid you get that ring for me?n
"Yes, got it in the hope it would
We yours some time. Oh, Grace, don't
ay you don't care for me. - I i
"Well, you did have faith in me to
% and get that ring before you knew.
never heard Of such thing!" she
aid. Indignantly.
You can throw the ring into the
,cean if you'll only tell me that you
owe me. | thought that was nice
way Of telling you. | see I've made
ooI of myself
He caught up the case from the sand
md threw it far out into the waves.
"Oh, how could your That beauti-
ul ring"
She turned and walked across the
'each, and be followed her.
"I'll dive till l get it, if you say so.
You do love me, Grace; say that you
Io.' T;
ssNo,n she said, 81 don't, and l I
hink this is the queerest proposal L Il
yer heard of-the idea of your daring
0 get that ling before you ask'd mel"
81 never dreamed you could be so
Ieartiess and cruel,n he said, angrily.
Then he turned and walked away in
he other direction, up the beach.
Harry Curtis went through the Or
hard after supper and found Grace on
he porch. She got up and went to
meet him.
.sI want to see Mr.. Blake,'' she said.
Will you go and send him over here?"
s.Well, no.'' Harry answered; u
ant, for the reason that he took the 3
''clock train to Boston. . +
.Well, never mind. III don't know,
ut I'D rather write It to him, any
vay,n Grace said.