The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-09-12
4 HE STORY. TELLER,
THE GENTEEL WIDOW.

Not very long ago lady, in widow S
weeds, accompanied by a gentleman
said to be her brother came to New
York, and engaged house in Fourth
Street. Her rich dress and refneme Mt
of manner, combined with great person.
al attractions, rendered her neighbors
most desirous of obtaining an introdue-
t1on to her, and curiosity was rife as to
where she came from and who she was.
Her brother, for he really stood in that
relationship to her, was young man
enjoying the command of ready money
to considerable amount, who easily
made acquaintanceS among others OF his
own age. His manners were very pleas
ing, and his demeanor was polished,
while his attire, though extremely quiet
and unpretending, wrs always in the
best possible taste. So favorable was
the impression which he created in the
minds of his new friends, that several OF
them invited him to their own homes
and in short time his circle of init
mates increased to such degree that
ne, in his turn, was enabled to give re-
ceptlons in Fourth Street.
His name was Vaughan, and his sis
ter had been married to d colonel in the
Confederate army, who had been killed
IN action during the war. Young
Vaughan succeeded to handsome COM
petence on the death of his father; and
Col. Wilson, who had also been a man
of property, had left sufficient behind
him to support his widow in II manner
becoming his position. This tale was
supported by the evidence of two or
three other young men, frequently to be
met in Vaughan's apartments, who were
also from the South, and was so fully
borne out by all the circumstances of
the period and their mode of life, that
the brother and sister were tacitly per-
mitted to take their place in society as
fashionable people.
Among many others who visited Mrs
Wilson was Mr.. johnson and his fam
lily, who possessed a large store on
Broadway. To this gentleman the wild
ow was especially attentive, and vowed
that her purchases for the future should
be made from no other person than him.
self. Day after day she visited his
store and bought largely, invariably
paying ready monev, until his confidence
in her was fully established, and he told
her that he should be most happy to
be more agreeable to her. She replied
that she was only woman, and conse-
quently knew nothing of business, so
she preferred to pay at once, that she
might know exactly how she was stu
ated, but promised to avail herself of
this kind offer should she ever feel the
need OF it. One benefit there was, how
ever, which he could confer on her.
Would he be SO kind us to show her over
his store She had never had an op-
portunity before of becoming acquainted
with the resources Of SO large an estab-
hshment. Mr.. Johnson, only too will
ling to be polite to so excellent a Gus
toner, Immediately acceded to her
request and laid his treasures bare be-
fore her, and exhibited some of the most
costly goods. She asked at what hour
business was commenced, at what hour
concluded; and after thanking him
sincerely for his courtesies, took her
leave.
1t was not long before the worthy
merchant had cause to regret this mo-
ment of weakness, and subsequent
events proved to him how easy it is for
a good looking woman to caiole man,
however wide-awake he may be. New
York at this time was infested by a gang
of rogues who had introduced a new
system of shoplifting, and had success
fully viotimized many of the larger
storekeepers in the city. As their course
of action was entirely fresh, new name
had to be invented for them, and they
were christened sneak thieves by the
police, from the cunning way in which
they effected their depredations and the
difficulty experienced in detecting
them.
Mr. johnson, who but few days be-
fore had been boasting of his immunity
from theft, was much annoyed when on
arriving one morning at his store he
was informed by his managing man