The Van Buren press., 1878-09-10
MISCELLANY.
TWO FAIR DECEIVERS,
-


What do young men talk about wher
they sit at the open windows smoking
on summer eyenings2 Do you suppose
it is of love? Indeed, | suspect it is o.
money; or, if not of money, then o
least OF something that either makes mon
ey or spends it.
Cleve Sullivan has been spending hi;
for four years in Europe, and he has
just been telling his friend John Selder
| New York-he is inclined to think just
as profitably. Both stories conclnde in
the same way.
ri have not thousand dollars left
john
"Nor /, Clcye,"
81 thought your cousin died two years
ago; surely you have not spent all the
old gentleman money already ?'
Z" / only got $4,000; l owed half Of
it."
"Only $4,000! What did he do with
it,"
"Gave it to his wife. He married {
beauty about a year after you went
away, died in q few months aftcrward
and left her his whole fortune. had
no claim on him. He educated me, gave
me profession, and $4,000, Thai
was very well he was only my mother
cousin"
And the widow-wherc is she ?"
"Living at his country-scat. | have
never seen her, She was one of the St
Maurs of Marvand.'
Good family, and all beauties. Why
don't you marry the widow
"Why l never thought Of such {
thing
you can't think Of any thing better
Write her a little note at once; say
that You and will soon be in her neigh
borhood, and that gratitude to youl
cousin, and all that kind Of thing-ther
beg leave to call and pay respects, etc.
etc"
John demurred good deal to the plan
but Cleve was masterful, and the nott
was written, Cleve himself putting it il
the post-ofllce.
That was on Monday night On Wed
nesday morning the widow Clare foun(
it with dozen others upon her break
fast table, She WAS a dainty. high-breC
little lady, with
eyes than browse with dreamy splcndor
| Cheeks with rose-leaf tintings tender,
Lips like fragrant posy."
and withal kind, hospitable temper
well inclined to be happy in the happi
ness of others
But this letter could be answered witt
the usual polite formula. She was quite
aware that John Seldom had REGARDED
himself for many years as his cousin
heir, and that the marriage with the
late Thomas Clare had seriously alter
&c his prospects. Women easily see
through the bcst-lain plans of men, and
this plan was transparent enough to the
shrewd little widow. John would scarce
ly have liked the half contemptuous shrug
and smile which terminated her private
thoughts on the matter.
"Clementine, if you could spare mo
ment from your fashion paper, want tc
consult you, dear, about visitor"
Clcmentine raised her blue eyes
dropped her paper, and said, "Who is it.
Frnf"
"It is John Sellcn. If Mr.. Clare had
not married me, he would have inherited
the Clare estate ! think he is coming
now in order to see if it is worth while
asking for, encountered by his cousins
widow
"What sellshness! Write and tel
him you are just leaving for the Suel
Canal, or the Sandwich Islands, or any
other ineonvenient place"
"No; have a better plan than thai
-Clementine, DO stop reading few
minutes, will take that pretty cottage
at Ryebank for the summer, and Mr.
Selden and his friend. shall visit us
there. No one knows US in the place
and will take none of the servants witt
me-"
"Well?'
Then, Clementiuc, you are to be thu