Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-05-03

Ship afforded an excellent basis for in
formal companionship, and Clementine
gave it full prominence. Indeed, in a
few days John began to find the rela-
tionship tiresome; it had been, " Cousin
John, do this" and "Cousin John,
come here" continually; and one night
when Cleve and he sat down to smoke
their final cigar he was irritable enough
to give his objections the form of
speech.
"Cleve, to tell you the honest truth,
do not like Mrs. Clare"
"I think she is very lovely woman,
John"
81 say nothing against her beauty,
Cleye; don't like her, and l have no
mind to occupy the place that beautiful,
ill-used Miss Marat fills. The way
Cousin Clare ignores or snubs woman
to whom she is every way inferior
makes me angry enough, assure you"
Don't fall in love with the wrong
woman, John"
Your advice is too late, Cleve; am
in love. There is no use in us deceiv-
ing ourselves or each other. You seem
TO like the widow-why not marry herP
| am quite willing you should"
"Thank you, John; have already
made some advances that way. They
havo boon favorably rocoivod, l Think
You are so handsome, fellow has
no chance against yOU But we shall
hardly quarrel, if you do not interfere
between lovely little Clement and my
SELF
81 could not afford to smile on her,
John; she is too poor. And what on
earth are you going to do with a poor
wifeP Nothing added to nothing will
not make n decent living"
"I am going to ask her to be my
wife, and if she does me the honor to
say Yes l will make decent living
out of my profession.
From this time forth John devoted
himself with some ostentation to his
supposed Cousins companion. He was
determined to let the widow perceive
that he had made his choice, and that
he could not be bought with her money.
Mr.. Selden and Miss Marat were al
ways together, and the widow did not
interfere between her companion and
her cousin. Perhaps she was rather
glad of their close friendship, for the
handsome Cleve made q much more
delightful attendant. Thus the party
the two weeks that the gentlemen
had first fixed as the limit of their stay
heightened into two months.
1t was noticeable that as the ladies
became more confidential with their
lovers they had less to say to each
other; and it began at last to be quite
evident to the real widow that the play
60 hn or hn CIo
nOuemeRt would come prematurely.
Circumstances favored her determina-
ton. One night Clementine, with ra-
diant face, came into her friends room,
and said: Fan, have something to
tell you. Cleve has asked me to marry
him"
"Now, Clement, you have told him
all; | know you have"
"Not word, Fan. He still believes
me the widow Clare"
"Did you accept him?"
"Conditionally. am to give him
final answer when we go to the city in
October. You are going to New York
this winter, are you notP'
hRfse WIFE tSGR tolnRigSSef.l SSelaen asked me t" he
"I told you men think and act in
pairs"
"John is noble fellow. l pre-
tended to think his cousin had ill-used
him, and he defended him until was
ashamed of myself: absolutely said,
Clement, that yOu were a sufficient ex-
cuse for Mr.. Clare's will. Then he
blamed his own past idleness so much,
and promised if / would only try and
endure the slings and arrows of your
outrageous temper, Clement, for two
years longer, he would have made a
home for me in which Icould be happy.
Yes, Clement, l should marry John
Selden if we had not q five-dollar bill
between us"
81 wish Cleve had been a little more
explicit about his money affairs. How
ever, there is time enough yet. When
| they leave tomorrow, what shall we
doP"
"We Will remain here another month;
Levine will have the house ready for
me by that time. L have written to
him about refmnishing the parlors."
o --~--t sis.J tI-s 1870 p s.--ted, With
many promises of constant letters and
future happy days together. The in
terval was long and dull enough; but it
passed, and one morning both gentle
men received notes of invitation to a
small dinner party at the widow Clare s
mansion in - street, There was a
good deal of dressing for this party
Cleve wished to make his entrance into
his future home as became the pros
pective master of million and half
of money, and John was desirous of not
suffering in Clement eyes by any COM
parison with the other gentlemen who
would probably be there
Scarcely had they entered the draw
ing-room when the ladies appeared,
the true widow Clare no longer in the
unassuming toilet she had hitherto
worn, but magnificent in white crepe
lisse and satin, her arms and throat and
pretty head flashing with sapphires and
diamonds. Her companion had as
sumed now the role of simplicity, and
Cleve was disappointed with the first
glance at her plain white Chambery
gauze dress.
John had seen nothing but the bright
face of the girl he loved and the love
light in her eyes. Before she could
speak he had taken both her hands and
whispered: dearest and best and love-
liest Clement"
Her smile answered him first. Then
she said: Pardon me, Mr.. Selden, but
we have been in masquerade all sum-
mer, and now we must unmask before
real life begins My name is not Glenn
entine Marat, but Fanny Clare. Cousin
John, hope you are not disappointed. T"
Then she put her hand into Johns and
they wandered off into the conservatory
TO finish their explanation.
Mr.. Cleye Sullivan found himself at
that moment in the most trying circum-