Litchfield enquirer., 1878-06-27
WHOLE NO. 2717


 the widow Clare"
 ''Did yeu accept him ?"
 'Conditionally. I am to give him final answer when we go to the city in October. You are going to New York this winter, are you not?"
 ''Yes. Our little play progresses finely. John Selden asked me to be his wife to- night"
 FI told you men think and act in pairs"
 ''John is noble fellow. I pretended to think his cousin had ill used him, and he de. tended him until 1 was ashamed of myself; absolutely said, Clement, that you were sGf- ficient excuse for Mir. Clare's will. Then he blamed his own past idleness so much, and promised if I would only try and endure the slings and arrows of your outrageous temper, Clement, for two years longer, he would have made home for me in which 1 could be happy. Yes Clement, 1 should marry John Selden if he had not five dollar bill be- tween us"
 II wish Cleve had been little more explic- it about his money affairs However, there is time enough yet. Whenthey leave tomorrow what shall we do?'
 ''We will remain here another month Lc- vine will have the house ready for me by that | time. have written to him about refurnish- ing the parlers."
 So next day the lovers parted, with many
 
 days together. The interval was long and dull enough; but it passed, and one morning both gentlemen received notes of invitation to a small dinner party at the widow Clare's mansion in-street. There was good deal of dressing for this party. Cleve wished Go make his entrance into his future home as be- came the prospective master of million and half of money, and John was desirous of not suffering ill Clements eyes by any comparison with other gentlemen who would probably Oc | there
 Scarcely had they entered the drawingroom 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 da- monds. Her companion has assumed now the role of simplicity, and Cleve was disappointed with the first glance at her plain white Cham | bery gauge 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 loveliest Clement" Her smile answered him first. Then she said "Pardon me, Mir. Selden, but we have been in a masquerade all summer, and now we must unmask before real life begins My name is not Clementine Marat, but Fanny Clare. Cousin John, l hope you are not dis appointed" Then she put her hand into Johns and they wandered off into the Conser- vatory to finish their explanation. | MT. Cleve Sullivan found himself at that moment in the most trying circumstances of l his life. The real Clementine Marat stOed looking down at flower on the carpet, and evidently expecting him to resume the tender attitude he had been accustomed to bear to- ward her. He was man of quick decisions l where his own interests were concerned, and it did not take him half minute to review his position and determine what to do. This plain blonde girl without fortune was not the | girl he could marry; she had deceived him, too-he had sudden andsevere spasm of nor ality his confidence was broken; he thought | it was very poor sport to play with mans most sacred feelings; he had been deeply dis appointed and grieved, etc., etc. Clementine stood perfectly still, with her eyes fixed on the carpet and her cheeks grad ually flushing, as Cleve made his awkward accusations. She gave him no help and she made no defense, and it soon became embar- rassing for a man to stand in the middle of q l large drawing-room and talk to himself about any girl. Cleve felt so.
 | ''Have you done, Sir?" at length she asked lifting to his face pair of blue eyes scintillat- | ing with scern and anger '1 promised you my final answer to your suit when we met in New York. You have spared me the trouble. Good evening, Sir"
 l Clementine showed no one her disappOint- ment, and she probable soon recovered from it. Her life was full of many other pleasant plans and hopes, and she could well afford to let selfish lover pass out of it. She remain ed with her friend until after the marriage be- | tween her and John Selden had been consumma- ted and then Cleve saw her among the lists of | passengers sailing on one particular day for Europe. AS John and his bride left on the same steamer, Cleve supposed of course, she had gone in their company.
 'Nice thing it would have been for Cleve Sullivan to marry John Seldens wifc's maid, | or something or other John always was a lucky fellow. Some fellows are always un- lucky in love affairs-I always am." Half year afterward he reiterated this 1 statement with a great deal of unnecessary emphasis. He was just buttoning his gloves preparatory to starting for his afternoons drive, when an oldacquaintance hailed him.
 'Oh, it's that fool Belmar, he muttered; ''I shall have to offer him a ride. 1 thought he was in Paris. Hello, Belmar, when did you get back? Have ride 2"
 ''NO thank you. 1 have promised my wife to ride with her this afternoon"
 ''Your wife! When were you married?' Hast month, in Paris"
 ''And the happy lady was"
 "Why, 1 thought you knew every one is talking about my good fortune. Mrs. Belmar is old Paul Marat's only child" | "What?"
 ''Miss Clementine Marat She brings me nearly $3. 900, 900 in money and real estate and a heart beyond all price,"
 "How on earth did you meet herY"
 "She was travelling with Mir. and Mrs. John Selden-you know John Selden. She had lived with Mrs. Selden ever since she left school; they were friends when they were girls together" Cleve gathered up his reins and holding to MT. Frank Belmar, drove at 8 finable rate up the Avenue and through the Park. He could not trust himself to speak to any one, and when he did remark which he made to himself in strict confidence was not flatterng. For once Mir. Cleve Sullivan told Mir. Cleve Sullivan that he had been badly punished and that he well deserved it.-HaT- aoer's Weekly.