Mexico weekly ledger., 1878-12-19
TWO FAIR DECEIVERS.

ing Oh SuiHlHor evenings! DO you
suppose it is of love? Indeed, sus-
pect it is of money or, if not mon
ey, then at least of something that
either makes money or spends it.
Cleve Sullivan has been spending
his for four years in Europe, and has
just been telling his friend John Sell
den how he spent it. John has spent
his in New York-he is inclined to
think just as proftably. Both stories
concluded in the same way.
81 have not a thousand dollars
left, john
"Nor /, Cleve."
II thought your cousin died two
years ago. surely you have not spent
all the old gentleman's money al
ready?"
81 only got $40, 900; 1 owed half
of It,
"Only $40, 900? What did he do
with it!''
"Gave it to his wife. He married
a beauty about year after you went
away, died in a few months after
ward, and left his whole fortune. l
had no claim ON him. He educated
me, gave me profession, and $20,-
900. That was very well; he was
only my mothers cousin"
"And the widow-where is she !"
Living at his country-seat. /
have never seen her. She was one
of the st. Maurs of Maryland"
"Good family, and all beauties.
Why don't you marry the widow
"Why, never thought Of such o
thing"
"You can't think of anything bet
ter. Write her little note at once !;
say that you and will soon be in her
neighborhood, and that gratitude to
your cousin, and all that kind of
thing-then beg leave TO call and pay
respects, etc., etc.
John demurred q good deal to the
plan, but Cleve was masterful, and
the note was written. Cleve himself
putting it into the post-oilice.
That was on Monday night. On
Wednesday morning the Widow Clare
found it with a dozen others on the
breakfast table. She was a dainty
high-bred little lady, with
Eyes that drowse with dreamy SPLENDID
Cheeks with rose-lesf tintings tender,
Lips like fragrant posy,
and, withal, kind and hospitable
temper, well inclined to be happy in
the happiness of others.
But this letter could not be all
swered with the usual polite formula.
She was quite aware that John Sell
den had regarded himself for many
years as his Cousins heir, and that
her marriage to the late Thomas
Clare had seriously altered his pros
poets. Women easily see through
the best-laid plans of men, and this
plan was transparent enough to the
shrewd little widow. John would
scarcely have liked the half -contemp-
tuous shrug and smile which termi-
mated her thoughts on the matter.
"Clementine, if you could spare a
moment from your fashion paper, |
want to consult you, dear, about a
visitor"
Clementlne slowly raised her blue
eyes, dropped the paper, and said,
"Who is it, FAM
1T is John Selden. If Mr.. Glaze
he'd not married me, he would have
inherited the Clare estate. l think
he is coming now in order to see if it
is worth while asking for, cucumber
ed by his Cousins widow"
'What selfishness! Write and
tell him that you are just leaving for
the Suez canal, or the Sandwich is
lands. or any other lnconvenient
place"
"No; have a better plan than
that-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 1 will take none of
the servants with me.'
"Well?'
"Then, Clementine, you are to be
the Widow Clare, and your poor
friend and companion.
Good! very good! The Fair
Decelvers' excellent comedy.
How l shall snub you, Fan! And
for once l shall have the pleasure of
undressing you. But has not Mr..
Selden ever seen your
''No; was married in Maryland
and went Immediately to Europe. !
came back a widow two years ago,
but Mr.. Selden has never remembered
me until now. wonder who this
friend is that he proposes to bring
with him ?'
"Oh, men always think in pairs,
Fan. They never decide on anything
until their particular friend approves.
l dare say they wrote the letter to-
gether. What is the gentleman's
name?'
The widow examined the note.
g MY friend, Mr.. Cleve Sullivan
Do you know him, Constantine?''
s'No; 1 am quite sure that never
saw Mr.. Cleve Sullivan. [ don't