The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-05-25
Select Sturg.
TWO FAIR DECEIVERS.

w " Il 011b 00O41 AI4s1a
What do young men talk about when
they sit at the open windows smoking on
suamer evenings? Do you suppose it il
of love? Indeed, | suspect it is Of money;
or, if not of money, then at least of some
thing that either makes money or spends
it,
Cleve Sullivan has been spending his
for four years in Europe, and he has just
been telling his friend John Selden how
he spent it. John has spent his in New
York-he is inclined to think just as prof
itably. Both stories conclude in the same
way.
'I have not thousand dollars left
John"
HNor I, CleEe."
II thought your cousin died two years
ago; surely you have not spent all the old
gentleman's money already ?"
al only got 100000; l owed half Of it. y
"0nly $40, ,0OOl What did he do with
it?"
'sGave it to his wife. He married q
beauty about year after you went away,
died in few months afterward, and left her
his whole fortune. had no claim on him.
He educated me, gave NE a profession,
and $4,000 That was very well he
was only my mothers cousin.
sand the YidOw-wheFe is she ?"
"Living at his eountry-seat, | have
never seen her. She was one of the St.
Maurs of Maryland
nGood family, and all beauties. Why
don't you marry the widow?"
"Why, | never thought ofsuch thing.
isYou can't think of any thing better.
Write her q little note at once; say that
you and I viii soon be in her neighbor-
hood, and that gratitude to your cousin,
and all that kind of thing-then beg leave
10 call aud pay respects, etc., etc.
John demurred good deal to the plan,
but Cleve was masterful, and the note was
written, Cleve himself putting it in the
post-ofice.
That was on Monday night. On We'd
nesday morning the widow Clare found
it with dozen others upon her breakfast
table. She was dainty, high-bred little
lady, with
Eyes that browse with dreamy splendor
Cheeks with rose-leaf tintings tender,
Lips like fragrant posy."
end withal kind, hospitable temper, well
inclined to be happy in the happiness Of
others.
But this letter could not be answered
with the usual polite formula. She was
quite aware that John Selden had regard
ed himself for many years as his cousins
heir, and that her marriage with the late
Thomas Clare had seriously altered his
prospects. 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 halfeontemptuous shrug and smile
which terminated her private thoughts on
the matter.
"Clementine, if you could spare mo-
ment from your fashion paper, | want to
consult you, dear, about visitor"
Clementine raised her blue eyes, dropped
her paper, and said, "Who is it, Fan ?"
alt is John Selden. 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, encumbered by his cousin S
widow"
"What selfshness Write and tell him
that you are just leaving for the Suez
Canal, or the Sandwich Islands, or any
other inconvenient place.
"No; | have better plan than that
Clementine, do stop reading a few min
utes. 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 with me.
"Well?"
"Then, Clementine, yOH are to be the
widow Clare, and your poor friend and
companion.
''GOOd very good "The Fair De-
eeivers" excellent comedy. How l
shall snub you, Fan And for once l
shall have the pleasure of undressing you.
But has not Mr.. Selden seen you ?"
"No; l was married in. Maryland, aud
went Immediately to Europe. | came
back widow two years ago, but Mr.. Sell
den has never remembered me until now.
/ wonder who this friend is that he pro-
poses to bring with him p
"Oh, men always think in pairs, Fan.
They never decide on any thing until their
particular friend approves. l dare say
they wrote the letter together. What is
the gentleman's name?"
The widow examined the note. "My
friend Mr.. Cleve Sullivan" "Do you know
him, Clementine p
"No; am quite sure that never saw
Mr.. Cleve Sullivan. don't fall in love
with the name-do you? But pray ac-
cept the offer for both gentlemen, Fan,
and write this morning, dear" Then
Clementine returned to the consideration
of the lace in coquilLes for her new eve
ming dress.
The plan so hastily sketched was sub
sequentIy thoroughly discussed, and car
ried out. The cottage at Ryebank was
taken, and one eveningat the end of June
the two ladies took possession of it. The
new widow Clare had engaged a maid in
New York, and fell into her part with
charming ease and a very pretty cssump-
tion of authority; and the real widow, in
her plain dress and pensive, quiet man.
ners, realized effectively the idea of a cul-
tivated but dependent companion. They
had two days in which to rehearse their
parts and get all the household machinery
in order, and then the gentlemen arrived
at Ryebank.
Fan and Clementine were quite ready
for their first call; the latter in a rich and
exquisite morning costume, the former in
q simple dress of spotted lawn. Clemen-
tine went through the introductions with
consummate ease of manner, and in half