, 1878-08-01

.
their parts and get all their household
machinery in order, and then the gentle,
men arrived at Ryebank.
| Fan and C,Gmentine were quite ready
for their first call-the latter in u rich
and exquisite morning costume, the
former IN a simple dress ofspotted lawn.
! Clementinc went through the introduc-
tions with Consummate case of manner,
and in half an hour they were very
pleasant party. Johns "courtship' af-
forded an excellent basis for informal
companion,hip, aud Cementine gave it
full prominence. Indeed, in few days
John began to find the relationship tire
some; it had been, cousin John, do
this,' and cousin John, come here"
continually; and one night when Ceve
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"
Il think she is very lovely woman,
John"
II say nothing against her beauty,
Cleve; 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 a woman to whom
she is every way inferior makes me angry
enough, | assure YOU"
Don't fall in love with the swrong
woman, john
"Yoar advice is too late, Cleve; l am
| ,,,l lnv hnr l., in, inn
ourselves or each other. You seem to
like the widow-why not marry here
| am quite willing you should"
"Thank you, John; | have already
made some advances that way. They
have been favorably received, think
"You are so handsome that a fellow
has no chance against you. But we shall
hardly quarrel, if you do not interfere
between lovely little Clement and my
self"
could not afford to smile on her,
John; she is too poor. Aud what on
earth are you going to do with poor
wifea Nothing added to nothing will
not make decent living.'
81 am going to ask her to be my wife,
and if she does me the honor to say Yes, ,
| will make n decent living out Of my
profession"
From this time forth John devoted him
self with some ostentation to his sup
posed cousins companion. He was de.
termined to let the widow perceive that
he had made his choice, and that he
could not be bought with her money. Mr..
SeIden and Miss Marat were always to-
gether, and the widow did not interfere
between her companion and her cousin.
One night Clementine, with a radiant
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;
I know you have"
"Not a word, Fan. He still believes
me the widow Clare"
"Did you accept him2"
"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 not2"
"Yes. Our little play progresses finely.
John Selden asked me to be his wife to-
night"
II told you men think and act in
pairs"
"John is a noble fellow. | pretended
to think his cousin had ill.used him, and
he defended him until l was ashamed of
myself; absolutely said, Clement, that
you were sufficient excuse for Mr..
Cla-e's will. Then he blamed his own
past idleness so much, and promised if |
would only try and endure the slings
and arrows of an outrageous temper,
Clement, for two years longer, he would
have made home for me in which |
could be happy. Yes, Clement, should
marry John Selden if we had not S.
bill between US"
~ wish Cleve had been little more
explicit about his money atfeirs. flow
ever, there is time enough yet. When
they leave, to- o-morrow, what shall we doG"
"We will remain here another month;
Levine will have the house ready for me
by that time. | have written to him
about re-furnishing the parlors."
So next day the lovers parted, with
many promises of constant letters and
future happy days together. The inter,
view was long and dun 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 prospec-
tive master of million and half of
money, and John was desirous of not
suffering in Clements eyes by any com
parson with the other gentlemen who
would probably be there.
Scarcely had they entered the drawing
room when the ladies appeared, the true
widow no longer in the unassuming
toilet she had hitherto worn, but mag
nificent in white crepe lisse and satin,
her arms and throat and pretty head
flashing with sapphires and diamonds.
Her companion had assumed now the
roll of simplicity, and Cleve was disap
pointed with the first glance at her PLAN,