Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-10
TWO FAIR DECEIVERS.

thing after he had let fy TWO arrows IN RAPID
succession at two male hearts and hit the
mark each time. His mission, however, end
ed there, and after events took their cratic
course in a manner that must have aStonished
the infantie god, that is if he ever troubled
himself further about it,
Fred Chalmers and James GLADDEN. were
badly wounded by the two shafts, and, as it
fortunately happened that each had chosen
different sister of the pair Of fair ones, they
confided their new emotions, their plans for
CONQUEST and the other details Of lovers as
pirations to one another.
Chalmers was bright, handsome, dashing
young fellow of 25 and the object OF his love
at first sight, Sarah Wood, was fair blonde
maiden upon whose beauty the average eye
could dwell restfully for an indefinite period.
She was not quite is at this delightful day in
Fred Chalmers life.
GLADDEN. was a rather more solid young
man Of Chalmers age; more reticent and
cautious, but not by any means so PROPOSES
ing in his personal appearance or manners.
He had confessed that he had met his fate
when his eyes first fell on the youngest sister,
Elizabeth, the brunette.
The two sapguine young fellows spoke OF
the future to each other as though it were al
ready settled fact that, as they and their
edored ones had met like idle chips on the
quiet waters" they should never separate.
But. strong and determined as they were,
they had yet to learn that there were Delilahs
in the world who could rob them of their
boosted strength and give them over bound
and gagged to the enemy. And subsequent
events seemed to initiate against the cher
ished and beautiful saying that matches are
made in heaven"
How it should have happened that Fred
Chalmers fell in love with Sarah Woods
without having his affections reciprocated; or
how 1t was that James GLADDEN. went imme-
diately over to the little brunette, Elizabeth,
and surrendered Internationally, only to find
that her heart had no room for him, was a
mystery and thorn in the side of the two
men. But SO it was, and while these smitten
male hearts were bordering upon the mys-
terry the two fair sisters were equally annoyed
and disappointed ct the turn things had taken.
HMr Chalmers can never obtain my consent
to marry me, for l do not love him" said
Sarah to her sister one day. "Janles Glad
den is my beau ideal of lover, and know
you do not care a fig for him, sis"
"That is true" laughed Elizabeth. 81
wonder how the whole thing could have got
reversed in this comical way"
ave must break up this contretemps and
place these young men where they belong,
for they evidently need guiding" said Sarah,
looking wisely at her younger sister.
So the two fair deceivers put their little
heads together and laid a plot to make the
crooked matter straight and to bring order
out of chaos as speedily possible 1t was
doubtless well laid and satisfactory plot to
81
of It's details, whispered in each others ears,
was evidenced at the end of the conference
by peals of laughter.
"That is Just splendid, and I'm sure it will
succeed" said Elizabeth gleefully.
Aunt Sophia Grant was the natural guard
ian of these two girls, who, being orphans,
had made their home with her since early
childhood. There was also one other inmate
OF Mrs. Grants house-an elder sister of the
two girls already presented TO the reader.
Martha Wood, the eldest of the girls, was
unmarried and nearly ten years older than
Sarah. The younger girls looked upon her
as a settled old maid, already outside the pale
of marriage, and their respect for her opin-
ions was not at all deferential She was ac-
cepted as a convenient chaperone when
emergencies arose, and she was used generally
without reference to her own wishes in the
matter
But the elder sister had opinions of her
own and her powers of observation and keen
discernment were far above the level ascribed
to them by her more immature sisters; and
il she sometimes yielded to their wishes
against her better Judgment it was from
pure love or pity for their youth and mother
less condition.
Aunt Sophia and Martha seemed TO be per-
fectly solid together in their relations, and
had each looked on at this novel and incon-
gruous wooing with an amused wonder.
Martha's smile was one of tolerant forbear-
ance, in spite of the petty annoyances and
sights she received from "the girls" as she
called them, and the neglect and commiserat-
ing chances of the ycung men, which seemed
20 say: Poor old grill how sorry am for
you in your loneliness"
Aunt Sophia Grant looked on with a grim
smile and penetrating glance, which seemed
TO read the meTcenary element in the male
hearts that leaned toward her worldly pos
sessions She was not asleep by any means,
and she often bent her gaze upon Martha
when a word or phrase from their lips touched
upon this subject Of inheritance, and Martha
instinctively interpreted the Geographic dis
patch and returned silent message.
There were three pairs of schemerS in this
little drama, each pair intent upon its own
ultimate success, regardless of the conse-
guences TO the other actors in the play.
Our questionable heroes were scheming for
property, with the hope that love might be
thrown in incidentally. The fair heroines
were plotting for love, pure and simple, while
their elders were planning to avert possible
catastrophe to all concerned. and stood en-
tirely the defensive in their attitudes
toward the rest
The young men kept a wary eye on each
other and seemed TO grow suspicious as the
play went on without any satisfactory devel-
opnents, and yet they preserved that cour-
tesy of department in all their intercourse
which the amenities of society demand ds
rigueur
At their frequent tete-a-tetes there occurred
now and again same delicate sparrinC, which
seemed to Indicate the existence OF a false Do
sition on the part OF each of these Lotharios-
1t had been an exceptionally busy day at
Aunt Sophia Grants. There bad been IN
usual preparations for the coming entertain
ment of the evening now drawing near
Watch them closely tonight Matte said
Mrs Grant, blinking wisely az her niece q
suspect there will be elimination SOON
mo need of that, aunt, replied the elder OF
the sisters "The young fools are doing very
uicely. 1t is all coming out right without
cur interference. Wait and you VIII see how
nicely the girls have liked it"
There were two stolen meetings in Aunt
Bophias garden that night, and the dense
foliage Of the summer clad shrubbery could