Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-05-24
:: II I:
Deception
An American Heiress Inn
poses Upon Her Titled
Sutton.
By SARAH j. ATWATER
Copyright, 1910. by American Pre-
Aaaortafi0n


The artist was Miss May Monroe OF
st. Louis, the other Miss Margaret De
Forest of New York. The acquaint.
ance thus begun was continued. and
in time Miss De Forest engaged Miss
Monroe to paint her portrait
IL am going to take you into my con.
fidence," said Miss De Forest to Miss
Monroe one day while sitting for the
| picture. land ask you to do me favor.
possess an immense fortune and
have come abroad for the purpose OF
meeting q sutton who has never seen
me. Mutual friends have made an ar
rangement by which Count Desmond
de pAmoureux, descended from one
of the oldest families in France. is to
visit me, and If we are both agreed
we are to marry. / am not to be taken
In by any adventurer aud have inves-
tigated the counts position thoroughly.
He possesses valuable estates which
with my fortune would enable us to
take q very prominent position In Eu-
ropean society.
"But / will marry no man who does
not love me. My wish Is that you
shall impersonate me to the count, !
impersonating you, protegee OF my
real self. II like him will endeavor
to win him away from you. In that
way shall know that he loves me for
myself"
THAT would make very pretty ro-
NANCE" said Miss Monroe.
UNLESS you fall in love with him
yourself"
mo fear Of that. I'm engaged to
be married"
"Indeedw
"Yes: to a young American. strug-
Cling artist like myself"
THAT is fortunate. We can take
him into the secret and. forming a
party Of four. 20 about together. thus
enabling me to carry out my plan"
"And enjoy ourselves as we'll"
Count Desmond de rAmoureux ar
rived and was introduced to the two
girls. they occupying reversed posi-
tons. Bernard Wright was introduced
to the count as the fiance Of the real
Margaret De Forest. The four visited
together the galleries. the mediaeval
buildings ana the environs OF Florence,
enjoying every moment. The party
filed a carriage. and many were the
drives they took over the beautiful
hills and dales about the city In the
delicious Florentine sunshine.
Young Wright. devoted to his art
ard. with the usual artistic tempera-
ment. careless as to material posses
sions. entered upon his part Of the de-
ception reluctantly and merely to
please Miss Monroe. He paid his de
voirs perfunctorily to the heiress. but
was BY no means bored mt doing 80.
His real mistress was his brush. Miss
Monroe seemed to enjoy immensely
personating an heiress and was very
patroniZing to the real Miss De Forest.
Count de rAmoureux was evidently
from the first very much pleased with
the girl whom he supposed to be Miss
De Forest, and Miss Monroe knew
with woman's quick intuition that
it was not interest alone that moved
him.
Miss De Forest soon began to prac'
tice artful means to draw the noble
man away from her substitute. Mar
garet was an attractive girl and knew
how to win n man. Nevertheless the
count was constant to May. One day
while sitting with her OH the Piazza
Michelangelo q hill overlooking the
city and the Arno flowing through Its
Iuaycd banks and under its old fash
Toned 'EiG@es. lie said:
where did you pick up your pro-
tegee:"
81 met her here in Florence. She's
Il lovely girl"
HIN. don't fancy her."
Miss Monroe laughed.
"Why are you merryT asked the
count
81 was thinking, supposing l were
to turn over my fortune to her, how
long would 1t be before you would
transfer your attentions from me to
her."
II will grant that there was a time
when might have done this. when we
first met, though fancied you in pref,
erence Immediately. But now that
have known you a transfer would be
impossible"
Suppose you try"
TRY! What do you mean?"
II think May cares for you. Before
entering upon any contract to become
your wife / should prefer that you
remain for time under her influence
She and are bosom friends and shall
always be much together. l don't care
to have IN affair between my husband
and my friend. prefer to trust his
constancy before marriage"
But you must have seen that Miss
Monroe has not been averse to my
attentions and that ! have not given
them"
Devote yourself to her for two
weeks"
ut would seem an age"
Miss Monroe fatty refused to ex.
euse her sutton from the test, and be
finally consented, the period being re
duced from two weeks to two days
He attempted to make beginning the
next afternoon when the four wert
walking together in the Pitt gardens
He Joined Miss De Forest.
She turned away from him.
Now. IL Is not pleasing to the amour
propre Of a nobleman who has de
scended from one of the proudes
houses in France to be snubbed by al
American girl of ordinary lineage, ant
protegee at that. The count wa!
furious. He regretted that he hat
not accepted the two weeks period o.
trial offered, since It would give hin
time to teach this young woman whom
he did not like that she could not VIII
immunity turn away an attention from
the Count de rAmoureux. He fount
himself In AN equlvocal position. Mis-
Monroe had not seen the snub he hat
received, and he was too proud u
confess II to her. And yet for tw'
DAYS he WAS expected to devote him
self TO the girl who would not acccp
his attentions. What was to be done
lie begged Miss Monroe to let him OF
from the balance Of his trial on tn
ground that 1t was obnoxious to him