Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1873-03-26
Brierwood Cottage.

"The gentleman has arrived at Bril-
erwood Cottage" said Gus Feni-
more, rushing into the room where
three of his sisters were sitting.
SIS he young or old?" asked Belle.
"Young and handsome, and, W hat is
Of more Importance, immensely
wealthy. He had large fortune left
him by all uncle. .'Brierwood" be-
longs to it, aud his health being poor,
he was bored by society. so he ran
down to tins out-of-the-way place,
where he expected nobody lived, to
recruit"
"Some city borc!" exclaimed Eli
nor.
GLOW provoking"
Nevertheless, Mr.. Fenimorc acci-
dcntally met the stranger, aud fell in-
to an agreeable conversation with
him.
"Come in and sec us, Mr.. Ruth
ven," he said, when parting. "We
will promise not to tire you out, for
l brought my daughters here to keep
them out ofsocicty this Summer"
Mr.. Ruthvcn dropped i'll that very,
afternoon. He was a tall, wcil-formcd
man, with a face decidedly bronzed.
He was presented to Mr.. Feni-
more's three daughters. and, though
he was courteous to all, his glance
scarcely wandered from Ellinor. She
sat by the open window. busily eli
gagged i'll the einiricacies ofan elaborate
piece of embroidery. Once in while
she responded TO some remarks
made to her, and Mr.. Huthreu
was struck by their peculiar beauty
They were neither blue nor grcy-in.
deed, with every varying expression
the color fiuctuatcd, until he was be.
wildered. She was fair and delicate
in appearance, with a naughty grace
yulncss of manner that we'll becam.
her. A perfect contrast, in ever,
particular, to her two sisters, ant
Mr.. Fenimore observed that the
stranger we evidently at loss how
to account for it.
"These two," inIicating Belle and
Laura, "wcre born in India. They III
hcrit the warm, tropical tempera
ment from their mother; and Ellinor,
no more fragile sir, from her mother
my first wife,
"You have been in india them the
stranger exclaimed. II have but jus,
returned to this country myself"
This discovery was a new bond OF
friendship between the two gentle.
mcu, and they were soon engaged in
q very lively conversation.
From that day Mr.. Ruthrcn be-
came a constant visitor, and showed
every attention upon Eiliuor. Weeks
passed-her sister tcaset her.
"Ellinor has met heri fatc!!" Belle
calculated.
~ am sure we will loose her."
Ellinor raised her eyes to her sis.
tcr's face, and the hot blood suffuscd
her cheeks.
81 should think you would be tired
ofsuch nonsensical productions, Belle.
1 shall never marry"
"There's the old story" returned
Laura.
Il declare you are the quecrest
girl in the world. You turn all the
mems heads and yet have compassion
.oa noue."
Miserable girl that / ann" she said
to herself; how long am to repent
of my folly! Ii ever have the care
of a girl, shall shut her up in a cage
until she becomes of rightful age to
know what she is doing"
Two hours she spent in her own
apartment, and then descended to the
parlor, where she heard Mr.. Ruth
ven talking to the girls. But her
manner was changed, aud she was as
cold as all iceberg.
"We have spoiled ALL" Belle whis-
pered to Laura, as they stepped out
Of the window on the piazza, "by our
tormenting her. 1 know what that
frigid air means. Mr.. Ruthven is
doomed to 60 the way of his prede-
cessors."
From that day they both studious-
ly avoided one another. Mr.. Ruth.
ven seemed to he as little inclined to
meet Ellinor as she vas to meet him.
A short ti,ae afterward Mr.. Ruth
ven dropped in to Inform them tina:
he intended to leave "Brierwood Cot
fage" that night.
Important business calls me to the
city," he said. Il shall miss your So
cietv very much, and hope l small have
the pleasure Of meeting you all
again."
A few more words,a . hurried "good
bye" and he was gone.