Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-08-08
Cornelia Lynn's Stratagem.
BY CAROLINE +. PRESTON.
Waycrly Magazine

Cornelia Lynn had the misfortune to
be an hciress. say misfortune, because
it drew about her a large number Of suit
ors, whose designs were mercenary. 1t
was very easy to dispose of Il large mum
Der to whom she was indifferent but
there remained two, between whom she
found it difficult to decide. These were
Oliver Sinclair and Henry Ellis. Both
were young men III good business both
had Il good reputation in the commu
nifty, Each was attractive in his way,
and Cornelia appealed in vain to her
heart to decide between them. A fcath-
er would turn the scale.
In this emergency Cornelia deter
mined to test the disintcrestedncss Of
their affection. An opportunity soon
offered.
There lived III the village II lady some
what noted as II busybody-by name,
Mrs. Jones. She was one Of that class
of inveterate gossips, who never hear II
thing without stralghtway communica-
ting it to all her acquaintance.
One day Cornclia observed this inter
esting lady making herway up the street
toward her residence, being evidently
bent on making her II call. She in
stantly seized n letter, which had been
prepared for the purpose, and slipping
downstairs laid 1t carclCssly ON the
drawing-room table. a moment after
ward the bell rung and Mrs. Jones was
announced. She was shown into the
drawing-room Cornclia took care not
to descend for twenty minutes.
Il, ,l,, ,,,n,tt,,, NJ. loo. l-.I
inquiringly about the apartment. At
length her attention was drawn to the
open letter. Now curiosity was Il promi-
ncnt trait III Mrs. Jones character. She
was at once seized with II desire to be
come acquainted with the contents Of
the opistlc. There was only one thing
which prevented hcr-thc fear of being
detected 10y the sudden entrance of her
hostess. She accordingly went to the
door, and opened it slightly, that she
might hear the least sound, and then.
returning, swiftly ran her eyes over the
letter, which was rs follows
Miss CORNELIA LYNN :-Ndddm 1t
gives me the most unfcigncd regret to
be obliged to inform you that the in
vestmont which | made under your di-
rections, involving nearly your whole
fortune, has proved Il complete loss. The
managers of the company were Il set Of
~rascalS and swindlcrs, and have doubt
less feathcrcd their own nest ut the cx-
pensc of yourself and others. The
shares have sunk from a par value to
ten per cent. This will leave .
something but of curse nine-tcnths
will prove Il loss. Shall | sell out at
that price? Hard rs it is. it is the best
advice | can give You. In concluding,
can only express my regret once more
that the investment should have turned
out So poorly, | hope YOU will have
strength to bear it.
Il have the honor to be.
Yours truly,
JOHN STORY, Att'y-at-law."
Well, good gracious - exclaimed
Mrs. Jones this is news. | wouldn't
have missed knowing it for fifty dollars.
| wonder what Curnelia Lynn will do?
wonder if She will have enough to live
on?'
At this moment Cornelia entered the
room. She looked serious and sorrow-
ful-at least, So Mrs. Jones Judged.
Are YOU well, Miss Lynn inquired
Mrs. Jones.
Pretty WELL was the reply.
Il thought YOU didn't look rs well rs
usual, persisted the visitor.
Perhaps | may be a little nervous
admitted Cornclia.
Anything particularly" limited Mrs.
Jones, hoping Cornclia would breach the
subject,
But this Corrclia did not seem dis
posed to do. Instead of this, she quiet
ly took the letter, which still lay ON the
table, and slipped it into her pocket.
Judging from this movement that she
was not likely to hear anything more,
Mrs. Jones, after II little Indifferent con
versation, and feeling DESTROYS of inn
parting the information She had ac-
quired, took her leave.
twas not long before II became known
in the village that Cornclia Lynn had
lost her fortune. Among others to
whom this information came, were the
two lovers previously spoken of.
Good gracious thought Oliver Sim
clair, "what Il morrow escape! | was
intending to go over mex week and
offer myself. 1t is the luckiest thing
that could happen"