The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-11-30
the FOSTER SISTERS.

>"SAo ehy HAOic Uc1V'eu hOI SIG was az
good and kind and happy hearted a,
she was lovely to look upon, Her IA
theirs cottage and little farm lay near
the gate OF vast park, in tie midst OF
which. hidden among mighty trees. was
an ancient aud psincely mansion There
dwelt, for many months in each yesr
the rich and proud old Earl OF Calyer-
ton, lord and owner of Uplands and ol
halt the country besides. There dwell,
also. the Lady Ethel, the Earl's only
child and heiress. The Countess OF
Calverton had died at the birth of this
daughter. and Ellen. having fortunately
been born. good Mrs Leigh WAS called
upon to share her mothers milk be.
tween her own child and tha. Of the
great lords. which she willingly aud
proudly d. Thres ysars later this
bountifur H6fse had also died. aud thus
both the little girls were left mother.
less. But this circumstance was not
the only poiut Of likeness between the
foster sisters. In form and feature they
strongly resembled each other. though
whether their common source Of nour-
ishment had anythin: to do with this
is . matter beyond my knowledge OF
course. as they grew up. their widely
different associations set a distinct
stamp upon this high bred beauty.
which not even the village gossips could
claim for the artlcss country girl; but,
nevertheless. . strong resemblance #
face, and voice. and figure, AMI man.
ner. remained; aud when they were To-
gether-as they Often were, for they
loved each other very dearly it
not been for . mere matter of dress,
one would have sworn they were real
sisters. They were alike In another
thing. too-they were both il love
Ellen loved Robin Cranfield, the hand
some young farmer, whose lands ad-
joined her fathers, and what was more
she was going to be married to Robin
with her fathers glad consent. That
was settled, and the whole village knew
it and was delighted. Bat 1t was no.
to be for three Jexrs. for in tho,s parts
they have long engagements. Lady
E'he's lover was Allan Hetherly.
young squire whose ample estate lay
ten miles from Uplanhs. But, alas,
her course Of true love did not run so
smoothly as her foster sisters. The
old Earl had formerly liked the young
squire exceedingly. and had encouraged
him to visit Calverton Court ter he
was n merry companion. and very qnick
eyed in s. icing and suggesting what WIS
needed on the Cslverton estate, which,
a. his lcrd,hip was equity and could
not get about. was q very useful service
for the young man to render. But when
one fine morning. Allan holdly as..ed
the Lady Ethel's hand. AMI proclaimed
their mutual love. the old noble had
nearly had an apoplectic fit. and. with
many furious curses, had metaphori-
CT iy sent the presumptuous lover to the
devil. besides forbidding him to ever
see or spe,k to his daughter again.
How much of this storm was vented on
Ethel's pretty head nobody knew. but
the very next day her father took her
TO seat he had on the Welch coass. and
for two seasons before the date Of this
| history Calverton Court had been shut
up. Now, however. the family had at
length returned.
Now. during this enforced sspar alton
Ethel had given aa evidence ct her de-
votion TO and confidence in her lover
which think few ladies Of the present
day would emulate; for she had written
to him. under covers addressed to her
! foster sister. not twitbstanding it was
absolutely impossible for him to snug
gle letter to her in return; for all her
letters were. by her stern parents COM
mand. taken TO him to be opened and
read. Therefore. not even the sympa-
thizing Ellen could convey so much
as a hint to poor Ethel. and for all she
knew her lover might have been mar
ried or dead while she was pouring out
her affection for him through the penny
post.
1t NAV we'll be believed that Allan
Hetherly came regularly to Farmer
LeiCh's place for his letters: always,
of course. pretending to have some
business with the old man. ~, indeed,
he generally managed to have in real
ity, greatly to the benefit OF the farm
er's purse. Now. Robin was in the
dark concerning the true cause of these
visits. for Ellen would have deemed
herself recresnt to her trust had she
BETRAYED her foster sisters secret even
to her lover. But Robin was shrcwd.
and he marvelled exceedingly what
could bring the squire so far from his
own estate to make q psltry purchase
Of COW or q sheep or two. Moreover.
Robin noticed that il Ellen was out
when Allan came the latter would de-
lay his business till she came back. and
moro than once he caught them whis
pering tos ether. Robin naturally grew
Jealous. and jealousy is lynx-eyei. so
one day he saw his betrotbed slyly
slip letter into the squires hsud. TO
say that he turned pale would not paint
the ashy whiteness that overspread bis
ruddy face; to compare the expression
in his eyes IS he Looked at the uncon-
scious Allan to that in tigers as he
faces his rival. is but . feeble simile
IL will settle with him aftsrwards." be
muttered. however. aud he let Allan
90. which he did Immediately after re-
c.ivipg the letter.
Then Robin turned upon the girl.
and, taking her by the arm with his
strong hand, led, or rather forced her
from her fathers presence into the
garden.
"Oh. don't. Robin. you hurt !" cried
the girl. shrinking from his rough
grasp. Then, for the first time. she
looked up into his face. and nearly
tainted at what she saw there why.
Robin" she stammered. almost AZ