The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1867-11-22


and much more romantic than those
the music master had written to her
daughter Lucilla. A strange idea came
into Mrs. Richmond's mind. She dared
not oppose her husband; by look or
word she had never attempted such a
thing.
But she was very fond of her daughter.
When she left the desk she looked
guilty and frightened, and something in
her pocket rustled as she moved. But
she said nothing to any one on the sub
| iect until the dinner hour arrived, and
with it came her husband, angrier and
more determined than ever. The meal
was passed in silence; then, having ad-
Ijourned to the parlor, Mr.. Richmond
seated himself in great armchair,
and demanded:
The letters in a voice of thunder.
Mrs. Richmond put her hand into
her pocket and pulled it out again with
frightened look.
Mr.. Richmond repeated, still more
sternly:
Those absurd letters, if you please,
my dear ma'am.'
And then the little woman faltered
I-that isl believe-yes, dear-l
believe / have them,' and gave him a
white pile of envelopes, encircled with
blue ribbon, with hand that trembled
like an aspen leaf.
AS for Lucllla, she began to weep a,
though the end of all things had come
at last, and felt sure that if papa should
prove cruel she should die.
six letters-six shameful pieces Of
deception, LuciTa, said the indignant
parent. q am shocked that a child Of
mine could practice such duplicity.
Hem let me see. Number one, l be-
lieve. June, and this is December. Hall
a year you have deceived us then,
Lucilla. Let me see-ah! From the
lflst moment he adored you,' Ell? Non.
sense. People don't fall in love in that
absurd manner. 1t takes years of ac-
quaintance and respect and attachment.
with your smiles for his goal, he would
win both fame and fortune, poor as he
lisp Fiddlesticks, Lucilla! A man who
has common sense would always wait
until he had a fair commencement be-
fore he proposed to any girl Praise
of your beauty. The loveliest creature
he ever sawp Exaggeration, my dear.
You are not plain, but such fattery is
absurd. Must hear from you or die!
Dear, dear-how absurdp
And Mr.. Richmond dropped the first
letter, and took up another.
The same stuff he commented. 4
hope you don't believe word he says.
A plain, earnest, upright sort of man
would never go into such rhapsodies,
l am sure. Ahi now, in number three
he calls you 'an angelp He is roman
tic, upon my word. And what is all
|this9'
s'Those who would forbid me to
see you can find no fault with me but
my poverty. 1 am honest-I am earn
est in my efforts. l am by birth a
gentleman, and l love you from my
soul Do not let them sell you for gold,
Lucilla.' 30 o-
Great heavens, what impertinence to
your parentsp
4 don't remember Fred's saying any
thing of that kind said poor little
Lucilla. He never knew you would
object et -.a..,
Mr.. Richmond shook his head, frown-
ed, and read on in silence until the last
sheet lay under his hand. Then, with
an ejaculation of rage, he started to his
feet.
Tnfamousp he cried; 1'll go to him
this ins.ant-rll horsewhip him.-Pll
murder him! AS for you, by Jove,
I'll send you to convent. Elope, elope
with music teacher! Pm ashamed to
call you my daughter. Where's my
hat? Give me my boots. Here, John,
call cab -
But here Lucilla caught one arm and
Mrs. Richmond the other. .+
'Oh, papa, are you crazyp said
Lucilla. Frederick never proposed
such thing. Let me see the letter.
| Oh, papa, this is not Fred's-upon my
word it is not. Do look, papa; it is
dated twenty years back, and Freder-
lick's name is not Charlesl Papa, these
are your love-letters to mamma, written
long ago. Her name is Lucilla, you
know! ..-..... ..... .-...
Mr.. Richmond sat down in his arm
chair in silence, very red in the face.
How did this occurP he said stern
| Ily; and little Mrs. Richmond, retreated
into a corner, with her handkerchief to
her eyes, sobbed:
4 did it on purposep and paused, as
though she expected a sudden judg-
ment. But, hearing nothing, she dared
as last to rise and creep up to her hus-
band timidly. a i'a7F sa' .' t...@''
you know, Charles she said, it's so
long ago since, and / thought you
might not exactly remembef-how you
fell in love with me at first sight, how
papa and mamma objected, and how at
last we ran away together; and itseem-
ed to me that if we could bring it all
back plainly to you as it was then, we
might let dear Lucilla marry the man
she likes, who is good, if he is not rich.
/ did not need it to be brought back
any palmer myself; women have more
time to remember, you know. And
we've been very happy-have we not?'
And certainly Mr.. Richmond could
not deny that, So Lucilla, feeling that
her interests might safely be left in her
mothers keeping, slipped out of the
room, and heard the result of the little
ruse next morning, 1t was favorable
to the young music teacher, who had
really only been sentimental, and had
not gone half SO far as an elopement; |;
and, in due course of time, the two
were married with all the pomp, and
grandeur BETTING the nuptials of a
wealthy merchants daughter, with the
perfect appreciation of Lucilla's father,
and to the great Joy of Lucilla's mann:
ma, who justly believed that her little
ruse had brought about all her daugh-
ter's happiness.
A lover thus appealed to his tender
dulcinea for parting kiss-and got it /: