Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1867-09-04
SIX LovE-LETTERs.

Il
not say NO" and dared not say Aye"
but as an intermediate course burst into
tears, and sobbed behind her handkerchief
"Bring them TO me, Lucilla," said her
father, as if she had answered him, as, in
deed, she had; and the girl, trembling and
and weeping, arose to obey him..
| Then Mrs. Richmond, her daughters
very self grown older, came behind her
husbands chair and patted him on his
| shoulder.
"Pleas don't be hard with her, my DEAR y
she said, coaxingly "He's nice young
man and it is our fault after all as much as
hers, and you won't break her heart I'm
sure" a. 70 a .a
"Perhaps you approve of the whole af-
fair, ma'ma," said Mr.. Richmond.
."I-no-that is, only" g asped the
woman: and hearing Lucilla coming, she
sank into a chair, blaming herself dreal.
fully for not having beer present at all her
daughters music lessons iuring the past
year. "A
| For all this disturbance arose from a
music teacher who had given lessons to
Miss Lucilla Richmond for twelve months,
and who had taken the liberty of falling in
love with her, knowing well that she was
the daughter of one of the richest men in
| Yorkshire.
alt was inexcusable in a poor music
teacher, who should have known his place,
Mr.. Richmond declared, and he cluched
the little perfumed billit which had fallen
into his hands as he might scorpion. and
waited for the others with look upon his
face which told no softening. They came
at last six little white envelopes, tied to-
gcthcr with blue ribbon, and were laid at
his elbow by bis despairihg daughter. .-
"Lock these up until ! return home this
evening" he said to his wife; 81 will read
them. Meanwhile, Lucilla is not to see
this music master on aEy pretence."
And then Lucila went down upon her
knees: ..a.
"Oh, dear paper" she cried, dearest
papa, please don't say must never see
him again. couldn't bear it, Indeed |
could not He's poor, know, but he is
gentleman, and II like him so much,
papa" ..
"No more Of this absurdity, nv DEAR"
said Mr.. Richmond. "He has been artful
enough to make you think him perfection,
suppose. Your parents know what is
best for Miss Richmond"
With which remark Mr.. Richmond put
on his hat and overcoat, and departed.
Then Lucilla and her mother took the
opportunity Of falling into each others
arms. ..
ats naughty ofyou,' said Mrs. Rich
mond. "But no, dear, can't blame you.
IL was exactly SO with me, ran awav
| with your papa, you know, and my parents
objected because of his poverty. | feel
the greatest sympathy for you, and Fred
rick has such fine eyes, and is so very
pleasing, l wish I could soften your pa
pa"
"When he has seen the letters there'll
be no hope, I'm afraid" sobbed Lucilla.
"Fred is romantic. and papa hates romance"
"He used to be very romantic himself
in those old times" said Mrs, Richmond.
"Such letters as he wrote me. / have
them in my desk yet. He said he should
die if refused him."
$50 does Fred" said Lucilla.
"And that life would be worthless with
out me; and about my being beautiful (he
thought so, you know y I'm sure he ought
to sympathise little,'" said Mrs. Rich
mond.
But she dared not promise that he wo'd.
She coaxed her darling to stop crying,
and made her lie down; then went up in
to her own room to put the letters into her
desk; and, as she placed them in one pig
eon-bole, she saw in another a bundle,
tied exactly as those were, and drew them
1 out.
These letters were to a Lucila also.
who had received them twenty years be.
fore-and she was now matron old enough
to have daughter who had heart troubles
-unfolded them one by one, wondering
how it came to pass that lovers letters
we're all go much alike.
Halt-s-dozun-iust the same number.
and much more romantic than those the
music. master had written to her daughter.
A strange idea came into Mrs Richmond s
mind. She dared not oppose her husband !;
by look or word she had never at.
tempted such thing.
But she was very fond of her daughter.
When she left the desk she looked guilty
and frightened, and something in her pock-
ct rustled as she moved. But she said
nothing on the subject 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 adjourned to the parlor, Mr.. Rich
mond seated himself in great arm chair,
and demanded:
"The letters" in voice of thunder.
Mrs. Richmond put her hand into her
pockets, and pulled it out again with a
| frightened look. n#r
Mr.. Richmond repeated still more stern
ly: .'a --'.5 n .
"Those absurd letters, if you please,
ma am" .-.G ... r...r.'. ".
And then the little woman faltered
"I--that isl belieVe--yes, dear--l
belelveI have them, and gave him white
pile of envelopes, encircled with blue rib
bon, with hand that trembled like an as