Weekly Calaveras chronicle. (Mokelumne Hill, Calaveras County, Cal.) 18??-1874, 1867-12-07
SIX LOVE.LETTERS.

Are there any more of these letters?'
When her father asked this question,
in an awful tone, Lueilla Richmond
could not say no. and dared not say
'yes,' but as an intermediate course
burst into tears, and sobbed behind her
handkerchief.
Then Mrs. Richmond, her daughter s
very self grown older, came behind her
husbands chair, and patted him on the
shoulder.
please don't be hard with her, my
DEAR, she said, coaxingly. Hes a
nice young man, and it is our fault
after all as much as hers, and you
won't break her young heart, I'm sure.
Perhaps you approve of the whole
affair, ma M said Mr.. Richmond.
I-no-that is l only'-gasped the
little woman; and hearing LuciIa COM
ing. she sank into chair, blaming her.
self dreadfully for not having been
present at all her daughters music les
sons during the past year.
For all this disturbance arose from a
music teacher who had given lessons to
Miss Lucilla for twelve months, and
who had taken the liberty of falling in
love with her, knowing we'll that she
was the daughter of one of the richest
men in Yorkshire.
1T was iuexcusable in a poor music
teacher, who should have known his
place. Mr.. Richmond declared, and he
clu.ched the little perfumed billet which
had fallen into his hands as he mi ght a
scorpion, and waited for the others with
look upon his face which told of no
softening. They came at last, six little
white envelopes, tied together with
blue ribbon, and were laid at his elbow
by his despairing daughter.
Lock these up until 1 return home
this evening" he said to his wife; 81
will read them then. Meanwhile Lu-
ella is not to see this music master on
any pretence.'
And then Miss Lucilla went down
upon her knees. ooh, dear papa she
cried, dearest papa, please do not say l
must never see him again. [ could not
bear it. Indeed l could not. lie is
poor, | know, but he is a gentleman,
and II like him so much, papa
NO more of this absurdity, my DEAR
said Mr.. Richmond. He has been
artful enough to make you think him
perfection, l suppose. Your parents
know what is best for your happiness
A music teacher is not match for Miss
Richmond
With which remark Mr.. Richmond
put on his hat and overcoat, and de-
parted.
Then Lucilla and her mother took
the opportunity of falling into each
others arms.
Its so naughty of you,' said Mrs.
Richmond. But oh, dear, l can't
blame you. 1t was exactly so with me.
[ ran away with your papa, you know,
and my parents objected because Of lis
poverty. | feel the greatest sympathy
for you, and Frederick has such fine
eyes, and is so pleasing, 1 wish l could
soften your papa
when he has seen the letters there'll
be no hope, I'm very much afraid
sobbed Miss Lucilla. Fred is so ro-
mantle, and papa hates romance
He used to be very romantic himself
in those old times, said Mrs. Richmond.
Such letters as he wrote me. I have
them in my desk yet He said he
should die if l refused him.
so does Fred said Lucilla
And that life would be worthless
without me; and about my being beau
tiful Che thought so, you know. Pm
sure he ought to sympathize little,
said Mrs. Richmond.
But she dared not promise that he
would.
She coaxed her darling to stop cry
ing, and made her lie down-then went
up into her own room to put the letters
into her desk, and as she placed them
in the pigeon hole, she saw in another
a bundle tied exactly as those were,
and drew them out
These letters were to a Lucilla also.
One who had received them TWEEN
ty years beforehand now she was
a 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 so much
alike.
Half dozen inst the same, and
much more romantic than those the
music master had written to her daugh-
ter 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
thing.
But she was very fond of her daugh-
ter. When she left the desk she look
ed guilty and frightened, and something
in her pockt rustled as she moved.
But she said nothing to any one on the
subject until the dinner hour arrived,
and with it came her husband, angered
and more determined than ever. The
meal was passed in silence; then, hav-
ing adjourned to the parlor, Mr.. Rich
mond seated himself in a great arm
chair 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 again repeated, still
more sternly:
Those absurd letters, if you please,