The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1867-12-05
SIX LovE-LETTERS.


/ "ArUt there any more of these letters?"
When her father asked the question,
in an swful tDne, Lucilla Richmond
could not say MO-" and dared not say
"Yes," but, as an intermediate course,
burst into tears, and sobbed behind her
..'
Bring them to me, Lucilla," said
her father, as if she had answered him,
as, indeed, she had; and the girl, tremb-
ling and weeping, arose to obey him.
Then Mrs. Richmond, her daughters
very self grown older, came behind her
husbands chair, and patted him on the
shoulder.
"Please don't be SO hard on her, my
DEAR" she said, coaxingly. "He's nice
young man, and it is our fault after all a.
much as hers, and you won't break her
young heart, I'm sure" ..
''Perhaps you approve Of the whole af-
fair, ma am said Mr.. Richmond.
"I-no-that is, only''-gasped the
little woman and, j, hearing Lucilla COM
ing she sank into a chair, blaming her.
self dreadfully for not having been
present at all of her daughters music
lessons during the past year.
For all this disturbance arose from a
music teacher who had given lessons to
Miss Lucill 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.
at was inexcusable in poor music
teacher who should have known his
place." Mr.. Richmond declared, and he
clutched the little perfumed billet which
had fallen into his hands as he might a
scorpion, and waited for the others with
4 look upon his face which told of no
softness. They came at last, sin little
white envelopes, tied together with blue
ribbon, and were laid at his elbow by
his despairing daughter.
'Lock these up until / return home
this evening"" he said to his wife; II
will read them then. Meanwhile Lucy
is not to see the music master on any
pretense."
And then Miss Lucy went down upon
her knees:
ooh, dear papa!' she cried, "dearest
papa, please don't say must never see
him again. couldn't bear it, Indeed
l could not. He's poor, l know, but he
is a gentleman, and IL like him so
much, papa
mo more of this absurdity, my DEAR"
said Mr.. Richmond. Hes been artful
enough to make you think him perfec-
ton, l suppose. Your parents know
what is best for your happiness. \ mu-
sic teacher is not match for Miss Rich
mond.
With these remarks 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.
"It's SO naughty of YOU" said Mrs.
Richmond. "But, oh, dear, l can't
blame you. 1t was exactly so with me.
l ran away with your papa, YOU know
and my parents objected because of his
poverty. l feel the greatest sympathy
for you, and Frederick has such fine
eyes, and is so pleasing. wish 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 himsel
in those old times" said Mrs Richmond
"Such letters as he wrote me. 1 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
without me; and about my being beau
tiful (he thought so, you know; Tn
sure he ought to sympathize little,
said Mrs Richmond.
But she dare not promise that h'
would.
She coaNed her darling to stop crying
and made her lie down; then went ul
into her own room to put the letters int,
her desk and, as she placed them in on,
pigeon-hole, she saw in another a bun
die, tied exactly as those were, an,
drew them out.
These letters We're to Lucilla also
One who had received them twent,
years beforehand she was now matroI
old enough to have a daughter who hat
heart troubles-unfolded them one b,
one, wondering how it came to pass tha
lovers letters We're all SO much alike.
Half a dozen-just the same number
and much more romantic than those til,
music master had written to her daugh
ter Lucilla. A strange idea came int,
Mrs Richmond's mind. She dared no
oppose her husband; by look ora word
she had never attempted such thing
But she was very fond of her daughter
When she left the desk she locke,
guilty and frightened, and something il
Eher pocket rustled as she moved. Blu
she said nothing to any one on the sui
;act until thn lii nYnr hour n orr;xyol -.