Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-10-23
Select Yale.
Acknowledgement


as II She had answered him. as, indeed, she had ;
and the girl, trembling 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 bard with her my dear" she
said coaxngy ole is a nice young man, and it
is our fault after all. as much as hers and you
won't break her young heart am sure
perhaps you approve OF the whole affair aam,"
said Mr. Richmond.
'1-no-that is only gasped the little wo-
man and hearing lucills coming, she sank into
a chair, blaming herself dreadfully for not having
been present az all her daughters music lessons
during the last year
For all this disturbance arose from a music
teacher who had given lessons TO Miss Lucilla for
a year and who had taken the liberty Of falling in
love with her, knowing well that she was the daugh
ter 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 clutchcd the little perfumed bill
let which had fallen into his hand, as be might a
Scorpion and waited for the others with a look
upon his face which told Of no soltenng. They
came at last six little white envelopes, tied to-
gethcr with blue ribbon. and were laid at his ell
bow by his despairing daughter.
Lock these up until come home this evening"
he said to his wife 81 will readthem then. Mean
while Luclla is not to see this music master on
any pretense.n
And then Miss Lucilla went down upon her
knees;
"Oh, dear papal" she cried. "my dearest papa,
please don't say ] must never see him again. l
couldn't bear it. Indeed could not Hes poor,
! know, but he is a gentleman, and IL like him
so much, papa
mo more Of this absurdity. my dear, said Mr..
Richmond 'Ile has been artiu enough TO make
you think him perfection, | suppose. Your pa
rents know what is best for our happiness A
music teacher is not a match for Miss Richmond.
With which remark Mr. Richmond put on his
hat and overcoat and departed.
Then Lucilla aud her mother took the opportu-
nifty Of falling into each others arms.
cts so naughty Of you said Mrs. Richmond.
"But Oh dear, | can't blame you. 1t was exactly
so with me. ] ran away with your papa, you know,
and my parents objected because of his poverty.
feel the greatest sympathy for you, and Freder-
lick has such fine eyes and is so pleasing, ! wish
| could soften your papa"
~ hen he has seen the letters there will be no
hope, l'm very much afraid sobbed Miss Lucilla.
Fred is so romantic, and papa hates romance"
'lle used TO be very romantic himself, IN those
old times" said Mrs. Richmond. "Such letters
he wrote me. ! have them in my possession
yet lie said he should die if | refused him.
so does Fred said Lucilla.
"And that life would be worthless without me ;
andabout my being beautiful, ,he thought SO, you
know. am sure, he ought to sympathize lit
tle' said Mrs. Richmond.
But she dared not promise that he would.
She coaxed her darling to stop crying, andmade
her lie down then went up into her own room to
put the letters into her desk and, she placed
them in one 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
l.. Al. IL. a.
was now matron old enough to have a daughter
who had heart troubles-uniolded them, one by
one, wondering how it came to pass that lovers
letters all SO much alike.
Half Dozen Just the same number, 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 a word she had
never attempted such 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 az she moved
But she said nothing to any one on the subject
until the dinner hour arrived, and with IT came
her husband, angrier and more determined than
ever The meal passed in silence then, having
adjourned to the parlor, Mr.. Richmond seated
himself in great arm chair, and demanded;
1.-The letters, in voice OF thunder
Mrs Richmond put her hand in her pocket and
pulled it out again with frightened look,
Mr.. Richmond again repeated, still more stern
ly-
"Those absurd letters, if you pleas, my dear
maam.n
And then the little woman ialtered
"l--that isl believe--yes, dear-l believe
have hem and gave him a white pile OF enve-
lopes encircled with blue ribbon, with a hand that
trembed like an aspen leaf.
AS for Lucilla, she began to weep as though the
end of all things had come at last, and felt sure
that II papa should prove cruel she should die.
" Six letters-six shameful pieces Of deception
Lucilla,n said the indignant parent. " am sur
prised that child Of mine could practice such du-
plcity Hem let me see. Number one, be-
lieve. June, and this is December. Half year
you have deceived us. then, Lucla Let me see
--ah " From The first moment he adored you,
Ell, nonsense. People don't fall in love in that
absurd manner IL takes years of acquaintance
and respect ard attachment. with your smile,
for his goal, be would win both fame and fortune,
poor as he is y Fiddlestcks Lucilla A mar
who has common would always wait until he
proposed TO any girl Praise of your beauty -
| The loyeest creature he ever sawp EXaggera
ton, my dear. You are not plain but such fiat
| terry is absurd. Must hear from YOU or die =
| Dear dear, how absurdu
And MIR. Richmond dropped the first letter ant
took up another.
1.-The same stuff, he commenced
81 hope YOU don't believe word be SAYS. \
plain, earnest, upright sort of a man would neye
go into such rhapsodies, anu sure. All! now il
number three he calls You an angel lie is ro
mantle, upon my word. And what is all this?n
Those who would forbid me to see you car
find no fault with me but my poverty. am hon
| est am earnest in my efforts am by birth
gentleman, and love you from my soul. DO no
let them sell you for gold, lucilla"
Great Heavens what impertinence to you
parents.n
." don't remember of Fred's saying any thinj
of the kind said poor little Lucilla. "He neve
| knew you would object
Mr.. Richmond shook his head, frowned an,
read on in silence, until the last sheet lay unde
his hand. Then with an ejaculation Of rage, he
started TO his feet.
Infamous ~ he cried; I'll 60 to him this in
stant-l'll horsewhip him l-l'll-lll murder him
! As ioryou, by Joye, I'll send you to a convent
Elope, elope with a music teacher l am ashamed
| to call you my daughter. Where's my hatI Civ
me my boots. Here John, call a cab Ill
But here Lucilla caught one arm and Mrs Rich
mond the other.
"Oh papa, are you crazyyN said Luclla.-
Frederick never proposed such a thing. Let nj
see the letter. Oh papa this is not Fred's-upol
my word It is not, Do look. papa; it is date
twenty years back, and Fred's name is not Charles
Papa, these are your love-letters to mamma, writ
ten long ago. Her name is lucilla, you know.
Mr.. Richmond sat down in his arm chair in 81
lenee, very red in the face,
" How did this occur p he said, sternly an