The Ottawa free trader., 1867-11-02
misrellanp.
Gsx Love Letters.

,ot saw Yos." hut as an intermediate course
hurst into tears, and sobbed behind her hand
kerchief.
Bring them to me, Luclla, said her father, as
as if 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 hard with her, my dear. she
said coaxingly. He's nice young man, and 1t
is our fault as much as hers, and you won't break
her young heart, I'm sure.
Perhaps you approve of the whole affair." ma
ma, said Mr.. Richmond.
I-no-that is only-gasped the little wom-
an; and, hearing Lucila coming, she sank into
a chair. blaming hel self dreadfully for not hav-
ing been present at all her daughters music les
sons during the past year.
Fer all this disturbance arose from music
teacher who had given lessons to Miss Luclla
for twelve months and who had taken the lib
erty of falling in love with her, knowing well
that She was the daughter of one of the richest
men in Yorkshire.
It was inexcusable in poor music teacher,
who should have known his place, Mr.. Rich
mond declared and he clutched the perfumed
billet which had fallen into his hands as he
might Il 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 l return home this even
ing, he said to his wife will read them then.
Meanwhile, Luclla is not to see this music mas
ter ON any pretense.
And then Miss Lucilla went down upon her
knees
Oh, dear papa 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 ike him so
much papa
No more OF this absurdity, my dear, said Mr.
Richmond. He has been art.ul tuOu n 70 make
you think him perfection, | suppose. Tuur pa
rents know what is best for your happiness a
music talchcr is rot match for Miss Richmond
With which remark Mr.. Richmond put on his
hat and overcoat and departed.
Then Lucila and her mother teok the oppor-
tunity of falling into each others arms.
It's SO naughty of you, said Mrs. Richmond,
but oh dear can't blame you 1t was exactly
50 with me. | ran away with your papa, you
aa nd my parents objected because of his
2. / feel the greatest sympathy for you,
g. derrick has such fine eyes, and is so pleas
ing. 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 so romantic, and papa hates romance.
He used to be very romantic himself in those
old times, said Mrs. Richmond.-Such letters as
he .rntc me. / have them in my desk yet. He
sl' iOuld die il refused him.
Fred, said Lucilla.
It life would be worthless without me ;
ana my being beautiful. (he thought so,
you know.) I'm sure he ought TO sympathizc
little said Mrs. Richmond.
But she dared not promise that he would
She coaxed her darling to stop crying, 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 one pigeon-hole, she saw in an
other bundle, tied exactly as those were, and
drew them out.
These letters were to Lucilla also. One who
lad received them twenty years before--and she
was now InatrOn old enough to have diugh
ter who had heart troubles-unfolded them one
by one, wondering how it came to pass that low
ers' letters were all so much alike.
Half dozen-just the same number, and
much more romantic than those the music mas
ter had written to her daughter Lucilla. A
strange idea came into Mrs. RichmOnds mind.
She dared not oppose her husband by look or
q 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
as she moved. But she said nothing to any one
on the subject until the dinner hour arrived, and
with It calno her husband, angrer and more de.
tcrminol.-Then, having adjourned to tho par
lor Mr. Richmond seated himself in great arm
chair, and demanded
The letters, in y 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 sternly:
Those absurd letters, if you please, my dear
ma'am.
And the little woman faltered:
THAT isl believe yes, dear--I believe
have them, and gave him white pile of enve-
opes, oncrcled with blue ribbon with hand that
trembled like an aspen leaf.
As for Lucila, she began to weep as though
the end had come at last, and felt sure if papa
should prove cruel she should die.
''Six letters-six shameful pieces of deception,
Lucilla, said the indignant parent. am shock
ed that child of mine could practice such du-
plicity. Hem! lot me nee. Number one,
believe. June, and thisis December. Half a year
you half deceived us then. Lucilla. Let me
-ah From the first moment he adored you,
he? Nonsense. People don't fall in love in that
absurd manner. 1t takes years of acquaintance
and respect and attachment. With your smiles
for his goal he would wir both fame and fortune,
poor as he is! Fiddlestioks. Lucilla A man
who has common sense would always wait until
he had a fair commencement before he proposed
TO any girl Praise of your beauty. The love.
lest creature he ever saw! Exaggeration, my
dear. You are not plain, but such hattery is
absurd Must hear from you or die! Dear,
desr-how absurd!
And Mr. Richmond dropped the first letter,
and ,ook up another.
The same stuff, he commented; hope you
don't belicye word he says. A plain, earnest,
upright sort Of a man would never go into such
rhapsodies, ! am sure. All now, in number
three he calls you an angel! He is romantic,
AL IL, =. LII Al: