The Democratic advocate., 1869-07-08
Select Storu.
SIX LOVE LETTERS.

When her father asked this question
in an awful tone, Lucilla Richmond
could not say "No," and dared not say
YES" but, as an intermediate course
burst into tears, aud sobbed behind her
handkerchief
"Bring them to me, Lucilla," said
her father, as if she answered him, as,
indeed, she had; and the girl, trem-
bling and weeping, arose to obey him.
Then Mrs. Richmond, her daughters
very self grown older, came behind her
husbands chair, aud patted him on the
shoulder.
"Please don't be hard with her, my
dear" she said, coaxingly. "He's 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'am." said Mr.. Richmond.
"I-no-that is, l ouly"-gasped
the little woman; aud hearing iucilla
coming, she sank into chair, blaming
herself 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 to fall in love
with her. knowing well that she was the
daughter Of one of the richest men in
Yorkshire.
1t was inexeusable in a 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
a look upon his face which told of no
soitening. They came at last, six little
white envelopes, tied together with blue
ribbon, and were laid at his elbow by
his espairing daughter.
"Lock these up until 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
npon her knees:
"Oh, dear papaw she cried 'dearest
papa, please don t say must never see
him again. Icouldn't bear it. | could
not. He's poor, l know, but he is q
gentleman, and IL 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, | suppose. Your parents
know what is best for your happiness.
A music teacher is no match for Miss
Richmond" --et
With which Mr.. Richmond put on
his hat and overcoat, and departed.
Then Lucilla and her mother took
the opportunity Of falling into each 9TH
er's aims.
ats 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
poverty. ] feel the greatest sympathy
for you, aud Frederick has such fue
eyes, aud is SO pleasing. l wish
could soften your papa"
"When he has seen the letters there'll
be no hope, I'm very much afraid"
sobbed Miss Lpcilla. ''Fred is SO ro-
mantle, and papa hates romance"
" He used to be very romantic in those
old times" said Mrs. Richmond. "Such
letters as he wrote me. / have them
in my desk yet. He said he should
dio ifI refused him"
$50 does Fred" said Lucilla.
"And that life would be worthless
without me; and about my being beau
tifal Che thought SO, you know.) I'm
sure he ought to sympathize little"
said Mrs. Richmond.
But she dared not promise that he
would.
She coaxod 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 another |
q bundle tied exactly as those were, and
drew them out.
These letters were to Lucilla, also.
One who had received them twenty |
years before-and she was now . matron |
old enough to have a daughter who had |
heart tronbles-uofoldcd them one BY |
ono, wondering how il came to pass
that lovers testers were all so much
alike. 4s |
Half dozen--just the samo ppmber,
and much more romantic than those the |