The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-04-07
Six Love Letters.

care There n4eHe-e4 those Let
tiers 7" iart5e -: a... ..-..-r. : :.
When her father asked this ques
ton in an awful tone, rLucilla Rich
mond could not say ''No," and dared
not say YES" but, as the 1ntermedi
ate course, burst into tears, and sob
bed behind her handkerchief ~
''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 rose to obey him.
Then Mrs. Richmond, her daugh.
ter's very self grown older, came he
hind her husbands chair and patted
him on the shoulder. la. I'd.
<'Please don't be hard with her, my
dear" she said coaXingly. He's a
nice young man, and it's our fault af-
ter all, as much as hers, and you won't
break her heart, I'm sure"
"Perhaps you approve of the whole
affair, madam" said Mr.. Richmond.
''I--no-that isl only" gasped
the little woman; and, hearing Lucil-
In coming, she SAL into chair, blam-
ing herself dreadfully for not having
been present at her daughters music
lessons during the past year. .r.
For a this disturbance arose from
a music teacher, who had given les
sons to Miss Lucilla Richmond for the
past twelve months, ard who had ta-
ken the liberty to fall in love with
her, knowing well that she was the
| daughter of one of the richest men in
! Y Yorkshire.
1t 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 hand as he
might 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 to-
gether with blue ribbon, and were
laid at his elbow by his despairing
daughter
Lock these up until l return home
this evening" he said his wife; Il
will read them then. Meanwhile,
Lucilla is not to see this music teacher
on any pretence," ="
And then Lucilla went down upon
her knees.
"Oh, dear papa p she cried, dear
est papa, please don't say l must new
er see him again. l couldn't bear it
Indeed, could not. He's poor, l
know, but he is gentleman-and-
and-I like him so much, papa"
W ithout making any reply, Mr..
Richmond put on his hat and went
out. ......-.. ..-
'.When he sees the letters there'll
be no hope, Pm afraid" sobbed Lu-
ella. Fired is so romantic, and pa
pa hates romance"
HE used to be romantic himself in
those old times said Mrs. Richmond.
sSuch letters as he wrote me have
them in my desk yet. He said he
should die if 1 refused him.
$50 does Fred" said Lucilla.
"And that life would be worthless
without me ! and about my being beau
tiful, Che thought so then, you hnow.)
I'm sure he ought to sympathize lit
tle," spid Mrs. Richmond. But she
dared not promise that he would.
She coaxed Lucilla to stop crying,
and made her lie down. Then she
went up to her own room to put the
letters in her desk, and as she placed
them in one pigeon hole, she saw in
another bundle tied exactly as those
were, and drew them out
| These letters were to Lucilla, al
so One who had received them twen
81, nl1
enough to have daughter who had
heart troubles. She unfolded them
one by one, wondering how it came
10 pass that lovers letters were all so
much alike. ---
Half dozen, just the same number,
and much more romantic than those
the music matter had written to her
daughter. A strange idea came into
Mrs Richmond's mind, She dared
not oppose her husband by a look or
word she had never attempted such
thing. .-aIr. li e- LII trt.- ~. - .
But she was very fond of der daught-
er. When she left the desk she look
ed guilty and frightened, and some
thinj in eer pocket 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, angrier and more determin-
ed than ever. The meal was passed
in silence, then, having adjourned to
the parlor, Mr.. Richmond seated HIM
self in his great arm chair and deman-
ded "those leters!" in threatening
voice.
Mrs. Richmond put her hand into
her pocket and pulled it out again
with frightened look. 49, ,1.
Mr.. Richmond repeated still more
emphaticaIly:
"Those absurd letetrs, if you please,
ma'am." .Hs
And the little woman faitered
"I-that isl beleve-yes, dear,
I believe have them," and gave him
a white pile of envelopes, encircled
with blue ribbrn, with hand ttat
tremcled like an aspen leaf. jc
| As for Lucilla, she began to weeE
as though the end Of all things had
come at last, and felt sure that if hel
/ father should prove cruel she woulo