The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-03-10

looked guilty and frightened, and
something in her pocket rustled as
she moved. But she sid nothing to
any one on the subject until the din
ner hour arrived, and with it came
the husband, more angry and deter
mined than ever. The meal was
passed in silence; then having ad-
journed to the parlor, Mr. Richmond
seated himself in the great arm chair
and demanded:
"The letters" in a voice of thun-
der. :
Mrs. Richmond put her hand in her
pocket, and pulled it out again with a
frightened look.
"Those absurd letters, if you please
my dear ma'am.D
And then the little woman faltered /:
t"Ithat isl believe-yes dear, I
believe I have them,p and gave him q
pile of white envelopes, encircled
with blue ribbon, with hand that
trembled like an aspen leaf.
As for Luciila, she began to weep
as though the end of all things had
come at last, and felt sure that if papa
should prove cruel she should die.
"Six letters-six shameful pieces of
deception, Lucilla," !" said the indignant
parent. am shocked that a child
of mine should practice such duplici-
ty. Hem! let me see. Number one,
1 believe. june, and this is Decem-
Der. Half year you have deceived
us then, Lucilla. Let me see-ah!-
From the first moment he adored
you, eh?' Nonsense. People don't
fall in love in that absurd manner. 1t
takes years of acquaintance and re-
spect and attachment. "With your
smiles for his goal, he would win both
fame and fortune, poor as he is p
Fiddlesticks, Lucilla. A man who
has common sense would always wait
until he had fair commencement be-
fore he proposed to any girl. Praise
of your beauty, the loveliest creature
he ever sawH Exaggeration, my dear.
You are not plain, but such fiattery is
absurd. Must hear from you or die p
Dear, dear, how absurd!"
And Mr.. Richmond dropped the
first letter, and took up another.
The same stuff" he commented,
i hope you don't believe a word
he says. A plain, earnest, upright
sort of man, would never go into
such rhapsodies, am sure. Ahinow
in number three he calls you IAN an
gelp He is romantic upon my word.
And what is all this?
"SThose who would forbid me to
see you can find no fault with me but
my poverty. am honest-I am
earnest in my efforts. I am by birth
agentleman, and love you from my
soul. Do not let them sell you- for
gold, Lucilla.
"Great heavens, what impertinence
to your parents!"
"I don't remember Fred's saying
anything of that kind" said poor
sLucilla. "He meyer knew you would
object" g
Mr.. Richmond shook his head,
frowned, and read on in silence until
the last sheet lay under his hand
Then with an ejaculation of rage he
started to his feet. -,,
"Infamous he cried; "I1l go to
him this instant-I'll horsewhip him
I'll murder him. AS for you, by
Jove, I'll send you to convent
Elope, elope with music teacher!-
I'm ashamed to call you my daughter.
Where's my hatf Give me my boots.
Here, John, call cab!-I-
But here Lucilla caught one arm and
Mrs. Richmond the other.
aoh, papa, are you crazy? Fred
erick never proposed such a thing
Let me see the letter. Oh, papa, this
is not sFred's-upon my word it is
not. Do look, papa; it is dated twen-
| ty years back, and Frederick's name
is not Charles! Papa, these are your
love letters to mamma, written long
ago. Her name is Lucilla, too, you
know"
Mr.. Richmond sat down in his chair
in silence, very red in the face.
Chow did this occur?" he said
sternly; and little Mrs. Richmond, re-
treating into a corner with handker-
chief to her eyes, sobbed:
I" 1 did it on purposew and paused
as though she expected sudden judg-
ment. But, hearing nothing, she
dared at last to rise and creep up to
her husband timidly.
3" You know, Charles" she said,
!" it's SO long ago since, and thought
you might not exactly remember
how you fell in love with me at first
sight; how papa and mamma object
ed; and how at last we ran away to-
! shuNA II oCOAuCu ~ A1lO IAnt II
we could bring it all back plainly to
you as it was, then we might let Lu-
ella marry the man she likes, who is
good if he is not rich. did not need
it to be brought back any palmer my
self; women have more time to re-
member, you know. And we have
been very happy, have we not?"
And certainly Mr.. Richmond could
not deny that. So Lucilla feeling that
her interests might safely be left in
her mothers keeping, slipped out Of
the room, and heard the result of the
little ruse next morning. 1t was ia.
vorable to the young teacher, who had
really only been sentimental, and moi
gone half SO far as an elopement; and
in due course of time the two were
married with all the pomp and grand
eur befitting the nuptials of wealthy
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