The herald. (Smyrna, Del.) 1870-1871, 1871-03-11


mond. "Such letters he wrote me. 1
have them in my desk yet. He said he
should die if refused him."
so does Fred" said Lucilla.
"And that life would be worthless
without me; and about my being, beau
tiful (he thought SO you know know.
I'm sure he ought to sympathize little"
said Mrs. Richmond.
But she dare 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 into one pigeon hole, she saw in
another a bundle, tied exactly as those
were, and drew them out.
Those letters were to Lucilla also.-
One who had received them years be-
| fore-and she was now matron old
enough to have a daughter who had
heart troubles-unfolded them one by
ole, wondering how it came to pass that
lovers were all so much alike.
| Half a 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 hor husband by look or
word; sle never attempted such
thing. ~, a.
But she was very fond of her daugh-
/ aI, 1,,ct Il eI, 10 1l
guilty and frightened, and something in
her pocket rustled as she moved. But
she said nothing to any one on the sub
ject until the dinner hour arrived, and
with IL came the husband, more angry
and determined then ever. The meal
was passed in silence; then having ad
ljourned to the parlor, Mr.. Richmond
seated himself in great arm chair and
demanded: ~
| "The letters" in voice of thunder.
Mrs. Richmond put her lKnd into her
R4eiacenvu iooK:
"fhose dlIsutq letters, If you please;
my dear ma'am.h
Aud tile little woman faltered:
"I-that ISL believe-yes, dear, l be-
lieve 1 have them;" and gave him pile
of wLite envelopes, encirled with blue
ribbon, with IA hand that treihbled like
nm aspen Leaf. wa Us a
AS for tucilla, SHE began to weep as
though the end of things had come mt
last, and felt sure that if papa should
prove cruel, she should die. 'c
"Six lettels-six shameful pieces of
deception" said the Indignant parent
"I am shocked that child of mine
should practice such duplicity. Hemi
let me see. Number one, I believe
June, and this is December. Half a
:. year you have deceived us, then, Lucil-
Ia. Let me see-ah i-"From the first
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 could win both
fame and fortune, poor as he is" Fid-
dlesticks, Lucilla. A man who has COM
mon sense would always wait until he
had a fair commencement before he pro
posed to any girl. Praise of your beau
, ty, the loveliest creature he ever saw
Exaggeration, my dear, you are not
plain, but much fattery is absurd
"NIust hear from you or die!" "Dear,
dear, how absurd ~
And Mr.. Richmond dropped the first
letter and took up another.
"The same stuff" he commented. 81
hope you don't believe word he says.
A plain, earnest, upright sort ofa man
would never go into such rhapsodies. l
am sure. All! now in number three he
calls you ''an angel" He is romantic,
upon my word. And what is all this :?
"Those who would forbid me to see
YOU can find no fault with me hut my
poverty. am honest; am by birth a
gentleman, and love you from my soul.
Do not let tHbm sell you for gold, Lucil-
la" .ls- r......s. IT, a..I
"Great heavens what impertinence to
your parents ~
ar don't remember Fred's saying any
thing of that kind" said poor Eucilla.-
''He never knew you would object"
Mr.. Richmond shook his head, frown-
ed, and read on in silence until the last
sheet lay under his hand. Then with All
ejaculation of rage he started to his
feet.
"Infamous y he cried; I'll go to him
this instan.-rll horsewhip bim-pll
murder him. AS for you, by Jove! I'll
send you to convent. Elope, elope
with music teacheri I'm ashamed to
call you my daughter. Where's my haiti
Give me my boots. Here John, call a
cab IL
But there Lucilla caught ore arm and
: Mrs. Richmond tho other.
"Oh, papa, you are crrzy! Frederick
never proposed such thing. Let me
see the letter. Oh, papa, this is moi
Fred's; upon my word it is not. Dc
look, papa; it is dated twenty years back
and Frederick IS name is not Charles !
Papa, these are your love letters to nam
mn, written long ago. Her name is Lu-
ella; too, yojf know ?"
Mr.. Richmond sat down in his arm
chair In Silence, very red in the face.
"How did this occur? 2" he said stern
, | ly; and little Mrs. Richmond retreated
! 10 corner, with handkerchief to her
eyes and sobbeds