Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-02-25
LUCILLA'S LOVE LETTERS.

care there any more of these letters ?''
When her father asked this question in
an awful tone, Lucilla Richmond could
not say no." and dared not say 'syes,'
and as an intermediate course, burst into
tears and sobbed behind her handkerchief
"Bring them to me, Lucilla," said her
father, as if she had answered him, as in
deed she had, and the girl, trembling and
weeping, arose to obey him.
Then Mrs. Richmond, her daughter IS
very sell, grown older, came behind her
husbands chair and patted him on the
shoulder.
ssPlease don't be hard with her, my dear''
she said, coaxingly. "He's very nice
young man, and it is our fault, after all
as much as hers, and you won't break her
heart, Pm sure"
"Perhaps you approve of the whole Naf-
fair, ma 'am,'' said Mr.. Richmond,
"I-no-that is, only" gasped the
little woman, and, hearing Lucilla coming
she sank into chair, blaming herself
dreadfully for not having been present at
all her daughters music lessons for the
past year.
For all this distur bance came of mus
ic-master-a black-eyed young man, who
had given lessons to Miss Lucilla Rich
mond for twelve months, and who had ia
ken the liberty Of falling in love with her.
knowing well that she was the daughter Of
one of the richest merchants in the city.
cit was ineXcusable liz a poor music
master, 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 look upon his
face which told of no softening. They
came at last, just six little white envelopes
tied together with blue ribbon, and were
laid at his elbow by his despairing daugh-
ter. He gathered them up with scorn.
clock these up until I return home this
evening"" he said to his wife II will read
them then. Meanwhile Lucila is not to
see this music master on any pretence.'
And then Lucilla went down upon her
knees.
"Oh, dear papa!'' she cried; "dearest
papa, please don't say must never see
him. I couldn't bear it, indeed I could
not. He's poor, know, bnt he is a gen.
tleman, and IL like him so much, papa u
''No more of this absurdity, my dear,'
| said MI. Richmond, rising. "He has been art
| full enough to make you think him perfec-
ton, suppose. Your parents know what
is best for your happiness"
With which remark Mr. Richmond put
on his hat and overcoat and took his way
towards those mysterious precincts known
to woman-kind in general, only as ''the
city"
Then Lucilla and her mother took the
opportunity of falling into each others
arms.
'sIt's SO naughty of you,'' said Mrs.
Richmond. -'But oh, dear, 1 can't blame
you it was just so with me. I ran away
with your papa, you know, and my parents
| objected because of his poverty. I feel the
greatest sympathy for you, and Frederick
has such fine eyes and is so very nice. I
wish could soften your papa"
She coaxed her darling to stop crying
and made her lie down, and then went ut
into her own room to put the letters into
her desk; and as she placed them into one
pretty pigeon-hole she saw in another a
bundle tied just as those were and drew
| them out.
These were letters to Lucilla also-one
who had received them twenty years before
and she-now matron old enough to have
a daughter who had heart troubles-unfol-
ded them one by one, wondering how il
came to pass that lovers letters were all 81
much alike.
just half dozen. Just the same mum
ber-and much more desperate than those
the music-master had written to hel
daughter. A strange idea came into Mrs
Richmond's mind. She dared not oppose
her husband by look or a word she ney
Ell had attempted such a thing. But sht
was very fond of her daughter. When she
left the desk she looked guilty and fright
ened, as something in her pocket rustle(
as she moved. And she said nothing t,
any once on the subject until the dinner
hour, arrived, and with it her husband
angrier and more determined than ever
The meal was passed in silence. Then
having adjourned to the drawing-room
much as an executioner and couple O.
culprits might have proceeded to the gal
lows, Mr.. Richmond seated himself in
great arm chair, and demanded the letters
Mrs. Richmond put her hand into he
pocket, and pulled it back W 18th fright
} ened look.
J Mr.. Richmond repeated, still more stern