The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1879-12-10
eyes, and is SO very nice. 1 wish /
could soften your papa"

COuAu cOAIOA JOuA papa
She coaxed Lucilla to stop crying,
and then went up to her room to put
the letters in her desk, and as she
placed them in one pretty pigeon
hole, she saw in another 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 her troubles, unfolded them one
by one, wondering how it came to
pass that lovers letters were so much
alike.
Just half dozen; just the same
cumberland much more desperate
than the ones the young clerk had
written to her daughter. A strange
idea came into Mrs. Richmond's
mind. She dared not oppose her
husband; by no word or look had
she attempted such thing. But
she was very fond of her daughter.
When she left the desk she looked
guilty and frightened, and some
thing rustled in her pocket as she
moved. She said nothing to any one
on the subject until dinner time
came, and with it her husband, an
grler and more determined than
ever. The meal was passed in
silence. Then, having adjourned to
the parlor much as an executioner
and two culprits might have proceed
to the gallows, Mr. Richmond seated
himself in great arm chair and de-
manded all the letters.
Mrs. Richmond put her hand into
her pocket, and pulled it back with a
frightened look.
Mr.. Richmond repeated still more
sterLly: "Those absurd letters if you
please, ma'am."
And then the little woman faltered
out: "I-that isl believe, yes l
have them" and she gave him white
bundle OF envelopes, encircled with a
blue ribbon, with hand that trembled
like an aspen leaf.
And Mr.. Richmond dropped the
first letter, and then took up another.
"The same stuff" he commented.
II hope you don't believe word he
says. A plain, earnest, upright sort
OF man would never go into such
rspsodies, / am sure. And now in
number three, this blessed fellow
lGglls ven an angel He is dramatic.
: this?
Those who would forbid YOU t
see me can find no fault with me bu
my poverty. l am honest, | am es
, nest in my efforts; I am by birth
gentleman, and / love you from m
soul. Do not let them sell you fo
/ gold, Lucilla.' Great heavens wha
, impertinence to your parents"
Il don't remember Fred's writin
: anything Of that Sort" murmure
poor little Lucilla. "He never kne,
you would object"
Mr.. Richmond shook his heat
O frowned and read on in silence to tn
last sheet, which lay under his hanG
. Then with an ejaculation of rage h
q started to his feet.
+ AS for Lucilla, she began to wee
+ as if the end Of all things had come a
/. last, and to feel quite sure that
!. papa proved himself cruel she shout
;, die.
"Six letters-six shameful letter
of deception, Lucilla," said the indie
nant parent. II am shocked that
: child of mine should practice sucl
duplicity. Hem let me see. Mum
( Der one, I believe, June, and this i
December. Half a year you hav,
deceived us, Lucilla. Let me see
'Ah |! from the first moment he adoreC
YOU eh Nonsense! People dom
r fall in love in that absurd manner
1t takes years of acquaintance, witt
respect and attachment. What next
With your smile for his goal, he
would win both fame and fortune
poor as he is Fiddlesticks, Lucilla
A man with common sense would
always wait until he had a fair com.
mencement before he would propose
to any girl. Praise of your beauty
The loveliest creature he ever saw |!
Exaggeration, my dear. You are not
plain, but such flattery is absurd
Must hear from you or die p Intam.
ous!" he cried. "Ell go to the rascal
this instant. I'll horse-whip him. AS
for you, I'll send you to convent.
Elope with clerk I'm ashamed to
call you a daughter! Where's my
hat? Here, John, call for cab /"
But here Lucilla caught one arm
and Mrs. Richmond the other.