Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-12-12

the dinnerhour arrived. and with it came
her husband, angrier and more determined
than ever. The meal was passed in silence
then, having adjourned to the parlor Mr..
Richmond seated himself in a great arm
chair, and demanded 1.-THE letters,'' IN a
stern voice.
Mrs Richmond put her hand into her
pocket, and pulled it out again with a
frightened look.
Mr.. Richmond repeated, still more
sternly:
"Those absurd letters, if you please
ma M
And then the little woman faltered:
eI-that isl belieye-yes, dear-I be-
lieve have them,' and gave him white
pile of envelopes, encircled with blue rib
bons, with hand that trembled like an
aspen leaf.
As for Lucilla 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 de-
ception, Lucilla," said the indignant par
emit. II am shocked that a child of mine
could practice such dupliclty. Hem! let
me see. Number one. believe. June.
and this is December. Half year you
have deceived us then, Lucilla. Let me
see-ah! s'From the first moment he
adored you," eh? Nonsense. People don't
fall in love in that absurd manner. It
takes years of acquaintance and respect
and attachment. With your smiles for
his goal, he would win both fame and for
tune, poor as he is! Fiddlesticks, Lucilla!
A man who has common sense would al
ways wait until he had fair commences
meat before he proposed to any girl. Praise
of your beauty. The loveliest creature he
ever saw! Exaggerstion my dear. You
are not plain, but such flattery is absurd.
"Must' hear from you, or dep Dear, dear,
dear-how absurd.
And Mr.. Richmond dropped the first let.
ter and took up another.
1.-The same stuff,'' he commented. II
hope you don't believe a word he says. A
plain, earnest, upright sort of man would
never 60 into such rhapsodies Pm sure,
alb! now, in number three he calls you ''an
ANGELO He is romantic, upon my word,
And what is all this?
s'Those 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 gentleman. and I love
you from my soul. Do not let them sell
you for gold, Lucilla."
"Great Heavens, what impertinence to
your parents!"
II don't remember Frcd's saying any
thing of that kind" said poor little Lucil-
la. "He never knew you would object. y
| Mr.. Richmond shook his head, frowned
and read on in silence, until the last sheet
lay under his hand. Then, with an ejacu-
lation Of rage, he started to his feet.
'Infamous!" he cried: I'll 60 to him
this lnstant-I'll horsewhip him-I'll-Ill
murder him! AS for you by Jove, I'll send
you to convent. Elope-elope with a
music teacher! I'm ashamed to call you
my daughter. Where's my hat? Give me
my boots. Here, John. call a cab-I-
llBut here Lucilla caught one arm and
Mrs. Richmond the other.
ooh, papal you are crazy!" said Aucilla
"FFederiek never proposed such thing
Let me see the letter. oh, papai this is
not Fred's-upon my word it is not: DE-
look. papa; it is dated twenty years back
|, and Frederick s name is not Charlesl Papa
these are your letters to mamma, written
J long ago. Mothers name is Lucilla, yor
know!''
Mr.. Richmond sat down in his arm
chair in silence. very red in the face.
"How did this occgr?" he said. sternly
and little Mrs. Rlchmond, ratreating int
eopner, with her Handkerchief to hel
eyes, sobhed:
[ II did it ON purpose!'' and paused a.
though she expected a sudden Judgment
But hearing nothing she dared at last tx
rise and creep up to her husband timidl.
, and say:
"You know. Charles, it's SO long. and
thought you might not exactly remembe
5 how you fell in love with me at first sight
+ how papa and mamma objected, and how
at last we ran away together; and it seeM