Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-06-02
fFrom Harper's Weekly.l
THE STOLEN LOVE-LETTERS.

pretty Maggie Leslie sat pulling rose
to pieces. Her sister Kate watched her
few moments impatiently, and then
said: "What are you doing, Maggie?
Tired of your new lover, eh? ;"
"What nonsense I am not tired of
my new lover, but am angry at my old
one"
every likely. When girl has dis
carded country clergyman with 93O0
year far baronet with ESQ, 900, it is
likely she will be angry at the poor lover
troubling her memory"
."I should dismiss the country clergy
man very readily from my memory, If he
permitted me. I never thought Archie
Flemming could have been so mean;"
and Maggie threw the poor tattered rem
nant of rose passionately away from
her.
ct do not believe cousin Archie Elem
ing could do mean thing, Maggie.
You must be mistaken"
CT wish I was. Come closer, Kate,
and I will tell you all about it" and the
two young girls seated themselves on
low ottoman in confidential attitude.
"Now, Maggie, when and what?'
1.-The when was two evenings ago.
Sir John and I were coming across the
moor, just as happy as-as anything,
and I thought Archie was in London,
when we met him suddenly as we turned
into Hawthorn Path. And what do you
think? They rushed into each others
arms ike-hke two Frenchmen. [ do
believe they kissed each other. 1t was
John and Archie, and handshaking,
and How are you, old fellow and that
kind of thing, until [ was quite dis
gusted. Men going on in that way are
so ridiculous'"
'By-and-by SmJ ohm remembered me,
and supposed Archie knew his fair par
ishioner, Miss Leslie, and Archie bowed
in the most distant manner, and said 'he
had the honor of being my poor cousin.
Men can never keep any thing, and be-
fore we had walked quarter of mile
Sir John had contrived to let Archie
know how matters stood between us.
'sThat was not very pleasant, but of
course you were off with the old love be-
fore you were on with the new
."Not exactly. [ had stopped writing
to Archie, and if he had an ounce of
sense he might have guessed the reason. "
Kate shook her head and looked grave.
"Now Kate, don't be aggravating.
The case is just this. Sir John and
Archie, it seems, are old school friends,
and Archie has all sorts of romantic
notions about fidelity to his friend, and
threatens to tell Sir John how badly [
have treated him"
"Then you have seen Archie ?"
eyes, [ sent Davie Baird to tell him
to meet me in the conservatory last
night"
"How imprudent p
ct had to do it, I wanted to coax
Archie to let me off easily, and to give
me back all my letters. must have the
letters, Kitty, I really must. .
"Weu?"
"Weli, he said some very dlsagreeable
things-truths he called them-and I
cried, and looked just as pretty as 1
could. He insisted [ was in love with Sir
Johns title and money, and not with
himself; and when [ said that was not
true, and that [ loved Sir John very
dearly, he got in quite a temper. It is
my belief that he would rather [ married
for money than for love if I don't marry
him. That's the selfshness of men,
Kitty. wouldn't be as mean for any
thing. And oh, Kitty, he said he would
not give me back my letters, and [ must
have them.
CT should not worry about few love-
letters"
ssKitty, you don't know oil, or you
would not say that
"Tel me 'all, then"
81 have sent Sir John just-the-sonoe
Letters, word for word. You know I
never was good at composition, and
when Clara Joyce was here, I got her to
write me some beautiful love letters.
She liked doing it, and I thought I
might need them. I copied them Cor
Archie, and they were so clever copied
them also for Sir John. Now, Kitty, if
Archie should show those letters, as he
said he would, how both of them would
laugh at me! I could not bear it. -
Kate looked very much troubled.
E'Indeed, Maggie you are right" she an
swered. "You must have your letters;
and if Archie will not give you them,
they must be stolen from him; that is all
about it. 1t would never do to let him
hold such power over your little head,
and it would be worse after you were
married than before it. You are sure
that he will not give them up?"
''He said he never would give them to
me-"
Perhaps he has burned them. y
s'Oh no, he could never bear to dc
that. Why, he idolizes them, Kitty.
Just before he went away he told me
that they were laid in rose leaves In the
drawers of his Indian cabinet"
every good. Grandfather sent that
cabinet to the parsonage. [ dare say it
is exactly like the one in his room. II
so, it is likely grandfather's key will open
the ministers s"
"Oh, Kate you burst not do such a
thing !"
CT dare, under the circumstances. Oh
two evils one should choose the least.
Anything, almost, is better than giving Q