The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1880-06-05
(From Harpers Weekly.l
THE STOLEN lOVE-LETTERS.

THE STOLEN LOVE-LETTERS.
In the uncertain Pickering freight
pretty Maggie Leslie sat pulling a rose
to pieces. Her sister Kate watched her
a few moments impatiently, and then
said: ''What are YOU doing, Maggie :?
Tired of your new lover, eh?"
g What nonsense l am not tired of
my new lover, but am angry at my Old
one"
Very likely. When a girl has dis
carded country clergyman with $500 a
year far baronet with G30, 900, it is
likely she will be angry at the poor lover
troubling her memory"
81 should dismiss the country clergy
man very readily from my memory, if he
permitted me. / never thought Archie
Flcmming could have been so mean:"
and Maggie threw the poor tattered rem
nant of a rose passionately away from
her.
81 do not believe cousin Archie Elem
ing could do a mean thing, Maggie
You must be mistaken.
q" wish | was. Come closer, Kate,
and | will tell you all about it, and the
two young girls seated themselves on a
low ottoman III a confidential attitude.
Now, Maggie, when and what?
The when was two evenings ago.
Sir John and | were coming across the
moor, just as happy as-as anything,
and | thought Archie was In London,
when we met him suddenly as we turned
into Hawthorn Path And what DO YOU
i,,4., A+t &c
arms like-like two Frenchmen. | do
believe they kissed each other 1t was
John and Archie, and Aandshaking,
and How are you, old fellow? and that
kind Of thing, until | was quite dis
gusted. Men going on III that way are
so ridiculous :"
"By-and-by SirJohnremembered me,
and supposed Archie knew his fair par
ishioner, Miss Leslie and Archie bowed
III 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 a quarter of a mile
Sir John had contriyed TO let Archie
know how matters stood between us.
"That 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 headand looked grave
Now Kate, don't be agRrayating
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 -
81 had to DO it. ! wanted to coax
Archie to let me off easily, and to give
me back all my letters. | must have the
letters, Kitty, [ really must.
"WelI ?"
''Weli, he said some very dlsagreeabIe
things truths he called them-and |
cried, and looked just as pretty as l
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, lie got in quite temper. 1t is
my belief that he would rather married
for money than for love if I don't marry
him. That's the selishness 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.
81 should not worry about a few love
letters.
"Kitty, you don't know all. or you
would not say that"
Tell me all, then.
81 have sent SirJohn .j1~t-fhc-sa11c
letters, word for word You know I
never was good at composition, and
when Clara Joyce was here. [ got her to
write me some beautiful love letters.
She liked doing it, and ] thought I
might need them. [ copied them for
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 met | could not bear it.
Kate looked very much troubled
j" Indeed, Maggie you are right, she an
swered. You must have your letters;
and if Archie viii not give you them,
they must be stolen from him; that is all
about it. 1t would never do 70 let him
hold such a 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.
ooh no. he could never bear to do
that. Why, he idolizes them, Kitty.
just before he went away he told mc
that they were LAID in rose leaves III the
drawers of his Indian cabinet
every good Grandfather sent that
cabinet to the parsonage. | dare say 1t
is exactly like the one in his room. If
SO, it islikely grandfather's 6eywilL open
the minister's. >
'.Oh. Kate you burst not do such
thing =
Il dare, under the circumstances. OF
two evils one should choose the least.
ANYTHING, almost, is betttrthan giving
rejected lover such a power over You. II
would be different if it was me. | would
DEFY him, and take the tellingiu my own
hands.
Il could not do that. Archie might
tease me to death first.
4 know. YOU dear, foolish little No
man. But you shall have your letters,
Maggie, so 20 to bed, and sleep soundlv
on my promise.
VI 4. q