Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-06-24
TIE STOLEN LOYE-LETrfRS.
lIarpers Weekly.

Jumpers w tthly'
In the uncertain Pickering freight
pretty Maggie Leslie sat pulling Il rose
to pieces Her sister Kate watched her
4 few moments impatiently, and then
said: What are you doing, Maggie
Tired Of your new lover, ell ~
"What nonsense! I am not tired Of
my new lover, but | am angry at my
old one"
Every likely When a girl has dis
carded country clergyman with $500
year for baronet with 100000, it is
likely She will be angry at the poor
lover troubling her memory"
II should dismiss the country clergy
man very readily from my memory, if
he permitted me. | never thought
Archie Fleming could have been so
mean" and Maggie threw the poor tat
tered remnant of a rose passienately
away from her.
Il do not believe cousin Archie Flem-
ing could do mean thing, Maggie
You must be mistaken"
81 wish | was Come closer, Kate,
and will tell you all about it." and the
two young girls seated themselves on a
low ottoman in 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 l thought Archie was in London,
when we met him suddenly as we turn
ed into Hawthorn Path And what do
you think? They rushed into each
others arms like-like two Frenchmen.
| do believe they kissed each other. 1t
was John and Archie, and handshak-
ing, and 'hOw are you, old fellow" and
that kind of thing, until | was quite dis
gusted. Men going on in that way are
ridiculous p
''By-and-by Sir John remembered me,
and supposed Archie knew his fair
parishioner Miss Leslie and Archie
bowed in the most distant manner, and
said he had the honor of being my poor
cousin Men never can keep anything,
and before we had walked quarter of
Il mile Sir John had contrived to let
Archie know how matters stood between
us"
THAT was not very pleasant, but of
course you were Offwith the old love be-
fore you were on with the new"
Not exactly. | had stopped writing
to Archie, and if he had IN ounce of
sense he might have guessed the rea-
son"
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 sort of romantic notions
about fidelity to his friend, and threat
ems 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"
Il had to do it. | wanted to coax
Archie to let me off easily, and to give
me back my letters. | must have the
letters, Kitty, really must"
"Well?"
We'll he said some very dIsagreeable
things-truths he called them-and [
cried, and looked just as pretty as |
could He insisted | was in love with
Sir Johns title and money, and not with
himself; and when l said that was not
true, and that | loved Sir John very
dearly he got quite in n temper 1t is
my belief that he would rather | mar
ried for money than love if don't mar
~ HIM That's the selfishness of men,
Kitty. / wouldn't be SO mean for any
thing. And oh, Kitty, he said he would
not give me back my letters, and | must
have them"
Il should no worry about few love
letters"
Kitty you don't know all or you
would not say that"
Tell me 'alP then"
Il have sent Sir John Just the-Salae
letters, word for word. You know |
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 /
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 me! | could not bear
it."
Kate looked very much troubled
Indeed, Maggie, you are right" she
answered. you must have your let
ters; and if Archie will not give you
them, they must be stolen from him
that is all about it. 1t would never dc
10 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 q
He said he never would give them to
me-"
Perhaps he has burned them"
ooh 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. 1 dare say il
is exactly like the one in his room. /
SO, it is likely grandfather's key viii
open the minister's"
"Oh, Kate! you burst not do such 4
thingw
81 dare, under the circumstances. o.
two evils one should choose the least
Anything, almost, is better than giving
rejected lover such a power over you
1t would be different if it was me.
would defy him, and take the telling IL
my own hands"
Il would not do that. Archie NIGH
tease me to death first