The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-06-30
THE STOLEN LOVE-LETTERS.

IN the uncertain f1lckering IRE
light pretty Maggie Leslie sat pull
ing rose to pieces. Her sister Kate
watched her a few moments impa-
tiently, and then said; What are
you doing, Maggie? Tired of your
new lover, eh p
what nonsensel | am not tired
of my new lover, but | am angry at
my old one"
''Very likely. When girl has
discarded a country clergyman with
f300 a year for baronet with f30,-
600, it is likely she will be angry at
he poor lover troubling her memo
v"
Il should dismiss the country
clergyman very soon from my mem
Dry, if he permitted me- | never
thought Archie Fleming could have
been so mean;" and Maggie threw
the poor tattered remnant of a rose
passionately away from her.
II do not believe Cousin Archie
Fleming could do a mean thing,
Maggie You must be mistaken"
Il wish | was. Come closer,
Kate, and | viii tell you all about
it ;" and the two young girls seated
themselves on low ottoman in a
confidential attitude.
Now Maggie, when and what ?"
'The when was two evenings aoo.
Sir John and | were coming across
the moor, just as happy as-as any
thing, and | thought Archie was in
London, when we met him sudden
ly as we turned into the 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 hand
shaking, and How are you old fel-
low p and that kind of thing, until
| was quite disgusted. Men going
ON in that kind of way are so ridicu-
lous
''By-and-bye Sir John remember
ed me, and supposed Archie knew
his fair parishioner, Miss Leslie,
and Archie bowed in the most dis
tant manner, and said he had the
honor Of being my poor cousin.
Men never keep anything, and be-
fore we had walked a quarter of a
mile Sir John had contrived to let
Archie know how matters stood be
tween us.
THAT was not very pleasant, but
of course you were off with the old
love before you were on with the
new"
'Not exactly. | had stopped
writing to Archie, and if he had an
ounce of sense, he might have guess
ed the reason"
Kate shook her head and looked
grave.
"Now, Kate, don't be aggravating.
The case is lust 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? ?"
"Yes; | sent Davie Baird to tell
him to meet me in the conservatory
last night
"How imprudentl"
II had to do it. | wanted to coax
Archie to let me off easily, and give
me back all my letters. | must
have the letters, Kitty ! really
must"
"Well?"
swell hesaid some very disagree
bic things-truths he called them
and / cried and looked Just as pret-
tv as | 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
quite in temper. 1t is my belief
that he would rather | married for
money than love if don't marry
him. That's the selfishness of men,
Kitty. | wouldn't be as mean for
anything. And oh, Kitty, he would
not give me back my letters, and |
must have them"
81 should not worry about a few
loye-letters."
Kitty, you don't know all, or you
wouldn't say that"
"Tell me all, then"
II have sent Sir John just-the-
same-letters, word for word You
know / never was good at compost
ton. 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. l
copied them for Archie, and they
were so clever | copied them also
for Sir John. Now, Kitty, if Archie
II IL L I