The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-06-17
THE STOLEN LOVE-LETTERS.

In the uncertain Pickering freight
pretty Maggie Leslie sat pulling 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?'
What nOnsensel | am not tired of
my new lover, but am angry at my old
one"
livery likely. When girl has dis
carded country clergyman with $500
year for baronet with 100000, it is
likely she will be angry at the poor
love- troubling her memory"
Il 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
tattered remnant of a rose passionately
away from her.
Il do not believe Cousin Archie
Fleming could doa 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 a confidential atti-
tude.
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 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 fellowP
and that kind of thing, until was quite
disguised. Men going on in that way
are so ridiculous!
"By-and-by Sir John remembered
me and supposed Archie knew his
fair parishioucr 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 a quarter of
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 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 sorts of romantic
notions about fidelity to his friend and
threatens to tell Sir John how badly |
have treated him.
Then you have seen Archieg'
Yes, l sent Davie Baird to tell him
to meet me in the conservatory last
night"
:" How imprudentr'
." | had to do it. | wanted to coax
Archie to let me off easily and to give
me back all my letters. l must have the
letters, Kitty. really must"
"Well?''
"Wen. he said some very disagreed
bic things-truths he called them-and
l 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 | said that was not
true. and that | loved Sir John very
dearly, he got quite in a temper 1t is
nv belief that he would rather | mar
ried fol money than love if l don't mar
~ him That's the selfishness 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 l
mast hare Ucn3"
4 should not worry about a few love
letters"
" Kitty, you don't know all, or you
would not say that
Tell me all, Them
Il have sent Sir John just-the-
same-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 let
tiers. 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
tiers: 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 a power over your
poor 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"
80 no, he could never bear to do
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
Very good. Grandfather sent that
cabinet to the parsonage. dare say it
is exactly like the one in his room. If
so. it is likely grandfather's key will
open the minister's"
30. Kate! You burst not do such
thingr'
Il dare, under the circumstances. I!
OF two evils one should choose the
least Anything, almost, is better than
giving a rejected lover such power
over you. 1t would be different if it
was me l would defy him, and take
the telling in my own hands"
u could not do that. Archie might
tease me to death first"
Il know. you dear, foolish little
woman. But you shall have your let
tiers. Maggie, SO go to bed, and sleep
soundly on my promise"
"Wheh?'
ssPerhanS tomorrow. Archie dimes