Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-06-03

And haunt him by night,
And he listens, and needs must obey,
When the Angel says: "Write!"
Atlantic.
lFrom Harper's weekly.]
The STOLEN LOvE-LETTERS
In the uncertain Pickering freight
pretty Maggie Leslie sat pulling rose
to pieces. Her sister Kate watched he1
few moments impatiently, and the1
said: "What are you doing, Maggie:
Tired of your new lover, eh?"
"What nonsense! I am not tired Of
my new lover, but I am angry at my old
one"
VERY likely. When girl has dis
carded a country clergyman with e3OO a
year far a baronet with ESQ, 900, 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
Flemnling could have been so mean;"
and Maggie threw the poor tattered rem
nant OF rose passionately away from
her.
II do not believe cousin Archie Flem-
ing could do mean thing, Maggie.
You must be mistaken
4 wish I was. Come closer, Kate,
and l 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?"
81 Wa S1,~1> ,
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-ike two Frenchmen. I do
believe they kissed each other. It was
John and Archie, and handshaking,
and How are you, old fellow?' and that
kind of thing, until I was quite dis
susted. Men going on in that way are
SO ridiculous''
"By-and-by SirJ John remembered me,
and supposed Archie knew his fair par
ishioner, Miss Leslie, and Archie bowed
in the most distant manner, and said she
had the honor of being my poor cousin. >
Men can never keep any thing, and be-
fore we had walked a q quarter of mile
Sir John had contrived to let Archie
know how matters stood between us"
"That was not very pleasant, but Of
course you we're off with the old love be-
fore you were on with the new"
"Not exactly. I 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 I
have treated him."
@Then you have seen Archie %
eyes, sent .Davie Baird to tell him
to meet me in the conservatory last
night" -,
81 had to do it, I wanted to coax
Archie to let me of easily, and to give
me back all my letters. must have the
letters, Kitty, I really must
"Wen 2"
swell, he said some very dlsagreeable
things-truths he called them-and I
cried, and looked just as pretty ais
could. He insisted was in love with Sir
Johns title and money, and not with
himself; and when I said that was not
true, and that I loved Sir John very
dearly, he got in quite temper. It is
my belief that he would rather I married
for money than for love if I don't marry
him. That's the selfshness of men,
Kitty. I wouldn't be as mean for any.
thing. And oh, Kitty, he said he would
not give me back my letters, and I must
have them.
II should not worry about few love.
letters
"Kitty, you don't know all, or you
would not say that"
"Tell me 'all,' then"
"Ihave sent Sir John just-the- same
Letters, word for word. You know ]
never was good at composition, and
when Clara Joyce was here, I got her tc
write me some beautiful love letters.
She liked doing it, and I thought ]
might need them. T copied them fol
Archie, and they were so clever I copied
them also for Sir sJohn. Now, Kitty, il
Archie should show those letters, as he
said he would, how both of them woul6
laugh at me! I could not bear it,
Kate looked very much troubled
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 al
about it. It would never do to let hin
hold such power over your little head
and it would be worse after you wer.
married than before it. You are sure
that he will not give them up?"
He said he never would give them tx
me-"
"Perhaps he has burned them"
sob no, he could never bear to d,
that. Why, he idolizes them, Kitty
Just before he went away he told M
that they were laid in rose leaves in tn
drawers of his Indian cabinet.''
Every good. Grandfather sent tina
cabinet to the parsonage. I dare say
is exactly like the one in his room.
so, it is likely grandfather's keywill ope
the minister's. -:
"Oh, Kate you burst not do such
thing!' p = "s:.s - :. . =
uaEe, unQeF Cne circumstances. y
two evils one should choose the least
Anything, almost, is better than giving
rejected lover such a power over you.
would be different if it was me. I woul
defy him, and take the tellingin my ow
hands. ~
II could not do that. Archie Nigh
tease me to death first
II know, you dear, foolish little We
man. But you shall have your letters
Maggie, SO 60 to bed, and sleep sound
on my promise. =
"When ?" ;25r-. ':>:HSf -
"Perhaps tomorrow. Archie dine
with. the bishop tomorrow. Ishall fin
no better opportunity think # s.
The,next morning proved to be one
those drenching days quite characteristic
Of an English November. Still, about
o'clock, Miss Leslie insisted on riding |
the village. Her grandfather made SON
opposition, but soon gave in to s. Kate
set ways" and her decided declaratio
that she would be i'll without her ga
lop." .s-a- > <sr.-. ..g-.s.. 80.
. Arrived at the village, she stopped
the parsonage door, and, nodding plea