Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-09-10
The Stolen LOVe-Letters.

to pieces. Her sister X ate watched her
q few moments impatiently, and then
said: "Wbat are you doing. Maggie ?
Tired OF your new lover, eli o.
What nonsense! ana not tired Of
my new lover, but l am angry at my
old one."
Very likely. When a girl has dis
carded country clergyman with e300
year for baronet with $50, it is
likely she will be angry at the poor
lover troubling her memory"
should dismiss the country cler-
gyman very readily from my memory,
if he permitted me. l never thought
Archie Fleming could have been 80
mean" and Maggie threw the poor tat
tered remnant of rose passionately
away from her.
~ do not believe Cousin Archie
Fleming could do mean thing. You
must be mistaken"
/" wish l WAS. Come closer, Kate,
and will tell You all about it," and
the two young girls seated themselves
on low ottoman in confidential atti-
tude.
"Now, Maggie. when and what ?"
The when was two evenings ago.
Sir John and I 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
turned into the Hawthorne Path. And
what do you think? They rushed into
each others arms like-like two French
men. I do believe they kissed each
other. 1t was john and Archie, and
hand shaking. and How are You, old
fellow !? and that kind OF thing, until
was quite Disguised. Men going on in
that way are 80 ridiculous!
"By -and-by Sir John remembered
me, and supposed Archie knew his
fair parishioner, Miss Leslie and
Archie bowed in the most distant man.
nerss and said he had the honor of be.
ing my poor cousin Men never can
keep anything, and before we had
walked quarter of mile Sir John had
contrived to let Archie know how mat
ters stood between u.s."
"Thst was not very pleasant, but of
course you were off with the old love
before you were on with the new"
=" Not exactly. I had stopped writ
ing 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 no.
tons about fidelity to his friend, and
threatens to tell Sir John how badly l
have treated him."
Then you have seen Archie ?"
Yes, l sent Davie Baird to tell him
to meet me in the conservatory last
night"
How imprudent!"
had to do it. I wanted to coax
Archie to let me off easily, and to give
me back all my letters. must have
the letters, Kitty. really must"
"Well2''
well, he said some very disagree
able things-truths he called them
and cried, and looked as pretty as 1
could. He insisted I was in love with
Biz Johns title and money, and not
with himself; and when I said that was
not true, and that I loved Sir J ohm very
dearly, he got in quite temper. 1t is
my belief that he would rather I mar.
RED Tor money than love if I don't
marry him. That's the selfshness Of
men. Kitty. I wouldn't be as mean for
anything. And oh, Kitty, he said he
would not give me back my letters, and
] mast have Mem."
ST should not worry about a few
1ove-letters."
:" Kitty you don't know all, or you
would not say that"
Z" Tell me all, then"
" ! have sent Sir John just same
letters, word for word. You know l
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 I thought l
might need them. I copied them for
Archie, and they were so clever /
copied them also for Sir John. Now,
Kitty. If Archie should show those let
tiers, as he said he would, how both of
them would laugh at mel 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 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
npr
- BE said he never would give them
to me-"
Perhaps he has burned them"
"Ob, no, he could never hear 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"
i" Very good. Grandfather sent that
cabinet to the parsonage. dare say
it is exactly like the one in his room.
II 20 it is like grandfather's kew will
open the minister's.'
"Oh. Kate! you burst not do such
thingW
II dare, under the circumstances.
OF two evils, one should choose the
least. Anything Almost, is better than
giving q rejected lover such a power