Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1880-06-12
THE STOLEN LOyE.LETTERs.

In the uncertain Aickering fire-light
pretty Maggie Leslie sat pulling rose
to pieces. Her sister Kate watched he1
a few moments impatiently and then
said: -. What are you doing, Maggief
Tired of your new lover, ehP''
What nonsense! am not tired oi
my new lover. but I am angry at my old
one.''
!" Very likely. When a girl has dis.
carded q country clergyman with f30C
year for baronet with ESQ, 900, it is
likely she will be angry at the poor
loyer troubling her memory"
81 should dismiss the country clergy
man very readily from my memory, il
he permitted me. I never thought
Archie Fleming could have been Sc
mean" and Maggie threw the poor
tattered remnant of rose passionately
away from her.
lido not believe Cousin Archie
Fleming could do mean thing, Maggie.
You must be mistaken"
ssI wish was. Come closer, Kate,
and 1 win tell you all about it, and
the two young girls seated themselves
tude.
ssThe when, was two evenings ago.
Sir John and I 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 dc
you thinkp They rushed into each
Others arms like-like two Frenchmen.
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 so ridiculous!
"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 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.
mot exactly. 1 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."
ssThen you have seen ArchiePo
.sYes. I sent Davie Baird to tell him
to meet me in the conservatory last
night
q How imprudent''
sss I 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
"Well, he said some very disagreea-
bile 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 1 said that was not
true, and that 1 loved Sir John very
dearly, he got quite in a temper. 1t is
my belief that he would rather I mar.
ried fol money than love if / don't mar
~ 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
mast haze them"
'sIshould not worry about few love.
letters.'' -
:. Kitty, you don't know all, or you
would not say that
s'Tell me .all,' then.'
81 have sent Sir John just-the-
same-letters, word for word. Yor
know I never was good at composition
and when Clara Joyce was here, goi
her to write me some beautiful love let
ters. She liked doing it, and I thought
1 might need them. copied them fol
Archie and they were so clever copiee
them also for Sir John. Now, Kitty, i
Archie should show those letters, as ht
said he would, how both of them would
laugh atsme! could not bear it,
Kate looked very much troubled
tIndeed, Maggie, you are right she
answered. You must have your let
ters; and if Archie will not give yol
them they must be stolen from him
that is all about it. 1t would never dt
to let him hold such power over you
poor little head and it would be wors,
after you were married than before it
You are sure that he will not give then
upp"
"He said he never would give then
TO me-"
"Perhaps he has burned them.''
go 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.n
:. Very good. Grandfather sent tha
cabinet to the parsonage. I dare say i
is exactly like the one in his room. I
SO, it is likely grandfather's key vii
open the minister's"
80. Kate! you burst not do such {
thing!''
al dare, under the circumstances
OF two evils one should choose thu
least. Anything, almost, is better thai
giving rejected lover such a powe
over you. 1t would be different if i
was me. 1 would defy him, and taxi
the telling in my own hands,
81 could not do that. Archie nigh
tease me to death first"
81 know, you dear, foolish littl
woman. But you shall have your let
ters. Maggie, SO go to bed, and sleel
soundly on my promise"
w u6u!
Perhaps tomorrow. Archie dine
with the Bishop tomorrow. Ishall fin.
no better opportunity, I think
The next morning proved to be on
of those drenching days quite charac
teristic of an English November. Still
about three o'clock, Miss Leslie insiste'
on riding to the village. Her grand
father made some opposition, but sool
gave in to '.Kate's set ways" and he
decided declaration "that she would b.
i'll without her gallop.''
Arriving at the village. she stoppe'
at the parsonage door, and nodde'
pleasantly to the housekeeper, VIII
opened it, she said she was very wet
and would like to see her cousin AM
dry her habit.
The parson was gone to the Bishop
but if Miss Leslie would come in, ther
was fire in his parlor, and she coul'
warm her feet, and havea warm cup o
tea; and Miss Leslie, after. little at
fected hesitation and a little NOR
pressing consented to do so.
She permitted Martha to remove he
hat and bring her some tea, and the
she sent her down to give the groom
= glass of mulled ale. g I shall rest hal
an hour, Martha, and if cousin Archi
is not back by that time l must 60. o
a1ca cba1I not roach home hefOr