Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-12-16

adjourned to the parlor. Nr ~
mo0d seated himself In q treat ar,
chair, and demauded:
The letters" in . voice of thu,
der.
Mrs. Richmond put her hand in,
ner pocket. and pulled il out apai
with . frightened look.
Mr.. Richmond again repeated, s,i
more sternly:
Those absurd letters, If yo,
please. my dear ma'am.v
And then the little woman fal,e,
ed:
that isl believe-yes. dear
believe | have them. and gave hin
white pile Of envelopes, encirclet
with blue ribbon. with hand trem
bling like an aspen leaf.
AS Tor Lucilla, she began to wee,
as though the end OF all things hae
come at last, and felt sure tina, IL pa
die. 'U''
Six Ietters-s:x shameful piece,
OF deception, Lucills, said the indip
nant parent. IL am shocked that
enid OF mine could practice such du
plicity. Hem. let me see. Numbe,
one. ] believe. June. and this is De
cember. Half year you have de
ceived us, then. Lucilla. Let me see
-ah! From the first moment be
adored you. Ell, Nonsense. Peo-
pie don't fall in love in that absurd
manner. 1t takes years of acouaint.
.nce ana respect and attachment.
with your smiles for his goal. he
would win both fame and fortune
poor IS he is Fiddlesticks. Lucilla,
man who has common sense would
always wait until be had fair com.
mencement before he proposed 70 any
girl. Praise OF your beauty. The
Ioveliest creature he ever SAW Ex-
aggeratlon, my dear. YOU are not
PLAIN, but such flattery is absurd.
Must hear from you or dier Dear.
dear-how absurd."
And Mr.. Richmond dropped the
1rst letter. and took up another.
The same stuff" he commented
II hope you don't believe a word he
says. A plain, earnest, upright sort
OF man would never 60 into such
rhapsodies. | am sure. All! now. in
number three he calls you an ANGEL!
he Is romantic upon my word. And
what is all this?"
Those who would forbid me TO
see you can find no fault with me but
my poverty. ! am honest-I am earn.
est in my efforts l arm by birth
gentleman. and l love you from nv
soul. do not let them sell you for
gold. Lucilla.'
Great heavens, what imperti.
nence TO your parents!"
/ don't remember Fred's saving
anything Of that kind" said ponr
little Lucilla. "He never knew you
would object"
MIR Richmond shook his head.
frowned. and read on in silence un.
III the last sheet lay under his hand.
Then, with an ejaculation Of rage. he
started to his feet.
"Infamons" he cried; "Ill 90 to
him this instant-l'll horsewhip him,
-Ill-Ill murder him.. And as for
you. BY Jove, Ill send you to con.
vent. Elope-elope with music
teacher! am ashamed to call YOU
my daughter. Where's my 6aty
Give me my boots. Here. John, call
a cab!-I-"
But here Lucilla caught one arm
and Mrs. Richmond the other.
Oh. papa, are you crazy!" said
Lucilla. Frederick never propos-
ed such o thing. Let me see the let.
ter. Oh papa, this is not Fred's-up-
on my word 1t is not DO look, papa;
II Is dated twenty years back, and
ffederick's name Is not Charles!
Papa, these Are your love letters to
mamma. written long ago. Her name
Is Lucilia, you know"
Mr.. Richmond sat down in his
armchair in silence. very red in the
face.
How did this occur." he said.
sternly; and little Mrs. Richmond, re-
treating iCto corner with her hand.
kerchief over her eyes. sobbed:
did It on purpose" and paused,
rs though she expected sudden
Judgment. But hearing nothing. she
dared at last to rise and creep up to
her husband timidly.
You know. Charles" she said,
It's so long since. and thought
you might not exactly remember
how You fell in love with me at first
sight. how papa and mamma object
&c. and how at last we ran away to-
gcther; and it seemed to me that il
we could bring it all back plainly TO
you as 1t was then, we might let dear
Luci'la marry the man she likes, who
is good, il he is not rich did not
need !: To be brought back any plain
er, myself. women have more time
to remember. you know. And we
have been very happy-have We
nots"
And certainly Mr.. Richmond could
not deny that. So Lucilla. feeling
tina; her interests might safely be left
in her mothers keeping. slipped out
OF the room. and heard the result of
the little ruse next morning. II was
favorable To the young music teacher,
who had really only been sentiment.
al. and had not gone half so far as an
ciopemenf: and. IN due course Of
time. the two W re married with all
the pomp and grandeur benetitiing
the nuptials of wealthy Merchant's
daughter. with the perfect approba
ton OF Lucilla's father. and to the
great joy of Lucilla's mamms, who
Justly believed that her little ruse
had brought about oil her daughter 5
happiness.