Smyrna times., 1883-03-07

and more romantic than those
the music teacher had written to her
daughter. A strange idea came into
Mrs. Richmond's mind. She dared not
oppose her husband by a look or
word she never attempted such thing.
But she was very fond of her daughter.
When she left the desk she looked
guilty and frightened, and something
in her pocket rustled as she moved.
But she said nothing to any one on the
subject until the dinner hour arrived,
and with it came her husband, angered
and more determined than ever. The
meal was passed in silence; then, hav-
ing adjourned to the parlOr, Mr.. Rich
mond seated himself in a great arm
chair, and demanded 1.-THE letters" in
a voice of thunder.
Mrs. Richmond put her hand into her
pocket, and pulled it out again with a
frightened look.
Mr.. Richmond repeated still more
sternly "Those absurd letters, if you
please, ma'am?"
And then the little woman faltered
"I-that isl believe-yes, dear-I
believe l have them," and gave him a
white pile of envelopes, encircled with
blue ribbons, with a hand that trembled
like an aspen leaf.
AS for Lucilla, she began to weep as
though the end of all things had come
at last, and felt sure that papa should
prove cruel she would die.
Six letters-six shameful pieces of
deception, Lucilla," said the indignant
parent. &C. am shocked that child of
mine should practice such duplicity.
Hem let me see, Number one,
believe, June, and this is December
Half q year you have deceived us then,
Lucilla. Let me see-ah From the
first moment he adOred you, eh? Non.
sense. People don't fall in love in
that absurd manner. 1t takes years of
acquaintance and respect and attach
ment. With your smiles for his goal,
he would win both fame and fortune,
poor as he isr Fiddlesticks, Lucilla.
A man who has common sense would
always wait until he had fair COM
mencement before he proposed to any
girl Praise of your beauty. The
) loveliest creature he ever saw Ex-
aggeration, my dear"
"You are not plain, but such fiattery
is absurd. Must hear from you or
dien Dear, dear, dear-how absurd ~
And Mr.. Richmond dropped the first
and picked up another.
, "The same stuff" he commented.
, 81 hope you don't believe a word he
says. A plain, earnest, upright sort OF
, man would never go into such rhapso-
dies, Pm sure. Ali now in number
a three he calls you an angel y 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
poverty. am honest-I am in earnest
with my efforts. am by birth a gen
! tleman, and love you from my soul
: Do not let them sell you for gold
Lucilla."
. "Great heavens, what impertinencC
j, to your parents"
: Il don't remember Fred's saying
b anything of the kind" said poor littl,
y Lucilla. He never knew you woulC
object"
Mr.. Richmond shook his head
= frowned and read on in silence, unit
the last sheet lay under his hand
- Then with an ejaculation of rage, h
started to his feet
Infamous ~ he cried; "I'll 90 t.
him this instant-I'll horsewhip him
:. Tll-Pll murder him! AS for you, b.
- JOve, I'll send you to a convent
Elope-elope with music teacher
= Pm ashamed to call you my daughter
- Where's my hat? Give me my boot.
Here, John, call cab-I-"
~ "Oh, papa! you are crazy "" sal
- Lucilla, Frederick never propose
y such thing. Let me see the lette
Oh, papa, that is not Fred's-upon m
= word it is not. Do look, papa; it
oh dated twenty years back, and Frede
ick's name is not Charles! Papa thes
~ are your letters to mamma, write
!. long ago. Mothers name is Lucill
you knowr
~ Mr.. Richmond sat down in his arm
81 chair in silence, very red in the face.
How did this occur?" he sal
rs. sternly; and little Mrs. Richmon
MT retreating into a corner, with a ham
itb kerchief to her eyes, sobbed;
ots "YOu know, Charles, it's so lor
eel ago, and thought you might not e
nd actly remember how you fell in lo'
so with me at first sight; how papa al
len mamma objected, and how, at last '
ran away together; and it seemed
ere hlC IL VIC SOuiO D1lhS ~ OhSh hAA pam
,ed to you as it was then, we might
md Lucilla marry the man she loves, w
is good, if he is not rich, | do II
i'm need it to be brought hack any plain
rrs. myself; women have more time to
ote member, you know. And we ha
T. been very happy-have we notP"
i'm. And certainly Mr.. Richmond cot
not deny that. So Lucilla, feeling Il
less her interests might safely be left in !
,au- mothers keeping, slipped out of
am room, and heard the result of the lit
le," ruse next morning. 1t was favora
red to the young music teacher, who
really only been sentimental, and }
cry not gone near so far as an elopemei
hen and in due course of time the two W,
the married with all the pomp and graz
iced eur be6tting the nuptials of wealt
she merchants daughter, with the peri
otIv | annrohation of Tucillais father and