Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-04-17
CAUGHT HIS bWN TRAP.
BY sYLyANUs COBB. JR.

bOes nc tulnk III kOiuS 10 De n latner 10 MIN,
and not be obeyed "a father Does he think
In going to give him my money to spend in
business, aud take only ingratitude in return
What can the young dog be thinking of
Plague take the yOungster. What business
has be to go and fall in love with a poor piece
OF trash Ill-l'll tx him Ill-but here
comes the rascal, the spurner of nv counsels -
And as Captain Jerry Pleman thus spoke he
sank into great stuffed chair, and looked dag
gers; ard twice he stamped his dumpy foot We
hemently to keep up his stern purpose He
was round bellied, joly-faced red checked
bachelor, just five and forty. Most of his life
he had spent at sea, and had lately settled down
ashore WITH an immense fortune, for the pur-
pose OF enjoying the rest Of his days g after his
own heart, as he expressed it. His pate was
just bald enough to carry his jolly face high up
over the brow, but yet he had gOOdly uuanti-
~ OF dark curls clustering about his short fat
neck. The only near relative he had in the
lower world was Jack Kendall an only child
of his only sister. Jerry Pleman had loved his
sister fondIy, and when she died-she was n
widow then-she left prayer upon the record
that her brother would care for her orphan boy
And uncle Jerry had done it faithfully For
ten years he had provided for bis nephew, keep
ing him at one of the best schools for a while
and then paying his way through college. But
now that he had settled down for a home, he
had Jack come and live with him.
"Ah, You are here. are you l'' growled the
uncle, looking up with very dagger like ex-
preston.
Jack Kendall was twenty three, somewhat
taller than his uncle, but with the same family
look He was handsome, goOd-natured, gen.
erous, afec:iOnate fellow, and loved his uncle
Jerry with his whole soul
''Yes, uncle, I'm here" he replied. taking a
seat, and know you are glad to see mo-"
Aye, AIN glad, for L have something 40
say to you" the bachelor resumed, looking
some more daggers. Have you seen that bag
gage again.
Baggage, uncle 2''
seen her."
Her, uncle Baggage Her. Why
what do you mean 1'
You know very well what mean mean
that piece of poverty-that hanger on-tha;-
that bagsage-that : that gal ~
Oh you mean Lizzie Brown. the girl
that"
Thinks to catch you, and thus catch my
money" interrupted uncle Jerry, emphati-
cally.
1t is hardly fair to say that, uncle, seeing
that | made all the advances myself"
Nonsense Don't you suppose 1 know I,
l say she set the trap for ye. But won't have
1t. III IN to be a father to ye, you must obey
me. Now I've got choice L want We to mar
~ with Susan Garland"
:" But she a widow, uncle"
so much the better. She'll know how to
make home for ye.'
And she's older than by dozen years s"
Just hve years. She's only twenty-eight
1t all the better for that
But L can't love her"
Can't love her ~ cried the uncle looking
an immense number Of very sharp pointed dag
gers. Can love Susan Garland Can't love
the woman who was the wife Of the most faith
fpl friend ever had Let me tell you, sir,
that when the old Gazelle was cast upon the
rocks of Barnegat Bill Garland saved my life,
and lost his own, He died in these arms sir !,
and the last words he ever said to me were-
BE kind to my poor Susan. and will Le kind
TO her the captain added wping a big te ar
from his cheek, "Ill give her husband "a
-graceless husband, perhaps-but with none Y
enough to keep her above want. You shall
marry her, sir
- But suppose / should refuse
Refuse refuse your own uncle, You dare
not do 1T sir III turn you out of doors in an
instant see you starve before Id give
you another penny! Id take away ali I ever
did give you !"
-'Ab, you couldnt do that, uncle The edu-
cation have gained under yOuf noble, gener-
Gus patronage, Is mine Of wealth Of which You
cannot rob me; and would not to-day exchange
1t for all the wealth you ever possessed L can
live by my own wits
Aha! You threaten me do you You
mean TO rebel do You You mean TO disobey
me outright"
" You do not understand me, uncle You
surely would not force me to belle my own
heart, If You could know Lizzie Brown
" Lizzie FidIlestick 1 don't want to know
her. 1 know Susan Garland, and that's
enough I've had my plan fixed ever since
came nome. promised Bill I'd take care of
her, and L must do it and how can do il if
you don let me have her for a niece -
~ Why not have her for a wife," asked Jack,
quietly
Wife me! Why, you young rascal. what
do you mean, Me-marry Zounds. Do
you think I'm crazy! I'm old enough to be
her father
81 Only seventeen years, uncle. Jsst enough
TO give you Character husband -
=. silence, villain Would you have me
make fool of myself just a. l am settling
down for comfort and quiet Don't you never
dare to lisp such thing again, | shall 20 and
see susan Tomorrow, and shall tell her that
you Will have her That's enough | won I
hear any more. By the bi. FISH but III keen
my promise '"
Jack knew that twuuId lie uscios, to saw
more at present. So he held his peace. William
Garland had been his uncle's first ina te during
his last two voyages, and the captain had not
only liked him much. but he also thou ght much
OF susan, having stopped at her home while
her husband was living. When Captain Jerry
came home with the cAre Of the widow upon his
shoulders, ne had hit cpon the happy expedient
OF making her his niece. by marriage, and thus
having the right to care for her without ex
citing scandal, Jack knew how his uncle had
cherished the plan, and he feared il would lie
hard to thwaTt him. The old fellow was az
stubborn a. he was kind hearted and where he
felt that he had authority he would not Weld
FINALLY Jack rts,red TO ponder upon the su b.
Jeet, and before dark he resolved to see the
widow In advance of his uncle; and he went that
very evening.
Susan Garland was a pretty woman. with a
plump form, and dimpled, cheerful face, over
which sweet, genial smiles were continually
playing when she was happy. She had been
alone two years. She welcomed Jack kindly.
and after some common place remarks the
young man came TO the point. lie related the
conversation which had passed between himself
and uncle that afternoon, and expressed the
hope that she would help him.
Surely you would not wish TO take me from
the being love-; he said.
"Of course not, the widow replied, with an