Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-11-28
CAUGuTIN NV OWN TRAP.
by LAURA j. ARTER.

her gayest, sweetest peals of laughter
The cars were going at the rate OF forty
miles an hour but Dora's laugh rang out
above all their noise and confusion.
"What is il Dora, you witch you?" ]
said half piqued that she had not first
told me what pleased her and laughed
afterwards.
"Nothing Nell, only l was just think
ing of something funny. Dou see that
gentleman Just in front of us, with beau
;iful black whiskets aud dreamy black
eyes? Well he's been watching you be- ,
hind that book for the last half an hour,
looking as if he would love to take a 1
blight Of the rose on your checks. Don't
blush, but he's in love with you,-Ili i
lot my gold thimblc on it. | was just
thinking of some of the stories | have
read about young ladies miotaliing hand
some fellow for their brothers, etc, and
thought what fun it would be if you
could only manage to mistake that gem
tlemau for your brother Fred"
/ was ready for fun in q moment.
Tell you what I'll do, Dora" | broke
out eagerly. "You know l haven't seen
Fred since l went to school, three years
ago; and OF course he's changed a great
deal since then. Well, if that literary
gentleman with brown eyes he is hand
some, is't lie Dora? should get off the
cars at our depot, I'll wait till lie gets
mixed up with the crowd, see him sud
denly, as if for the first time, rush up to
iim in iiutter of delight, call him broth
er Fred, and give him such another kiss
ing as lie hasn't had since he saw his
sweet heart last.
"Ies would if were you, said Dora
sarcsstically. "lou daren't you know"
Don't dare, though? Wait and see. 4"
And so dropped back into the cuoion
in perfect silence, till the train stopped
Mt our station
Dora gave me a wicked look, and whis-
perei that she knew my courage would
fai! me, for the gentleman was really
getting off.
4 | was not to be triumphed over though;
aud SO we stepped out upon the platform
saw the literary gentleman standing
amidst the crowd, and with little bound
threw, myself into his arms and kissed
him full i'll the mouth, hystercally saying
FIRED. my dear brother, how are your
caugh a glimpse of Dora-she was
in danger of going into convulsions.
expected to hear the stranger conlusedly
FAY that there was some mistake: but, tt
my surprise. he gave Inc a hearty cm
brace-kissed me two or three times
said he was well-that he had grown
great DEAL and then enquired for my lit
tie friend Dora-who all this time wa
exciting the sympathies Of tn crowd, a
they supposed she was insane, Judging
from the frantic laughter.
"Fathcr and mother are expecting you
Nellie, and so impatient they can scarcely
wait to see you. | was afraid you woldn'
know me; but | avn really glad that my
image has been treasured up SO carefully
in my little sisters heart"
was bewildercd beyond measure 1t
really was Fred. then, and | had not
known him.
felt slightly ridiculous. and while in.
Producing Dora to my brother, whispered
to her to keep quiet with reference to my
intended trick. ! was too much confused
to think Of inquiring how he came to b,
in the cars without seeing me- so we al
went to the carriage that was waiting 70
us and rapidly drove home.
We reached the gate Mother kisse
mo and cried over me all at once; lathC
repeated it; and finally frank heart
voice broke out with.
"llallo, sis, aren't you going to motto
your scnpegrace brother at all?"
And to my astonishmcnt, a handsom
fellow | had not seen gave me gcnuir
hug, and kiss that you could have hoai
across the yard,
"There is somo mistake" Imurmure
care you my brother Frcd?" thougI
that gentleman was." pointing to Il
handsome fellow | had embraced at ii
depot.
"Why, sis; you are going crazy? {
course Tam your brother. and that fe
low is my college chum, Archie Winters
who went halfway up the line to NEE
You. What are You blushing at Nell
There wase't anything wrong in his 20
ing after You was there? | didn't hav
time to go, and let him take your pictul
with him, 80 that ho would be sure /
know you. He's been playing of son
ol his mad pranks. and passing himse
off FOR me I'll warrant"
/ looked at Archie Winters bcscechiny
y. and as they were all going into Il
house | whispered to him;
"for PHYS sake don't speak Of th'
mistake"
al overheard You in the cars; and wi
pro,niso to keep your secret only on ol
condition"
He whispered something to me tn
made my face flush scarlet: but was
his mercy, and said would think Of
reader; aud, to the delight of the who
family-Dora and Fred. in particular
Archie and | were, in less than t,
months. united together And Dora sa
TO me, as bade her good bye that
would give unspeakable delight to, Ere
and herself if | would be in attendau
at their wedding in month from the
and did.