Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1868-01-22
Caught in my Own Trap.

Caught in my Own Trap.
Dora and had been silent fully fifteen
mlnutes-an unusual occurrence for us
when she suddenly broke out into one of her
gayest, sweetest peais of laughter. The
cars were going at the rate of forty miles an
hour, Dora's laugh rang out above all their
noise and confusion.
What is it Dora, you witch you?" l
said, half piqued that she had not at first
told me what pleased her, and laughed af-
terwards.
Nothing, Nell, only was just thinking
OF something funny. Do you see that gen.
tleman just in front of US with the beautiful
black whiskers and dreamy brown eyes
Well, he's been watching you behind that
book for the last half hour, looking as if he
would love to take bit of the red roses on
your cheeks. Don't blushz, but he's in
love with you; I'll bet my gold thimble on
it. was just thinking OF some of the sto-
ries have read about young ladies mistak-
ing handsome young fellows for their broth
ers, &c, and thought what fun it would be
if you could only manage to mistake that
gentleman for your brother Fred. F."
L was ready for tun in moment.
| Tell you what I'll do, | broke out ca
gerly. You know | haven't seen FRED
since went to school three years ago; and
of course he's changed great oeal since
then. Well, if that literary gentleman with
| brown eyes The is handsome, isn't he, Do
ra y should get off at our station. III wait
till he gets mixed up in the crowd, see him
suddenly for the first time, rush up to him
in a futter of delight call him brother
Fred, and give him such kissing as he
hasn't had since he saw his sweetheart
last
''Yes, would, if I were you, said Do
ra, sarca stically You daren't you know
Don't dare though Wait aud see. y
| And SO dropped back into the cushion
in silence till the train stopped at our sta
| tlon.
Dora gave me wicked. look, and whis-
| pered that she knew my courage would fail
me, for the gentleman was really getting Oft
| was not to be triumphed over though !;
and SO, as We stepped out ON the platform,
tsaw the literary gentleman standing amid
the crowd, and with little bound threw
myself in his arms and kissed him full in
the mouth, Historically exclaiming:
| Fired, my dear brother, how do you do p
| caught a glimpse of Dora-she was in
danger of going into commissions. | was ex-
| pecting to hear the stranger say, eonfusedly,
that there was some mistake but to my
surprise, he gave me a hearty embrace, kis-
sed me two or three times, said he was well
and that l had grown great deal, inquired
for my little friend Dora-who, all this time
was exciting the sympathies of the crowd,
as, they supposed she was insane, Judging
from her frantic laughter.
Father and mother are expecting you,
| Nellie and are so impatient they can scarce
ly wait to see you. [ was afraid you would
not know me, but am really glad that my
image has been treasured up SO carefully In
my sisters heart.
| I was bewildered beyond measure. 1t re-
ally was Fred, then, and | had not known
him! felt slightly ridiculous, and while
introducing Dora to my brother, whispered
her to keep quite in reference to my intend
| ed trick.
was too much confused to think of in
quirlng how he came to be in the cars with
out seeing me; SO we all went to the car
riage which was In waiting for us, and drove
rapidly to our home.
I had never known Fred to be so affec-
tionate. He held my hands in his own all
the time, kissed me at unnecessary inter-
walls; but, to tell the truth l had never low
ed him half so we'll before-never thought
him half 80 handsome.
We reached the gate Mother kissed me
finally a frank, hearty voice spoke out with.
L
your scapegrace Of a brother at allY'
And to my astonishment handsome fel-
low | had not yet seen gave me genuine
hug and kiss that you could have heard a
cross the yard
s'There is some mistake" murmured !;
"are you nv brother Fred? thought that
gentleman was, pointing at the handsome
gentleman had embraced at the depot;
why sis, you are crazy Of course L m
your brother, and that fellow there is my
college chum, Archie Winters. who went
half way up the line to meet you. What
are YOU biusbipg at, Nell? / didn't have
time to 90, and let him take your picture
with him, SO that he would be sure and know
you. He's been playing off some of his mad
pranks, and passing himself off for me LII
warrant"
| looked at Archie Winters beseechingly !;
and as they we're all going into the house L
whispered to him:
For PHYS sake, do not speak of that
mistake. How could it have happened 2, -,
Il overheard you in the cars, and Will
keep your secret only on one condition
He whispered something to me that made
my face flush scarlet; but L was at his mer-
cy, and said that would think OF It.reader;
and to the delight of the whole family-Do,
ra and Fred in particular-Archle and !
were married in less than two months And
Dora said to me as L bade her good bye,
that it would give unspeakable delight to
Fred and herself it L would attend their
wedding in month, and did so.
A new use for our distinguished fellow,
citizen, Gen. Hancock, has just been found
by a Southern paper 1.-The Albany (Geor-
gial Noes ,b;nts that Gen. Hancock was