Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1869-11-18
Sslsft Story.
From the New York Ledger.
Caught in Her Own Trap.

Ellen Lamprey and Clara Edgerton
were walking slowly along vine en-
powered path in Newport. The latter was
moody and thoughtful, while the former
was watchful of all that transpired about
her. By and by gentleman entered the
path not far in advance, and approached
them. Ellen saw him but Clara did not.
"Here.-let US step into this arbor -
O!what beautiful flowers. See p And
thus speaking Ellen Lamprey rather drag
ged than led her companion into the ar
Dor.
The gentleman passed, and there was
cloud upon his brow. Something had
evidently wrought unpleasantly upon his
feelings. Ellen marked the fact, and an
exultant expression flashed up into her
face She had accomplished her object,
The gentleman was Wallace Parker,
a young man of good family, whose father
had recently died intestate The elder
Parker had once been wealthy /; but a
financial crash had swept away, his for
tune, and hurried himself to the grave.
SO Wallace had entered upon the practice
of the Law, and was struggling hard to
earn name and fame in his own right
Weary and faint from hard study he had
come down to Newport to rest and recu-
perate but he could not stay long, for be
had not the means. -....
In happier days, when he had been pro.
spective heir of half million, he had Of
ten met Clara Edgerton, and had learned
TO love her. though no words of love had
ever been spoken. In fact, they had been
almost too young then to seriously ven
ture upon such topic. But they were Of.
der now Wallace was four and twenty
and Clara only five years younger. And
now they had met again-he under the
cloud of misfortune, while she held in hel
own right fortune greater than that
which his father had lost.
Is it wonder that a hundred men,
young and old, paid especial court to
Clara Edgerton +? And is it wonder
that a man like Wallace Parker should
have been backward in claiming her es
pecial notice ?
Ellen Lamprey had no heart to love,
but she fancied Wallace Parker she had
penetration enough to see that he was a
better man than were most of those to
whom the ladies of fashion paid court ; and
furthermore, she saw the possibilities he
would surmount, and could look forward
to the bri ght career th at he was opening
before him. She was a crafty girl, AMI
calculating. She could not hope to en-.
trap a wealthy lover who was young and
handsome; SO she meant to entrap Wal.
lace Parker, if she could. She knew that
there had been an intimacy between him
and Clara in the other times, and she
could very plainly see that their hearts
yearned toward each other still, however
much the young lawyer himself may have
been in the dark. She had a game t.
play She knew very well that Wallace
had come out into the garden in the hope
of meeting Clara. She had not only pre-
vented the meeting. but. she had made i
appear to the gentleman that the lady hat
purposely avoided him.
II declare there goes Wallace Par
ker,-and he didn't even give US the hon
or of salute p cried Ellen, after th,
young man had passed.
Clara started, and looked up, and pres
emily said
He has no heart for anything but BIZ
profession"
'.And he will need to stick to his pro
fession long time before he can resume
his old stand in society," suggested Ellen