The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-11-15
CAUGHT IN HIS OWN TRAP.
BY WALTER HERNB.
s6 XXTELL, nice situation this, for

" NELL nice situation this, for
w young man! Twenty-three
years old to-day, and a nice birthday pres
ent I've got Leave of absence from Mr..
Blake's store for an indefinite period its
not my fault, that's one comfort, it's Mr..
Blake's, for having a son, and that sons
fault for being expelled from college, and
forcing his father to take him into his store
at once, in order to keep him under his own
eye. So here l am, with nothing to do, no
expectations, fifty dollars cash capital, my
board bill fortunately paid week in adj
vance,-and-a new suit of clothes to be
paid for. The man will be here tonight,
by appointment. l meant to pay him, but
as his bill would leave me with only twenty
dollars, I'll hate to break my word, but /
can't help it. When promised, had
salary of fifteen hundred year, enough for
quiet fellow like me, and n0W-! But
heigh-ho! Hal Chester, "never despair"
that's what your father used to tell you,
and don't you forget it now, just because
you're in fog. 1t will clear off soon."
Hal Chester, as his numerous friends loved
to call the honest, genial fellow, having
come to this philosophical conclusion,
ceased to pace his little room, and throwing
himself upon the sofa, gazed thoughtfully
into the CRATE, as though he expected to
find in the dancing flames, solution of all
his difficulties.
If such was his object, he was not very
successful, judging from the exclamation
that suddenly rose to his lips.
"Yes, / am in a fix No situation, no
money to speak of, and bill to pay! and
that's not the worst of it after all I'm in
love too BY Jove a nice fellow you are
to pop the question. What would you
take that darling little May from her rich
fathers home, and bring her to yourS?
Yours? why, you have none, and no money
to buy one either No. no, Hal, have pa
tience little May loves you, and will wait
till you can gain her fathers consent, which
will not be until you can support her so
go to work. Be up and doing" A few mo-
ments more, and the young man was act
ing upon his own advice, he qoas up and
doing With Mr.. Blal1e's letter of recon-
mendation in his pocket, he entered store
after store, Office after Office.
Evening came, and he returned to his
lodgings, feeling jaded, weary, aud we'll
nigh dish eartened, for all his efforts had
been in vain. $50 no one wants clerk"
he muttered, "well I mast do something
Tomorrow I'll try for drivers or porter's
situation, anything, so it's honest" The
tea bell rang, and he went down to the table.
Contrary to his usual custom, he returned
to his own room after the meal was conclu-
ded, instead of adjourning to the parlor
with the rest of the boarders.
Removed from observation, he again
threw himself upon the sofa, thought pro-
foundly for ten minutes, and then,-drop-
ped off into a light slumber in which
dreams of his gentle May "filled his heart
with joy
From this blissful state he was aroused
by a knocking at his room door, and still
but half-awake to the realities around him,
he admitted his visitor.
"Well, sir" said the latter, smiling
blandly, "rve brought my little bill, as
you told me, not that I'm in hurry for it,
but you see always come when / am
told"
" To tell you the truth, Badger said the
young man, the color mounting to his cheeks,