The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-04-03
CAUGHT IN A TRAP.

+ Some few autumns ago the rector OF 8
little seaside parish sat coming his
books in the quiet of his own study.
1t was a wild October evening, the
wind twirling and rushing up the shorr
drive that lay between the front door
of the house and the gate in the
shrubbery which divided the grounds
from the high road.
Mr.. Furgusson was puzzled over his
work, bothered by it in fact; finally, he
sought assistance of the inferior order OF
creation, TO wit, his wife, who sat oppo-
site to him, busily knitting children's
socks.
"Katel" he calculated in an injured
tone
"Well, John?"
'These accounts are 4 frightful nui-
sance. I wish had never undertaken
such piece OF business; it's no end OF
work for me, and not half dozen OF
the people viii thank me for it after all. y
Mr.. Furgusson perfectly reveled in all
sorts of parish work; but he was man
who delighted in a good hearty grumble
/ now and then, and his wife, understan-
| ding such moods well, always found
it an excellent plan to treat them hom@-
opathically.
Suppose you shut the books up, John.
and let us chat for an hour. The peo-
pie won't be coming up for their money
before Thursday or Friday, and this is
only Monday"
''The people will be coming up for
their money, you most procrastinating
woman" answered the husband. ''SGp-
pose you were to help me now instead of
/ going on with that eternal knitting; we
might manage this between US, and have
the gossip you are longing for after
/ wards. Now, then, who is Simon Green
the one on the Common? And did
he have his money out in April to buy
a pig? Now we shall get on perhaps =
The knitting vanished, and the pair
soon immersed in club accounts, Mrs.
Furgusson's capital memory supplement
ting the rector's rather carelessiy kept
accounts admirably. An hours work
brought them to the end of their labors;
and Mr.. Furgusson, on going to a large
old fashioned desk, and drawing there
from three canvas bags full of gold and
silver had the satisfaction of finding the
sum they contained tailed exactly with
what was required to pay all their depos-
itors in the club their proper amounts.
81 shall be glad when we get rid of it, +"
he said, as he replaced the bags. 81 am
so unused to having such a sum as e7O
in the house that don't feel quite safe
with it. It's to be hoped we shall never
be rich Kate. I've been accustomed to
$500 year so long now, that L should
feel out of my element with lar
ger income"
''By the bye, was not Sarah to come
home to-night?' asked the husband.
"Not till tomorrow. She wanted one
more day to see sailor brother who was
coming home. I think if you don't
mind, John, shall not keep Sarah lon
ger than Christmas. ! don't like some
of her ways"
"Then, my dear, it's your duty to try
and improve them. You took the girl
out of Charity; don't give her up in a
hurry"
"I'm not in a hurry, indeed 1t is
quite two months since l found her
reading letter of mine, which left
open on the table; and that's not pleas
ant habit for a servant to have, is it,
| talked to her kindly, but believe she
does the same sort of thing still, when
she has the chance"
"Then don't give her the chance,
Kate. You never find me leaving my
letters about" ooh John p';) cor if do
they are sucha as are not of the least con-
sequence"
''I did not know so we'll when / en-
gagged Sarah what bad character her
family bore; one brother has been in
prison twice."
"All the more reason for keeping this
girl safe from evil influence. You
shouldn't be too hasty, Kate; you are a
dear little soul, but, like all women, you
judge too impulsively, and-Who's that,
L wonder?"
A heavy step passed the window, fol-
lowed by ring at hall bell Mrs.
Furgusson open the study door as Jane,
their steady elder servant, passed down
the stairs, candle in hand
"I wonder if that's Sarah, come
home tonight instead of tomorrow
said her mistress.
"Lawk, no, ma'am, not likely" an
swered Jane; "but we'll soon see who it
Isl" and pulling away the chain from the
door, she opened it, disclosing a mans
figure without. He was dripping wet,
and had to hold his hat on with one
hs nd, or the wind would have carried it
far away; the other hand he extended
with dark yellow envelope therein
"a telegraph" cried Jane, taking the
missive from him and passing it on her
mistress, who in her turn carried it to
her husband, and watched his face anx-
iously as he opened and read it. A
grave, perplexed look came over his fea-
lures as he handed it back
The message was from his brother at
Fordham, place forty miles distant, and
thus:
4
"Come immediately third bad fit
my father anxiously expects you"
"No help for it, Kate" said Mr.. Fur
gusson, answering his wife's appealing
look. $50 much may depend on my
seeing him once more that 1 dare not
choose but to go. How am to get to
the station, though, in time for the ten
o'clock mail, wonder? It's nearly nine
now, and five miles on such night as
this would take me more than an hour
to walkp'
"Walk you cannot, john" answered
his WIFE" "I know" she added quick
| l.. a. Al.