The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-01-30
THE WRONG TRAP.

STANDS O hosttery which boasts Il
curious sign of the Getty of Lushin,
ton" The house is great resort fl
actors and for those genial owners ,
open hearts and straitened pockets VII
glory in belonging to the order {
Antediluvian Buffaloes. The chi.
room of the inn is the meeting-room {
the Buffaloes. It is divided int
wards" so-called, and these divil
ions have lugubrious titles-Povert
ward, Insanity ward, and Suicide ward
A moral underlies this labelling of til
evils which follow the abuse of goo
liquor.
One evening in October two comedian
met under the shadow of Insanity war,
at the "City of Washington. The
were artists of a very humble stamp
pantomimists who picked up living il
strolling fashion during the summer
and whose harvest time was Christmas
and the weeks of January and February
One was harlequin yclept Smithers
but preferring to be called in the bill
Signor Tomato. The other postured a
clown his name was Pudson, and h
too had q nom de theater, calling him
self Little Puddikins.
To the latter personages, smoking il
gloomy solitude-for the usually we'll.
filled; room of the "City of flushing.
ton" was that night empty-entered
Mr.. Smithers. The old colleagues
greeted each other warmly, for they
had shared in the frolics of many q
harlequinade.
"And how has luck gone with you ?''
asked Pudson, after some talk together.
Fairly for the time of year." an
swered the harlequin. ST have taken
a ballot troupe on a tour through the
second. rate towns, and done pretty
WE'LL"
"I have been lucky and unlucky by
shifts and starts--doing bit here and
there at the circuses, and taking a turn
now and then OF the m usic-haIls. That
pays best of all. I have a good mind
to cut pantomime and go in for that
entirely"
"Not just yet, any way. You are
engaged for the Forum, aren't you p
asked the harlequin.
s.Not yet, but I expect to be-" replied
the clown.
81 am, and SO il my little woman"
"Confound it I" CALCULATED Pudson !;
81 hoped to get Mary in there"
"But Lora has got it. She's to be
els that your girl ?''
"That's mine, Lora with an O, not
your common au."
"Oh," said the clown, redectively,
Sc Hightalian, I suppose
''She passes for Hightalian, but
she's English. She's billed as Lora
Lorini."
The two friends shook hands and
parted as the "City of Washington"
began TO receive an incursion of its
usual frequenters.
n.-PUDsoN's STORY.
I am lying here on this bed helpless.
shall not die yet, the doctor says;
he bones are setting, and in few weeks
I may be about agai q; but shall never
be fit for the clowns business any more.
This misery and suffering brought
Upon myself /; it has been the result of
ny own wicked aninosity-the conse-
guence of jealousy which urged me
nto crime. will tell you how it came
bout.
joined the Forum company this last
winter when Smith. ars and engaged
or the pantomime. To my surprise, 1
ound that the girl to whom had been
paying addresses - dary Morris by
engaged for columbine. Il
lad understood from Smithers that
ONE sweetheart of luis named Lora
lorini was going to take that part.
The sight of Mary was an unexpected
pleasure, and going up to her said !:
Mary, my dear, this is good luck !;
nut I thought the columbine was to be
lora Lorini."
$50 she is" she answered.
"What, then, are you to be? Harle-
Iuin, or some nonsense of that sort ?"
"No-columbine."
I stared at her, utterly ignorant of
er meaning.
"Don't you know" she went on,
that my professional name is Lora
4orini ?"
was staggered.
"But, Smithers, cried-"Smithers
laims Lora as his girl? Surely, Mary, |
GU have not been playing both of us
alse ?"
ellis girl, indeed! Neither his nor
ours, if it comes to that, unless you
eep a civil tongue in your head. Can't
girl have more than one admirer, 1
hould like to know2"
She may have dozen admirers, but
be cannot have more than one plighted
over, if she has any sense of decency."
Mary turned on her heel and founced
#. I noticed during the rehearsals
ow she devoted herself exclusively to
mithers, while got never word.
here came bitter. gnawing pain at
~ heart at being treated so-a hunger
, be revenged on him and her. Many
time I had it in my mind to stick my
Iasp-knife into his throat !; but the at
smpt was too risky: it might have
liled, and I should ipfallibly get ar
sst. d for it.
1 brooded over subtler revenge but
rst I took Mary aside. want to
peak to you," said.
81 don't want to speak to you," she
aucily answered.
"No follies-this is weighty mat
r." retorted sternly. "Listen and
g careful"
$50 on"
81 ask you if you love George Smith
rs better than you do me?"
"Lor', Tom, how do 1 know ?"
"You must know the state of your
wn feelings"
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