The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-09-28
Caught in His Own Trap.

ITS plain case,' Mr.. Grlmgrin
4 said Against whom would there
not have been plain case, Mr.. Grim
grin judging :
No doubt he is guilty; but what are
the facts ?" inquired Miss 1hugge, In
whose theory of Justice striking came
before hearing.
"They are very simple" Mr.. Grim
grin answered; presented an altered
check at the Oxide bank this morning,
In Jail for forgery this evening"
g But there may be some explana-
tion," timidly remarked young lady,
at whose simplicity Mr.. Grlmgrin
smiled and Miss Thugge shifted.
HE should have made 1t at once,
then," said Mr.. Grimgrin, " instead of
standing dumb before his accusers.-
After all, explanations don't go for
much in such cases."
"Poor Edith lit will break her heart"
the young lady could not help adding.
"Poor !" said Mr.. Grimgrln; " as you
will find out some day, heart-breaking
is only figure of speech"
Leaving the rest of Miss Thugge's
party to laugh and the young lady to
blush at Mr. Grimgrin's sententious OBJ
servation, let us go back step.
Ernest Jasper, whose arrest for for
gerry was just now the subject for con-
versation, had hitherto borne an un-
blemished character. He and his
brother George out of moderate salaries,
after supporting their widowed mother
managed to lay up something every
year, and each was looking to happy
time-not far distant, he hoped-when
certain tender engagements would no
longer need be deferred.
The course of truthful love never ran
smoother than in the case of Ernest
Jasper and Edith Wade. Too trusting
to allow mischief to be made between
themselves, what could disturb the even
tenor Of two such lives as that?
George Jasper was of different tenn
per from his brother. With heart true
he was more impulsive and passionate.
1t is such men that are easily melted to
jealously, and act rashly under it.
When George and Mildred Heath
plighted their troth, they would have
staked their lives on each others 10y
atty.
But evil tongues came between them.
Stories which should have been scorn-
ed-and were so at the first-in time be-
gan to he listened to. Then came quar-
rels and reconciliations, time and again
repeated, and at last it was insinuated to
George that he had rival in his love.
He demanded an explanation in a
tone so imperious that Mildred's pride
took offence, and she answered it with
silence.
They parted in anger, and Georges
visits ceased.
A few days later cool note from Mil
dred informed him that it was all over
between them. In his bitterest mo-
ments he had not counted on this. 1t
came upon him like thunder clap. His
first impulse was to fly from the scene OF
his misery-whither he cared not-the
further the better.
A letter received through the post-of-
flee, announced to Ernest his brothers.
departure.
Leaving on you," the letter went on
"the burden of your mothers support,
] enclose you my employers, Mr.. Win.
ter's check for all my savings over the
necessary expenses of my journey. ]
cannot tell you where am going for
do not know. To you and our mother
the only ones to whom l have the right
to offer it-I leave you my fondest love
Farewell"
1t was the check thus enclosed which
on being presented by Ernest, was as
certained to have been altered to larger
amount.
On being questioned, Ernest Offered
no explanation. Instantly 1t fiashe,
upon him that he could not speak with
out compromising his brother, and hi'
silence was construed as confession o
his guilt. He was at once arrested ant
committed for trial.
Silas Grimgrin was post office clerk
moral beyond his years, and with con
science tenderly alive with the sins o
others. We have already seen how lit
tie lenity poor Ernest received at hi
hand.
Mr.. Grimgrin had just returned iron