Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1883-04-12
Caught in His Own Trap.

until I come. Be kind and polite Il
him, my dear. He is a very we'll
meaning and unassuming fellow, and
the most useful bOok-keeper hav.
ever had. He has seemed q little
out Of sorts lately. and / am sure
would be most grateful for any little
attention from Yon.'
This. Richard Blair, the rich tea
merchant, had said to his daughter
in the morning, on leaving his pretty
villa at Richmond for the CITY Vita
an amount Of pompous conas csnsion
which clearly manifested his senti-
ments with regard TO book keepers
and their kind. Dora was an obedi-
ent daughter, as her reception Of her
fathers guest that evening plainly
showed /; but certainly the worthy tea
merchant would have found abun-
dant cause to retract his opinion as
to the same guests modest and unas-
snming character If he had been q
witness Of his demeanor on that oc-
casion for, no sooner had the door
closed upon the servant who ushered
him into the presence oil his young
mistress, than, totally unabashed and
unblushing, he took the young girl
into his arms, only releasing her af-
ter leaving upon her lips at least half
dozen warm kisses. Dora, not ap-
bearing in the least surprised or dis
concerted at this greeting, bore IN
fiinchingly the situation for fully two
minutes before she blushingly drew
back and endeayored to bring into
something like order her soft brown
hair, which with the dainty ruffies at
her throat. had become somewhat dis
arranged by the welcome she had so
obediently given her fathers guest.
1t is q long lime since have seen
you, Harry, she remarked, with a
bewildering glance from beneath the
thick lashes shading the large grey
eyes.
i should think so, indeed-auite
an ager responded the book-keeper,
dismally. I managed to get away
half an hour before the time your
father told me he should be home,
hoping to see You alone; but he'll be
sure to turn up before he Is expected
Its just my luck
Harry, do you know why my faith
er has sent for you tonight?
i hav' mt an idea, excepting that's
something about the branch of the
business in Hong Kong
Il can enlighten you little then,
though / hardly think you will be as
pleased as my father seems to expect.
One of the men in the house out there
has just died; he had rather re-
sponsible position, I believe, aud papa
wants to send you out to take his
placer =
AS if anything could induce me to
leave England and you, Dora 2 cried
the young man, Why the separation
would be for years.
i am afraid you must go, Harry,
was the girls response. You know
my flther; your refusal to obey his
wishes would probably make some
thing very like an enemy of him.
and render matters even more hope
less than they are at present.
Dora, l must speak to your father,
cried the young man, excitedly.-
When he finds that his daughters s
happiness is involved he can't be
heartless enough to refuse our united
prayers. He seems to feel rather
kindly toward me. Anything would
be better than this uncertainty.
No, dear Harry. Believe me, it
would only be changing an uncertain
ty for positive resignation of all our
hopes. know my father well, and
it is useless to hide from myself and
You that he loves money far better
than his child. He has declared over
and over again that he will never
give his consent to my marriage with
man poorer than himself, and |
know he will never retract his word.
And you advise me to 60 off to
China, with the probability Of never
seeing you again, Dora? Nothing
can be worse than that, surelyr
'Oh, Harry, / must have time to
think | heard Of it only this morn
ing, cried Dora, on the verge of tears.
There comes papa now, and / have
so much still to say to you. Imust see
you again. Could you manage to
come down on Thursday at this hour
for an hour? My father is going to
dinner in the city on that evening
OF course | can, responded Harry,
just as the door opened to admit the
master Of the establishment.
-Eh, Wynn, you arrived first |
Prompt as ever-a most excellent
quality in young man. hope nv
daughter has made you comfortable
eh, Dorag
i tried to do so, papa responded
the young lady, demurely. l sup
pose my company can be dispensed
with now
Yes, my dear, you can 60. By the
way, yon may as well send us a bot
tie of wine, please
Well, Wynn. began the merchant.
when the two men were left alone.
as he walked up and down the room.
evidently satisfied with himself and
all the world, i have to tell you there
is excellent news from America; we
have closed the contract with that
firm in New York. of which Won have
heard me speak, and the transaction
will bring US IN something very like
10000. Not at all a bad job-eh,
Wynn?