Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-04-12
Caught in His Own Trap

ICauqht in His Own Trap
L have asked Wynn to come out this
evening to talk over little business
Dora. If he should arrive before l get
here, you must see to him until I come
Be kind and polite to him, my dear. He
is really very well-meaning and unas-
suming fellow, and the most useful
book-keeper have ever had. He ha.
seemed little out of sorts lately, and
am sure would be most grateful for any
little attention from you
This Richard Clair, the rich tea mer-
chant, had said to his daughter in the
morning, on leaving his pretty villa at
Richmond for the city, with an amount
of pompous condescension which clearly
manifested his sentiments with regard
to book-keepers and their kind. Dora
was an obedient daughter, as her recep-
tion of her fathers guest that evening
tea merchant would have found abun
dant cause to retract his opinion as to
the same guests modest and unassum-
ing character if he had been witness
of his demsanOr on that occasion; for,
no sooner had the door cluSed upon the
servant who ushered him into the pres
ence Of his young mistress, than totally
unabashed and unblushing, he took the
young girl into his arms, only releasing
her after leaving upon her red lips at
least half dozen warm kisses. Dora,
not appearing in the least surprised or
disconnected at this greeting, bore I'M
flinchly the situation for fully two min
utes before she blushingly drew back
and endeavored to bring into something
like order her soft brown hair, which,
with the dainty ruffles at her throat,
had become somewhat disarranged by
the welcome she had so obsdiently given
her fathers guest.
1T is long time since 1 have seen
you, Harry she remarked, with q be-
witching glance from beneath thick
lashes shading the large gray eyes.
i should think 80, indeed-Quite an
agep responded the book-keeper, dis
mally. L managed to get away half an
hour before the time your father told
me he should be home, hoping to see
before he's expected-it's just my luck
Harry. do yon know why my father
has sent for you te-nightT
4 haven't an idea, excepting that it's
something about the branch Of the busi-
ness in Hong Kong.
L can enligbten 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 a rather response
ble position, believe, and papa wants
to send you out to take his place
AS if anything could induce me to
leave England and you, Dora?' cried the
young man. why, the separation would
probably be for years
i am afraid you must 60, Harry was
the girls rather sOrrOwful response.
You know my father; your refusal to
obey his wishes wosld probably make
something very like an enemy of
him, and render matters even more
hopeless than they are at present.
Dora, must speak to your father
cried the young man, excitedly. When
he finds that his daughters happiness is
involved he can't be heartless enough to
feel rather kindly toward me. Any
thing would be better than this uncer.
tainty.'
No, dear Harry. Believe me, it would
only be changing an uncertainty for pos
tive 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 bis child.
He has declared over and over again
that he will never give his consent to my
marriage with man poorer than him
self and l know he will never retract
his word
And you advise me to go off to China,
with the probability of never seeing you
again, Derap Nothing can be worse
than that, surelyr
'Oh. Harry, l must have time to think
1 heard of it only this morning. cried
Dora, ON the verge of tears. There !
comes papa now, and l have so much |
still to say to you. l must see you
again. Could you manage to come down |
on Thursday at this hour? My father |
is going to dinner in the city on that
evening"
of course l can,' responded Harry.
just as the door opened to admit the
master of the establishment
.Eh, Wynn. you arrived frsti Prompt |
as evsr-a most excellent quality in
young man. hope my daughter has
made you comfortable-eh, Dora?'
Il tried to do so, papa, responded the
young lady, demurely. 4 suppose my |
company can be dispensed with nowP
Yes, my dear, you can 60. BY the
way, you may as we'll send US a bottle
of wine, please?'
We'll, Wynn began the merchant,
when the two men were left alone. as
be walked up and down the room, evi-
IDENTIFY satisfied with himself and all the
world, Il have to tell you there Is excel
lent news from America;w I'VE have closed
the contract with that hrm In New |