The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-06-02
CAUGHT IN HIS TRAP.

anu yOun2 anu, W
his credit be it said, had given up the ques-
tionable habits and companions of earlier
days and settled down into conventional
respectability which surprised and even
shocked some OF his friends.
AS a matter of fact, Mr.. Younghusband
was in love with his wife, state of things
by no means so rare as cynics would have
us suppose, though undreamed of in the
philosophy of his friends of bygone bach
elor days. Being in love, it is scarcely
necessary to add that Mr. Younghusband
was also prey to jealousy, and being a
reformed character and comparatively
exemplary member of society he was de-
termined not to tolerate the slightest devi-
alton from the path of strict propriety on
the part of his helpmeet.
With this object in view he kept sharp
lookout upon that young wOman's move
ments. At the same time he was not SO
indiscreet as to express his jealousy openly,
his long and varied experience of woman
kind having taught him that such course
would be to aid in precipitating the very
catastrophe he wished TO avoid.
Not that Mrs. Younghusband gave him
any genuine cause for alarm. She had a
weakness for a mild Irritation, like most
of her sex, but not the slightest breath of
scandal had ever been associated with her
name, and the result of her husbands
, scrutinies was invariably to discover that
her character was wholly beyond suspicion.
Still, although Younghusband trusted
her sincerely enough in his heart of hearts,
he took great pleasure in thus verifying,
as it were, his confidence, and amused
himself by laying little pitfalls for her,
merely for the qualification of seeing how
adroitly she avoided them all, and how
promptly she repudiated the advances of
other men, be they never so fascinating
But he who digs a pit for another may
sometimes fall into it himself, as Mr..
Younghusband discovered to his sorrow.
His wife's birthday was within meas
urable distance, and the idea once more
occurred to Mr.. Younghusband of putting
her fidelity to the test. True he argued
to himself, birthday presents are rather
played out. but there is a kind of license
attached to the anniversary, and her adj
mirers, if she had any, were pretty certain
to remind her of their existence in some
form or other
So communing with himself, he de-
cided to send his wife bracelet or some
other costly article of jewelry, anonymous
ly, and watch the effect of its arrival, argu-
ing that if she thought it was from some
favored admirer she would not be likely to
say anything to him about it.
Now, although Mr. Younghusband was
SO particular about his wife's attention to
the proprieties, he was not without his
own little weaknesses, one of which was a
habit of striking up harmless firtations
with attractive young women in whatso-
ever station of life they might happen to
be found. An inveterate chatter whenever
he happened to meet pretty girl in a shop,
restaurant, or elsewhere, he contrived in a
short time to make himself acquainted
with the most interesting phases of her
family history, including of course her
! successes and disappointments in love.
That the interest he took in the welfare
of these young persons was strictly platonic
not one of them doubted for a moment,
least of all Miss Lefty Major, one of the las
sistants" at the cafe kept by the Perforated
Bread company in Hind street, city. About
q O'Clock in the afternoon, when Mr. Young
husband was wont to drop in for his cup of
tea or coffee, the establishment was never
crowded and he rarely experienced any diff
! ficulty in obtaining a few minutes con-
versation with Miss Lefty when that fasci-
mating damsel felt inclined for such relax
! alton.
| He had long since been made acquainted
with most of Miss Letty's private affairs,
and had expressed himself much gratified
! at the news that she was engaged to be
married to Mr.. Bob Marshall, a clerk at a
| neighboring silk merchants s. as soon as an
| expected rise in his salary would allow of
| him taking to himself the luxury of wife
| Mr.. Younghusband had not seen the fair
| Lefty for several weeks, when one day to-
ward the end of September she informed
him she had important news to communi-
cate.
What" exclaimed Mr. YOunghusband,
with a look which meant to be gallant.
| Has Bob had his salary raised already?'
That's it, sir" giggled the young lady,
! with blush
/ And when is it to be, my DEAR"
almost directly. Bob's got fancy to
/ be married on the 5th of next month,
! and''-
And you've no objection to raise, sup
/ pose? All, lucky fellow, BobH' with a
/ sigh. congratulations to you both, my
/ dear. l must see if | can't send you pres
! emit"
After little mild chaff, TO which Miss
! Lefty by no means objected, Mr.. Young
! husband took his departure with assevera-
/ tons that he would not forget TO send her
! soma token Of his regard In the days that
! followed, however. he had other things To
! engros, his attention. and Miss Major 5
wedding present would have been mum
bered with the other unfulfilled pledges
/ but for an accident. Though thinking
nothing OF his promise TO the fair Lefty,
/ however, Mr.. Younghusband was by no
! means unmindful of his scheme to entrap
/ Mrs. y. and on Oct. 4. the day before her
! birthday. betook himself TO a certain West
/ End jewelers. and bought very handsome
/ diamond bracelet, which he determined to
send TO his wife.
There's not so much doing in this way
as there used 10 be, suppose" he inquired
/ careleSSly Of the shopman as the latter was
/ packing up the bracelet.
Not much. sir" was the reply: wed
! ding presents and that sort of thing are
more in our way"
As the words wedding presents" left
the mans lips, Mr. Younghusband sud,
denly remembered his promise to Miss
! Lefty.
BY Jove! that reminds me-" he said.
u want another article-a brooch or some,
thing Of thaJ sort-not too expensive"
and Mr. Younghushand proceeded to
select a diamond brooch in the shape of =
heart transfixed with a shaft from Cupid 5
bow. which lie thought would please the
fair Lefty.
His next visit was 70 fancy stationer's
near by where he chose a couple Of floral
cards Of highly ornate design and identi-
cal in every r,.Sr.,vr Mr. Won a.. >. !;
was DESTROYS of being considered poet.
and 81 he got the ooiiging shopman 10 add
a coup!et. which he fondly hoped would be