Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-05-12
CAUGHT IN HIS TRAP.

no means suffering from overwork and /
with plenty of money. He had been some |
what Of a gay dog in his time, but within /
the last few years he had married a very
pretty and charming young lady, and, TO
his credit be it said, had given up the qnes-
tionable habits and companions of earlier
days and settled down into a 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 50 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 a comparatively
exemplary member Of society he was de
termined not TO tolerate the slightest devil
alton from the path Of strict propriety on
zhe 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
hndiscreet as 20 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 bad a
weakness for 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,
- L. II ,nI Il
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.,
lYounghusband discovered to his sorrow.
His wife's birthday was within mems
lurable 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 a bracelet OF some
other costly article Of iewelry, anonymous
ly, and watch the effect Of its arrival, argu-
ing that if she thought it was from some
favored admrer 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-
lever station Of life they might happen to
be found An inveterate chatter whenever
he happened to meet pretty girl Ia 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 disappontments in love.
That the interest he took in the welfare
iof these young persons was strictly platonic
not one Of them doubted for a moment,
least Of all Miss Lefty Major, one of the ''as-
,sistants" at the cafe kept by the Perforated
Bread company in Hind street, city About
4o'clock in the afternoon, when Mr.. Young
husband was won't to drop in for his cup of
tea or coffee, the establishment was never
crowded and he rarely experienced any diff
lficulty 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 gratifiel
at the news that she was engaged to be
married 10 Mr. Bob Marshall, a clerk at a
neighboring silk merchants, as soon as an
expected rise in his salary would allow OF
lhim taking to himself the luxury Of a 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 look which meant to be gallant
HAS Bob had his salary raised already"
That's it, sir" giggied the young lady
with blush.
"And when is it to be. my deari"
almost directly. Bobs got fancy Il
be married ON the 9Th OF next month
and"-
"And you've no objection to raise, sup
poser All, lucky fellow, Bob" with
sigh. Congratulations to you both, m,
dear. l must see IL can't send you pres
eut."
After little mild ohafr, to which Mis-
Lefty by no means objected, Mr.. Young
husband took his departure with assevera
tions that he would not forget to send he
some token Of bis regard. In the days tina
followed, however. he had other things :
lengross his attention. and Miss Major
wedding present would have been mum
.bered with the other unfulilled pledge
but for an accident. Though thinking
nothing Of his promise 70 the fair Lefty
however Mr.. Younghusband was by n
means unmindful of his scheme to entra
Mrs. Y, and on oct 4 the day before he
birthday, betook himself to a certain Wes
End jewelers. and bought avery handsom
ldiamond bracelet, which he determined
send TO his wife.
"Thcre's not 30 much doing in this wa
as there used to be- ] supposeT' he inquire
,carelessly of the shopman as the latter wa
-. -. q a.. l..a ealuf