Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-04-28
IN MY OWN TRAP.

llN ul Il " w ~ L lOhl
Dora and had been silent fully IS min
utes-an unusual occurrence for us-when
she suddenly broke out with one of her gay
est, sweetest peals of laughter The cars
were going at the rate of 10 miles an hour,
but Dora's laugh rang out above all their
noise and confusion.
"What is it, Dora, you witch, your"
said, half piqued that she had not first told
me what pleased her and laughed after
ward.
Nothing, Nell, only was just thinking
of something so funny. Do you see that
gentleman just in front of us, with the
beautiful black whiskers and dreamy
brown eyes2 Well, he's been watching you
behind that book for the last half hour,
looking as IF he should love to take bit
of the red roses on your cheeks Don't
blush, but he's in love with YOU'LL bet
my gold thimble on it. / was just think
ing of some of the stories | have read about
young ladies installing handsome fellows
for their brothers, etc, and thought what
fun it would be if you could only manage
to mistake that gentleman for your brother
Fred"
was ready for some fun in a moment.
"Tell you what I'll do, Dora" broke out
ettBcTlJ. IOu hIOW 1 Sttu GItu
since went to school, three years ago, and
of course he's changed a great deal since.
Well, if that literary gentleman with the
brown eyes-he is handsome, isn't he, Dora?
should get off the cars at our depot, I'll
wait till he gets mixed up with the crowd,
see him suddenly as if for the first time
rush up to him in a flutter of delight, call
him brother Fred and give him such well
come as he hasn't had since he saw his
sweetheart last"
Eyes, l would, if were you" said Dora
sarcastically. You daren't, you know"
Don't dare to, thought Wait and see"
And so dropped back into the cushion
and silence till the train stopped at our sta
ton.
Dora gave me wicked look and whis-
pered that she knew my courage would fal
me, for the gentleman was really getting
off.
| was not to be triumphed over, though,
and so as we stepped out on the platform 1
saw the literary gentleman standing amid
the crowd, and with q little bound threw
myself toward him, saying
Erred, my dear, dear brother, how are
your"
/ caught a glimpse of Dora. She was in
danger of going into commissions. l ex-
pected to hear the stranger confusedly say
that there was some mistake, but to my
surprise he gave me Il hearty embrace
kissed me two or three times, said he was
well, that l had grown great deal and
then inquired for my little friend, Dora,
who all this time was exciting the sympa-
thies of the crowd, as they supposed she was
insane, Judging from her frantic laughter.
Father and mother are expecting you,
Nellie, and are so impatient they can scarce
ly wait to see you. i was afraid you
wouldn't know me, but l am really glad
that my Image has been treasured up so
carefully in my little sisters heart"
l was bewildered beyond measure. 1t
really was Fred then and had not known
him. | felt slightly ridiculous, and while
introducing Dora to my brother whispered
to her to keep quiet in reference to my in
tended trick ! was too much confused to
think of inquiring how he came to be in
the cars without seeing me. So we all
went to the carriage that was waiting for
us and rapidly drove home.
had never known Fred to be so affec-
tionate. He held my hand in his own all
the time and kissed me mt unnecessarily
short intervals; but, to tell the truth,
had never loved him half so well before
never thought linn half so handsome
We reached the gate. Mother kissed me
and cried over me all at once Father re-
peated it, and finally II frank hearty voice
broke out with:
"IIalo, sis Aren't you going to notice
your scapegrace OF brother at ALL"
And to my astonishment "A handsome fell
low had not seen before gave me Il genuine
hug and II kiss that you could have heard
across the yard
"There is some mistake" | murmured.
Are you my brother Fred? thought that
gentleman was. pointing to the handsome
leIiow had embraced at the depot
"Why, sis, are you going crazyy or course
I'm your brother, and that fellow there is
my college chum, Archie Winters, who
went half way up the line to meet you.
What ire you blushing at, NellS There
wasn't anything wrong in his gong after
you, was therey didn't have time to go,
and let him take your picture with him so
that he would be sure to know you. He's
been playing oil some of his mad pranks
and passing himself off for me, I'll war
rant"
looked at Archie Winters beseechingly,
and as they were all going into the house
whispered to him:
For PHYS sake, don't speak of that mis-
take. How could it have happeneds'
II overheard you in the cars and will
promise 10 keep your secret only ON one
condition"
He whispered something to me that made
my face flush scarlet, but / was at his mer-
cy and said would think of it. | did thinl,
OF it, reader, and to the delight of the whole
family, Dora and Fred in particular, Archie
and were married in less than two months.
And Dora said to me as ! babe her goodby
that it would give unspeakable delight to
/, Fred and herself if | would attend Their
wedding in IA month from theu--and did
EXCHANGE
The Printed Bill of Fare.
} The proprietor of one OF the most notori-
Z Gus hotels in Indiana recently made visit
to "a neighboring city. The hotel over which