The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1894-03-24
CAUGHT in HIS TRAP.

DR.. Charles Younghusband was a stock
broker Of some thirty-ivc years Of age by
no means suffering from ovcrwork and
with plenty Of money. lie had been some
what OF gay dog in his time, but within
the last few years he had married very
pretty and charming young lady and, to
his credit be il said, had given up the ques-
tlonablc habits and companions Of earlier
days ana settled down into conventional
rcspectability which surprised and even
shocked some Of his friends.
As matter OF fact Mr.. Younghusband
WINS in love with his wife, state OF things
/ by no means 50 rare as cynics would have
rs suppose. though undrcnmcd OF In the
philosophy OF his friends OF bygonc bach
elor days. Being In love, II Is scarcely
necessary to add that Mr.. Younghusband
was also prey TO jealousy, and being
reformed character and a comparatively
exemplary member OF society he was de.
tcrmined not to tolerate the slightest devi.
ation from the path of strict propriety Oh
the part OF his helpmeet
With this object in view he kept a sharp
lookout upon that young woman's move
mcnts. At the same time he was not so
indiscrect a9 to express his jealousy openly,
his long and varied experience of woman
kind having taught him that such n 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
scrutinics 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
az II were, his confidence, and amused
himself 10y 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 lac who digs n pit for another may
sometimes fall into IL himself, rs Mr.
Younghusband discovered to his sorrow.
His wife'a birthday was within meas
urable distance, and the idea once more
occurred TO Mr.. Younghusband of putting
her fidelity 70 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 nd
mircrs il she had any, wero 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, anon ymous-
ly, and watch the effect Of its arrival, nrgu-
ing that IN 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 proprietes, he was not without his
| own little weaknesses, one Of which was a
habit OF striking up harmless flirtations
| with attractive young women in whatso-
ever station Of life they might happen to
he found. An invcterate chatter whenever
he happened to meet n pretty girl in n shop,
restaurant, or elsewhere, he con; rived 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 platonc
not one OF them doubted for n moment,
least of all Miss Lefty Major, one of the "as-
sistants" mt the cafe kept by the Perforated
Bread company in Hind street. city. About
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
nculty in obtaining n 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 Lctty's private affairs.
and had expressed himself much grati1ed
at the news that she was engaged to be
married TO Mr.. Bob Marshall n clerk at a
neighboring silk merchants, as soon rs an
expected rise in his salary would allow of
him 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.
"Whatw exclaimed Mr.. Younghusband,
with look which meant to be gallant.
'IIns Bob had his salary raised alreadyY
That's It, SIR" giggled the young lady,
with blush.
"And when Is IL to be. my dear?"
almost directly. Bob's got a fancy to
be married on the 9th Of next month,
and"--
"And you've no objection to raise, l sup
poser All, lucky fellow. Bobri with
sigh. Congratulations to you both, my
dear. must see i'll can't send you pres
ont"
After u little mild chat, to which Miss
Lefty by no means objected, Mr. Young
husband took his departure with assevera-
lions that he would not forget TO send her
some token Of his regard. In the days that
followed. however. he had other things to
tngross his attention, and Miss Majors
wedding present would have been num-
bered with the other unfulflled 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 cntrap
Mrs. T., and on Oct. 4, the day before her
birthday, betook himself to n certain West
End jewelers. and bought avery handsome
diamond bracelet, which he determined to
send TO his wife.
There's not SO much doing in this way
rs there used TO be, supposefn he inquired
carelessly of the shopman rs the latter was
backing up the bracelet.
Not much, sir,n was tho reply; "wcd-
ding presents and that sort OF thing are
more in our way.n
As the words wedding presents" left
the mans lips. Mr. Younghusband sud
dsnly remembered his promise to Miss
l.e:ty.
by Jovoi that reminds mc,n he said