The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1899-07-19
IN HIS OWN TRAP.

the awnings in the balconies, and the
masses of brilliant flowers beneath,
made a spot Of color pleasing to the
eye.
Early eqUestrans cantered slowly
along the cool tan of the Chain ride,
enjoying to the full the snatches of
breeze which later on in the day would
be but a memory.
Francis Aspden noted but little of
this. His straight brows had met in
a frown which disfigured his good
looking face, and made it i'll to look
upon. He read the note through word
for word:
Dear Frank: l am duly installed
as your future wife's companion.
Funny, isn't it? What splendid jewels,
Ell? The jewels are worth-how
much? If you are short we can i'm
agine it, Come down. Ella"
He swore softly beneath his breath,
and tore the note into thousand frag-
ments.
Taking a case from his pocket, he
selected a cigar, cut the end carefully
and methodically, lit it, and faced the
difficulty.
His contemplated marriage with
Miss Fallon was Of a sort of which
people talk. II outraged that sense of
fitness which The world possesses 50
strongly in regard 70 the marriage, not
of itself. but of its friends.
She had inherited the millions of her
father, a successful soap manufac-
turer, whose workpeople constituted a
colony of themselves.
He had no millions whatever, but he
was young and the handsomest man
about town.
Sinister rumors were afloat as to his
past-his present proved food for spec
ulation. Just who he was, and from
where he got the money he squandered
with such profusion, no one could tell
These facts Notwithstanding, Helen
Falon loved him, and IL wanted but
three weeks to his wedding day when
this new factor In the case had risen
to confront him.
His brow grew dark with fear and
anger. He had thought all the old life
dOnt Will diul Out VI SlGDI
whilst here, almost at the very altar
a dread apparition appeared to menace
all his dazzling plans.
The situation struck him almost
tragically. This woman, Ella Delaney,
had been his helpmate In many a great
coup in the past
He had made passionate love to her,
lnx-a which no ha1
alive circumstances had rendered it
necessary for him to leave the Anti
podes. That he left Ella in DURANGO
vile and took her share Of the plumber
as well as his own had not troubled
him then.
Who would have dreamt that she
would follow him to England?
He laughed aloud-a grim, reckless
laugh-startling a white-dressed nurse
who was sauntering by him with her
tiny charges more than a little.
Good heavensw he muttered. "She
will spoil everything. l must think Of
some plan TO get rid Of her; she is dan
gerous"
He sat in the cool shade of the trees
for a considerable length Of time be-
fore he moved. When he did so his
face had cleared. Rising TO his feet
and swinging his cane lightly, he left
the park. At the nearest telegraph
office he stopped TO send two wires.
The first, 10 Ella Delaney, read:
Meet the 5:4O.-Frank."
The other was to his betrothed.
Helen Fallon:
Am inviting myself down for a few
days. Expect me night.-Francis."
The train was late and Ella Delaney
impatient
AS she walked the little platform Of
the rural station the warm blood ran
riot in her veins. This man who was SO
swiftly coming to her had once-not SO
very long ago-been her lover. Now he
was almost the husband OF another
woman.
Her dark-gray eyes contracted with
the intensity Of her emotion.
When they had last seen each other
she had stood in the felon's dock down
under" She had suffered willingly
for his sake, love sealing her lips.
For what1 she asked herself bit
terly. To be tricked, robbed. cast off
like an old, disused glove-deserted for
another!
Could she ever forget or forgive
such baseness, such dastardly treach-
cry?
"A bell rang somewhere, and a min
ute later the train ran slowly into the
station.
Aspden sprang out of the smoker"
his quick eyes taking In at once the
tall white figure waiting for him.
he raised his hat to her, for the ben
eft Of the few inquisitive onlookers,
and held the slim hand for moment.
let us get out of this" he said
bluntly. II am known here"
She followed him through the little
white gate on to the dusty road.
There is a short cut across these
fields and through the plantation" he
went on In a softer tone. 1--WE can
say our say as we go along"
Her eyes had been searching his face
for some token Of the old affection in
vain, and a revulsion had come over
her. This man with the light gray suit,
the crimson flower In his buttonhole,
-