The Huttig news., 1909-04-10
The Trap
By H. TORRES I.

T hate to do it" said Aylof. chain ing the trap to the tree. My better nature rebels against such an act"
 He put the trap in the center of the narrow garden path. It was a huge thing that clicked together like hands locked with the fingers.
 Over the hedge a rim of moon shone. It was slipping quickly and pallidly down, as though aghast. In the last faint light the trap yawned wide-expeetantly-Ayloff thought It seemed foolish mouth split in a laugh.
 Ayloff was going to start on a long trip that night. His vie, who was so pretty and so distractingly silly. would weep and entreat him to hurry back It was nice to have some one care for him that way. Everything was nice Even the trap would be kind Silent 1t lay-waiting. He walked toward the house. In an hour he would be gone The garden that now lay in a mist Of silver would be but a memory The last sigh of the little moist breeze. the sudden twitter of bird. disturbed ai his step; the voice of Faustine calling from the door that was what he would carry away with him.
 After he was gone; after the dark ness had come over the land. so even the blackest shadows were plotted out; after Faustine had locked the doors and said goodnight to the serv ant and Marta had gone telling up the dark stairs with candle-then that other man would come, whom he did not l<zso~s- s<.s was another man? How did he know he lived; how did he know his heart was burnt from his breast, his soul dead his brain in a whirli Pish. What else caused the little, scared look in Faustine's eyes and the sud den paling and flushing when her glance met his? Her songs, that were low and tremulous, began with a laugh, and ended almost as soon as they began, with a sob She started at the sound of his voice, and laughed when she should have wept, and wept when she should have laughed. Oh, what tell-tale face was hers.
 He had guessed her childish love for himself long before she discovered 1t; but love is a vagrant thing. He knew he knew. Pshaw, Why should he deceive himself? Last night, as many nights before, she had come from the garden, her hair asparkle with dew. her cheeks glowing, and her eyes God what light in her eyesi
 She said she had been talking to the stars to make her soul lovely.
 He knew she lied. Her lips were red and warm, as though others had crushed them. He knew
 Ayloff was going away Later that unknown some one would come stealthily down the path, eyes burning | for a pretty, shamed face. Quietly some one would slip through the shad- ows. pausing and tiptoeing and paus. ing, staring at the lone lighted window. Breathlessly, step by step, that dark form would move Another twist in the path. a few yards--and the stairs, | Under the black of the trees, that thing would hesitate, then leap for ward.
 A click: A scream-a moan-and silence,
 Ayioff licked his lips.
 Early the next day, some one would be found and set free-a cripple.
 About three o'clock in the morn ing, Ayloff, suit case in hand. came stalking through the garden. He had come back to look for something. A strange desire to return had filled him He wanted to see the horror in her eyes. the agony in his, whom Ayloft cid not know. In the thick gray ot the half-night, he stumbled awkward ly on. He whistled merry tune as he hurried down the path. Jolly fine morning. At the next turn he would find something huddled across the hath. He lifted his face to the fra grant mist To the east, faint wtate streak was showing. He felt SC good he wanted to shout Impatientls throwing aside his luggage, he sprana forward.
 A click! A scream-a moan-and si lence!
 In the house, Faustine slumbered peacefully. Ayloffs picture was under her pillow, and she dreamed of lit He child. whose soul would be as love ly as the stars.
 | Later. the gardener found Ayle9 caught in the trap-his ankle crushee by the iron teeth.