The bee., 1909-04-01
The Trap
.copyrIght, by Daily Story Pub. COZ
By II. FORREST.

Il 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. 1t was a huge
thing that clicked together like hands
locked with the fingers.
Over the hedge rim of moon
shone. 1t was slipping quickly and
pallidly down, as though aghast. In
the last faint light the trap yawned
Observation-Disclosures thought. It
seemed a foolish mouth split in a
laugh.
Aylof was going to start on a long
trip that night. His wife, who was so
pretty and so distractingly silly. would
weep and entreat him to hurry back.
1t 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 at
his step; the voice of Faustine, calling
from the door; that. was what he
would carry away with him. i
After he was gone; after the dark
ness had come over the land, so even
the blacklist shadows were blotted
out; after Faustine had locked the
doors and said goodnight to the serv-
ant and Marta had gone toiling up the
dark stairs with a eandle-then that
other man would come, whom he did
not know. How did he know there
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 whIrl! 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 a tell-tale face was hers!
He had guessed her childish love for
himself long before she discovered it;
but love Is 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 eyesl
She said she had been talking to
he stars to make her soul lovely.
He knew she lied. Her lips we're
'ed and warm, as though others had
them. He knew.
Ayloff was going away. Later that
Unknown some one would come
'tealthily down the path, eyes burning
or pretty, shamed face. Quietly
'ome one would slip through the shad-
'ws, pausing and tip-toelng and paus-
ng, staring at the lone lighted window
3reathlessly, step by step, that dark
orm would move. Another twist In
he path, few yards-and the stairs!
Under the black of the trees, that
hing would hesitate, then leap for
ward.
A click! A scream-a moan-and
Hence!
Aylorr licked his lips
Early the next day, some one would
e found and set free-a cripple.
About three o'clock in the morn.
ne, Ayloff, suitcase in hand, came
talking through the garden He had
ONE back to look for something. A
TRANCE desire to return had filed him.
lie wanted to see the horror in her
yes, the agony in his, whom Ayloff
i'd not know. In the thick gray of
he half-night, he stumbled awkward
r on. He whistled merry tune as
Q hNrried down the path. Jolly fine
forming. At the next turn he would
nd something huddled across the
ath. He lifted his face TO the fra
rant mist. To the east, faint white
reak was showing. He felt SO good
. wanted to shout. Impatiently
rowing aside his luggage, he sprang
inward.
A click! A scream-a moan-and ST.
nee! g-----..
In the house, Faustine slumbered
9acefully. Aylof's picture was under
sr pillow, and she dreamed Of a lit
Q child, whose soul would be as love
as the stars.
Later, the gardener found Aylon
ught in the trap-his ankle crushed
: the iron teeth.