Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-01-22

The old commodore had been In
earnest about those beeTtraps, though
the signs about spring guns Lad been
intended solely for moral effect Hs
had set half dozen traps. and as she
had progressed toward the dell Clara
had sprung one of them. Her escape
from the cruel jaws was marvellous.
They missed her ankles but gathered
in her skirts Of stout cloth, and she
presently found that she was SIS much
OF prisoner rs II she had been
caught BY foot.
Just that one scream and then shs
realized the situation The irascibls
ommodore might come charging
through the woods at any moment,
and st any moment the unEentleman.
ly young gentleman might take II
into his head to abandon the old boat
aud follow on her trail. 1t did not
take her two minutes to realize that
without knife to cut away her skirts
she must remain there prisoner un.
III some one came to release her.
She could not pick up the trap and
wAlk OF with it, owing TO its weight.
and neither could she sit down and
rest.
For the first ten minutes Clara pom.
dered. For the next she silently wept.
She could hear that young man whis.
lie down on the beach. In the other
ch
iore cursing his coachman and man
of-all.work. She had left the young
man in huff about boat II he
earle she must apologize. She be-
!ieved she had read or heard that re-
tired commodores first caught their
victims In bear traps and then burned
them at the stake. There was more
silent weeping. A photograph OF
Clara Parker just then should have
been entitled "a Mermaid Ashore. Or
The Shedder Of the Scalding Tear"
Harry Bingham's kodak enthusiasm
had led him to be bit discourteous
towards strange young lady. He
regretted II at once. She had no soon
er turned her back on him than he
kicked the boat into the surf and then
theoretically kicked himself along the
beach for a quarter OF a mile. Then
lie entered the woods 10 give ner
chance 10 seek the beach and walk
home. After remaining in hiding for
half an hour he took a wander among
the trees, and all OF sudden he stood
before the young lady whom he be-
liered was homeward bound. She
was shedding tears and yet seeking
10 maintain certain dignity.
II beg your pardon. but is any
thing wrong?' he stsmmered as he
came to halt
She choked and swallowed In her
efforts to look indignant
"Ah. | see" he continued. "You
have been caught in trap. Why
didn't you CALI
She wanted to reply that nothing on
earth could have induced her to ask
his aid after the episode OF the boat.
but he seemed so different now, that
she simply shed more tears and wiped
them away. He found Il limb on the
ground. and with permit me" he
used 1t as Il lever To- pry the jaws OF
The trap open and release her.
Narrow escape for YOU he quiet
~ said. Whoever get such a trap
here ought 10 be sent to prison. i
-
The girl stood and looked at him,
wondering whether TO thank him or
walk off without a word. when he
continued:
I'm sorry about that boat and ask
yOur forgiveness.
granted" she managed TO
say as she walked off,
One ran never tell how such things
will turn out, but as the retired com.
modore hears their voices singing and
laughing over the hedge dividing the
iwo villas on the right he growls:
"Huinph! Another pair OF young
fools getting ready to make them
selves miserable for llfe."