CAUGHT IN HIS OWN TRAP.

Southland Times, Issue 703, 31 July 1867, Page 3

CAUGHT IN HIS OWN TRAP.

A girl, young and pretty, and above all gifted with an air of admirable candour, latety presented herself before a i lawyer. " Monsieur, I have come to consult you upon a grave affair, I want you to oblige a man I love to marry me in spite of himself. How shall I proceed ?" The gentleman ofthe bar had, of course, a sufficiently elastic conscience. He reflected a moment, and then, being sure that no third person overheard him replied hesitatingly : " Mademoiselle, according to our law you always possess the means of forcing a man to marry you. You must remain on three occasions alone with him ; you can then go before a judge, and swear that he is your lover." " And will that suffice, monsieur ?" "Yes mademoiselle, with one further condition." " Well ?" " Then you will produce witnesses who will make oath to have seen you remain a good quarter of an hour with the individual said to have trifled with your affections." " Very well, monsieur, I will retain you as counsel . in the management of this affair. Good day," A few days afterwards the lady returned. She was mysteriously received by the lawyer, who scarcely giving her time to seat herself, questioned her with the most lively curiosity. " Capital, capital." " Persevereinyour design, mademoiselle ; but mind, the next time you come to consult me give me the name of the man you are going to make so happy in spite of himself." " You shall have it without fail," A fortnight afterwards the lady knocked at the door of the counsel's room, No sooner was she within than she flung herself in a chair, saying that the walk had made her breathless. Her counsel endeavoured to reassure her, made her inhale salts, and proposed to unloose her collar, "It is useless, monsieur," she said," 1 am much better." " Well, now tell me the name of the fortunate mortal." " Well, then, the fortunate mortal, be it known to you is — yourself!" said the young beauty, bursting into a laugh. " I Live you; I have been here three times tete-a-tete with you, ;md my four witnesses are below, ready and willing to accompany me to the magistrate," gravely continued the narrator. The lawyer, thus caught, had the good sense not to get angry. The most singular fact of all this is, that he adores his young wife, who, by the way, makes an excellent housekeeper.