Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-09-02
The Story Teller.
THE HUSBAND OUTWITTED.
A GAME FOR TWO TO PLAY.

\
introduced 10 her one morning on the piazza
She had sailed with him along the shore OF
The moonlight evenings, and she had danced
with him in the throngei drawing rooms.
Miss Ellsworth was not Hirt, who dis
tributed her ideals among many gentlemen
and she had fund her ideal well nigh re-
allied in Mr.. Mainwell. Only the evening
before their talk had withdrawn itself from
the general topics 10 which each had been
congenial, and In her admiration of his in
telligence and manliness she had encouraged
an approach to that personal sort of conver.
sation which relates TO love and mairmony.
And now 20 find Mr.. MAXWELL this morn.
ing, with his Goa, off and smith apron on,
engaged In mendipg luck He was doing
II publicly. The lock was on the door that
led to the middle Of the front piazza where
the fashionaty dressed ladies and gentle
men were sitting OF promenading.
His back was towards her as he approach.
ed, leaning On the arm Of Anna West. She
recognized him, looked intenily at him,
gave her companion over to party of young
ladies near, and then stopped and spoke to
him.
"Do you like that sort of work, Mr..
Nlainwell ?" she asked.
II do, Miss Ellsworth. beleye am
natural mechanic
ut appears very odd to see you doing
this"
1T is my trade,' he replied, rising from
his work and turning to her.
Her cheek blanchsda little. "Your trade!"
she said, family:
.'Yes, my trade, Miss Ellsworth. The pro-
prictor said the lock needed mending, and l
told him could mend IL for him."
| The party OF girls came along just then.
After wondering at Mr. Manwcll awhile,
and laughing at him, they proposed ride.
There were three carriages for them ALL
These would take the party.
Ned Whitaker here joined them
"What the deuce are you about herel" he
exclaimed 10 Mr.. MAinwell. "Ah," he added
when the latter turned aud glanced 1T him.
But while you are here you might as well
enjoy yourself"
Mr. Mainwtll excused himself from join
ing the party, and they all went away, leay,
ing him to flu sin his work.
Miss Ellsworth left MIN without any word
at parting
at is well" be muttered to himself. '.If
she cannot take me as ain, she is not wor-
| thy Of me. The woman that marries me
must take me for myself.
| He stood and looked after her until she
had disappeared. Size did not once turn to
look back.
He gave his shoulders shrug, compressed
his lip, uttered cynical .humph." !" and
| turned to finish his work.
''Let it be 50 y he muitercd, when he was
through and was putting On his coat. II
thought Iefhaps that had found'a woman
after my own heart. Amidst this world of
wealth and fashion. she, too, has lost her
soul. Let her CO.
seek to catch her eye for how uf rccogni-
ton. Mien she entered a drawing room
where he was, lie would go out by another
way. But he was more than ever in the
company of Ned Whitaker. Ned in pass.
| ing to and frn between Miss Ellsworth and
him, served still as sort of link between
them.
"You are cynical fellow" said Ned, ono
day. "Why don't you lake the people as
they are? You will find good enough in
them"
but they won't take me as am. That
is the trouble"
"Poh I! You see yourself that she allowed
no other suitors to accompany her. Don't
you see she is alone or with tho other girls
, the most of the time ?"
"Her heart is full of vanity"
"Pshaw! she Is trained t., luxurious nc
| tions, that's ALL
| Mrinwell's trunk was awaiting him and
the stage, outside on the piazza, at the time
this conversation was going on. On the trunk
were his initials, G. NJ. Miss Ellsworth,
passing that way, saw the initials-not by
chance, for she had been very busy scruiin-
iziDg the trunks that lay together in pile
and when she saw the Initials she started
and turned pale. She recovered herself, aud
withdrew with her companion little way,
and then stood sill and watched Presently
hIr. Mainwell came out with Ned upon the
piazza. He chanced to turn his eyes toward
her, and their eyes met-met for the first
lime since she had left him while he was ai
work upon the lock. She did not turn away
her eyes. She bowed He lifted his hat.
The ice was broken. He approached her TO
bid her go0d-bye.
What the conversation was that ensued
',etween the two when they were left alo. e
by means 0i Ned's ingenuity in spiritiug
away The rest Of the company, is unknown,
save the following:
"But ana locksmith," said Mr.. Main
well.
"No matter"
"Are you willing to live as the wife Of
one who with his hands earns his daily
bread r
~ am willing to undergo anything to be
with you have suffered enough. During
these last few days have learned what it
ia to despair Of being united to the one
love-
but your mother-yeur father.
"Unless ] am willing to leave them for
your sake, am not worthy of YOU"
but then the loss OF wealth, of position,
of the surroundings Of refinement"
"Da not say anything more about it.
am willing to leave all for your sake. ain
weary Of being without you"
"Wauld you be willing to become my
wife this day, this hour2 Your father aud
mother might Otherwise put obstacles in our
way"
II am willng-this hour, this minute"
"They do not know Of my position in
life."
"They still think YOU are wealthy-as
did,"
"Come, then, we will 60 our way will
Ned, and become before the world what W.