Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-11-18

his love for mechanical work, afte
havint, he assured her, regularl,
served his time at learning trade.
Mrs. Maxwell stood and looked a
him intently.
"This is your house?" she asked.
"Yes madam"
'tAnd yon are not poor, but rich?"
"You speak the truth, Mrs. Maxwell.
"And why did you play the jest upoI
me ?"
"To see whether you really loved mt
for my own sake"
"Ah, pretty, indeed! And suppose
Iyou do not love me s'
ssBut do"
"Humph!"
So there was little family quarrel OIL
the spot.
Now invite your father and mother
. to come and see u.s." said MAXWELL
after the clouds had somewhat cleared
away.
II will" she replied-I will. But
first you must go with me to see them
aud pacify them in view of what We
: have done"
Every well.n
In few days they started out in the
carriage on their errand. Mrs. Maxwell
gave the directions to the driver, and
her husband could not help expressing
, his wonder at the increasing squalor o.
the neighborhood through which they
rode. The carriage drew up before a
miserable looking tenement house, and
stopped. -.
"Where the deuce are you taking me ?'i
asked Maxwell, looking sharply at his
wife.
"Come and see," she replied, as she
\ D. . ha
i "Here wait,n he exclaimed, after bis
4 first hesitancy, " let me get cut first and
help you out. What does this mean? ?''
Follow me, Twas her reply.
She led him up stairs-up up, through
throngs, and dirt, and smells, to the
fourth story. Here she opened the door
without knocking, and the two entered.
The woman was dressed neatly, and so
were the children, but they were all
dressed very poorly, in keeping with
the place. The man was clad more
carelessly, and even more poorly. On
his head he kept his hat, which, certain
ly, was full half dozen years old.
MY husband, Mr.. MAXWELL; my
father and mother, brothers and sisters"
said Mrs. MAXWELL, introducing all
parties.
MAXWELL stood and stared without
speaking.
"Ask their pardon, George" said Mrs.
Maxwell, " for running away with me. I"
"Who are they?"
"Have 1 not told you didn't intro
duce you ?"
"Who were those at the watering
place ?"
"Some wealthy people, who had seen
me at the milliner's where l sewed for
oIiualibood-corupd INV tra1a GeOrpp-
and fancied my appearance, dressed me
up and took me there with them"
"You jest"
DO L? Do 1, indeed? These people,
seemed to recognize me as daughter
and sister. Jest, indeed ?-You will
find that out"
you are too cultivated, too tasteful,
too find-featured r'"All this" said Mrs.
MAXWELL, "a milliner may be, or
sewing-girl. Look for yourself among
the class. Is it not true? ALI that We
girls need, is dress"
Maxwell lifted his fist and dashed it
through the air. He ground his teeth
and, turning away, left the room,
slaming the door violently behind him.
His wife took off her hat and cloak,
and flung herself down at table and
buried her face in her handkerchief.
The door opened again, and MAXWELL
put in his head.
"You have deceived me-" he said,
"but come, you are my wife, will try
and bear it"
She sprang to her feet and confronted
| him.
Your wife, am II" she exclaimed,
"and doomed to live with one who does
not love her, but was in love with her
circumstances ! No, sir; you may go l
will not live wife unloved for myself
you must take me thus, or l will stay.
Still 1 can work"
He closed the door and retired down
stairs to the street, clenching his hands
and his teeth as he went.
1.-The horrible disgrace of it," he NUT
tered. The derission that will be my
lot. And then to marry such a girl!'
But at the street door he tarried. He
had to struggle with himself all alone.
Suddenly he turned and dashed i'm
petuously up the stairs, flung open the
door of the room, seized his wife in his
arms and clasped her to his heart.
MY wife," he whispered in her ear;
"such you are and ever shall be, before
God and before the world"
me-" she said, smiling in his face.
"You do love me? You really think
you do, George ?"
He clasped her more tightly to him.
Come then," said she, Though of
such parents as these, poor as they are,
1 should not feel ashamed-yet they
are not my parents, but have only
played part in which have instructed
them. Shake honds with them, George,
they are worthy people,,
And he did shake hands with them,
and what is more he helped them.
A merry party was gathered that
evening at Manwell's house, party con-
sisting of Mr.. and Mrs. Maxwell, and
their guests, Mr.. and Mrs. Ellsworth,
and young lady acquaintances of the
watering place, and Ned Whitaker.
Ned never was in betthr spirits, nor, let
it be stated, were Mr.. ahd Mrs. Ellsworth,
who forgave their daughter and her hus-
band without hesitation.
II say. George" said Ned, whisper
ing in Manwell's ear "two camp lay at
that game, can't they? ?n
MAXWELL took Ned's jeering very
soberly.
Yes said he, after few moments of
thoughtfulness, land the experience
has taught me lesson. What fools, the
pride of wealth ma kes of us all. |
thought she ought to have taken me re-
gardless of my circumstances, for myself
alone, and without hesitation, even.
And yet, when she tested me, 1, myself,
was found wanting. Shall We ever learn
to disregard a PERSONS occupation, and
to look only at the character and the
soul?n
Ned shrugged has shoulders obviously.
81 think | have learned the lesson"
MAXWELL added Woods Household
Magazine.
AN exchange gives the following:
Once upon q time gentleman found
in his henroost simple minded soul
of the vicinity, who lived without means