The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-10-12
THE HUSBAND oUTwITTED.
A Game for Two to Play.


pany of Mr.. MAXWELL, the gentleman
whom Miss Ellsworth's old friend had
introduced to her one morning on the pi-
azza. She had sailed with him along the
shore on the moonlight evenings, and she
had danced with him in the thronged
drawing-rooms.
Miss Ellsworth was not flirt, who dis
tributed her ideals among many gentle
men, as she had her ideal well nigh real
lied in Mr.. Mainwell. Only the evening
before, their talk had withdrawn itself from
the general topic to which each had been
congenial, and in her admiration of his
intelligence and manliness, she had en-
couraged an approach to that personal
sort of conversation which relates to love
and matrimony.
And now to find Mr.. MAXWELL this
morning with his coat off and smiths
apron on, engaged in mending a lock
lie was doing it publicly. The lock was
on the door that led to tho middle of the
front piazza where the fashionable ladies
and gentleman were sitting or promenad-
ing.
His back was towards her as she ap-
preached, leaning on the arm other friend,
Anna West She recognized him, looked
intently 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..
MAXWELL ?" she asked.
{" do, Miss Ellsworth. believe |
am natural mechanic"
at appears very odd to sec you doing
this
cit is my trade" he replied, rising
from his work and turning to her.
Her cheek blanched little. Your
trade !" sho said faintiy.
"Yes, trade, Miss Ellsworth The
proprietor said the lock needed mending,
and | told him that | could mend it for
him."
The party of girls came along just then.
After wondering at Mr. Mainwel! awhile
and laughing at him, they all proposed a
ride.
There were three carriages for them
all. These would take the party
Ned Whitaker here joined them.
"What the deuce are you about here?"
he exclaimed to Mr. Mainwcll "Ah,"I
he added, when the latter turned and
glanced at him ;"but while you are here
you might as we'll enjoy yourself"
Mr.. MAXWELL excused himself from
joining the party, and they went away,
leaving him to finish his work.
Miss Ellsworth left him without any
word at parting.
at is well,' he muttered to himself
"lf she cannot take me as am, she is
not worthy of me. The woman that
marries me must take me for myself"
He stood and looked after her until she
had disappeared. She did not once turn
to look back.
He gave his shoulders shrug, COM
pressed his lips, uttered cynical hump
and turned to finish his work.
"Let it be So" he muttered, when he
was through and was putting on his coat.
" [ thought perhaps that had found a
woman after my own heart. Amid this
world Of wealth and fashion. she, too, has
lost her soul. Let her 60"
He Heavodedher thereafter. He did not
seek to catch her eye for bow of rec
ognition. When she entered the draw
ing-room where he was, he would 90 out
by another way. But he was more than
ever in the company of Ned Whitaker.
Ned, in passing to and fro between Miss
Ellsworth and him, served still as link
between them.
"You are cynical fellow" said
Ned, one day. "Why don't you take
people as they are! You will find good
enough in them"
"But they won't take me as | am. That
is the trouble"
"Pooh You see yourself that she al
lows no other suitor to accompany her.
Don't you see she is alone or with other
girls the most Of the time?"
Her heart is full of vanity"
"Pshaw! She is trained to luxurious
notions, that's ALL"
Mainwell'S trunk was awaiting him and
the stage, outside on the piazza, at the
time this conversation was going on. On
the trunk the initials, G. NJ. Miss Els
worth, passing that way, saw the initials,
not by chance, for she had been very busy
scrutinizing the trunks that lay together
in pile, and when she saw the initials
she started and turned pale. She recoy-
cred herself, and withdrew with her COM
panion little way, and then stood still
and watched. Presently Mr. MAXWELL
came out with Ned upon the piazza. He
chanced to turn his eyes towards her and
their eyes met--met for the first time
since she had left him while at work on
the lock. She did not turn away her eyes.
She bowed. He lifted his hat. The ice
was broken. He approached to bid her
goodbye.
What the conversation was that en-
sued between the two when they were
left alone by means Of Ned's ingenuity in
spiriting away the rest of the company, is
unknown, save the following:
"But | am locksmith," said Mr..
MAXWELL.
"No matter" te
"Are you willing to live as the wife of
one who with his hands earn his daily
bread 2"
:" | am willing to undergo any thing
to be with you. have suffered enough
During these last few days | have learn
ed what it is to despair of being united to
the one | love"
"But your mother-your father"
"Unless | am willing to leave them
for your sake, | am not worthy ofyou,"
but then the loss of wealth, Of posi-
ton, of the surroundings Of refinement"
Do not say anything more about. |
am willing to leave all for your sake. |
am weary Of being without you"
"Would you be willing to become my
wife this day, this hour? Your father
and mother might otherwise put obsta-