Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-11-12

A week at the watering place, and mos
of the time each day spent IN the COMPANY
Of Mr. MAXWELL, the gentleman Miss Els
worth's old friend, Ned Whitaker, had in
troduced to her one morning on the piazza
She had sailed with him, had strolled witt
him, or ridden with him along the shores OF
the moonlight evening, and she had .dancce
with him in the thronged drawing rooms.
Miss Ellsworth was not a firt, who dis
tributed her likings among many gentleman
and she had found her ideal well nigh real
lied in MIR. Maxwell Only the evening
before, their talk had Withdrawn itself from
general topics. which to each otherhad beer
congenial, and in her admiration Of his in
telligence and manliness, she had encourag.
ed an approach to that personal sort of con.
| versation which relates to love and matri-
mony. uu1
And now. to find Mr. MAXWELL, this morn
ing, with his coat off and smiths apron on.
engaged in mending lock /! He was doing
it publicly The lock was on the door that
led to the middle Of the front piazza, where
the fashionably dressed ladies and gentlemen
were sitting or promenading
His hack was toward her as she approach
ed, leaning on the arm Of her friend, Annie
West She recognized him, looking intentls
at him. gave her companion over to par '
of young ladies near, and then stopped and
>poke to him.
"Do you like thatsort of work, Mr.. Man
we'll ?"
II do, Miss Ellsworth I believe am a
natural mechanic y
'1t appears odd to see you do this.
cit is my trade he replied, rising from
bis work and turning to her.
Her cheek blanched little. 'Your
trade p she said family.
"My trade, Miss Ellsworth. The proprie-
tor said the lock needed mending, and told
him l could mend it for him.
The party Of girls came along just then.
After wondering at Mr.. Maxwell a while,
and laughing at him, they proposed ride,
There were three carriages among them all !;
these would take the party. b 81
Ned Whitaker here joined them
"What the deuce are gou about here" he
exclaimed to Mr. Maxwell. ''Ah," he add
ed, as the latter turned and glanced at him ;
"but while you are here you might as we'll
enjoy yourself"
Mr.. Maxwell excused himself from join
ing the rarity, and they all went agay leav-
ing him to complete his work
Miss Ellsworth left him without word at
parting.
at is WE'LL he muttered to himself. ''II
she cannot take me as | am she is not worthy
of me. The woman that marrics me mus,
take me for myself
He stood and looked after her until she
had disappeared. She did not once turn tc
look back,
He gave his shoulder shrug compressed
his lips. uttered cynical ''humph y and
turned to finish his work.
Let it be So" he muttered, when he was
through, and was putting on his coat. Il
thought perhaps had found woman after
my own heart. But let it be so. Amids
this world of wealth and fashion, she, too
has lost her soul Let her CO."
He avoided her hereafter. He did NO
seek to catch her eye for bow Of recogni
ton. When she entered the drawing room
where he was, he would 60 out by another
way. But he was more than ever in tb'
company of Ned Whitaker. Ned in passing
to and fro between Miss Ellsworth and him
served still as sort of link between them
"You are cynical fellow" said Ned ont
day. ''Why don't you take people as they
are ? Y GU will find good enough in them.
''But they won't take me as [ am tina
is the trouble"
''Pooh! You see yourself that she allows
no other suitors to accompany her. Don
you see that she is alone, or with the girl
most fthe time ?"
Her heart is full of vanity ="
"Pshaw She is trained to luxurious no,
tons, that's all"
Manwell's trunk was awaiting him and thu
stage, outside on the piazza, at the time this
conversation was going on. On the trunl
were his initials, &C NJ" Miss Ellsworth
passing that way, saw the initia!s-not b.
chance, for she had been very busy scrutiniz
ing the trunks that lay together in pile
aud when she saw the initials she started ane
turned pale. She recovered herself, ant
withdrew with her companions little way
and then stood still and watched. sooi
Maxwell come out with Ned, upon the plaz
ga He Glanced to turn his eyes toward her
and their eyes met-met for the first time
since she had left him while he was at worl
upon the lock. She did not turn away bel
eyes. She bowed. He approached her a an
gave her. goodbye.
| What the conversation was that ensuee
between the two when they were LETT alone
by means Of Ned's ingenuity in spTltlne
away the rest of the company, is unknown
save the following: ;,
ssBut am blacksmith" said Maxwell
'sNo natter"
s'Are you willing to live, the wife OF on n.
who, with his hands, earns his daily bread :!
Il am willing to undergo anything to Ut
with you. I have suffered enough. During
these last few days ] have learned what II i
to despair of being mated to the one love-
But your mother your father z
| Unless I am willing to leave them fol
r L r &c ,o,I7