Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-08-28
THE DOUBLE GAME

most of the time each day spent i'm
the company of nir, MAXWELL. the
gentleman whom Miss EuswCrth,s
old friend, Ned Whitaker, had in
troduced to her one morning on the
piazza. she had sailed with him.
had strolled or ridden with him
along the shore on the moonlight
evening, and she had danced with
hlm IN the thronged drawing-rooms.
MISS Ellsworth was not girl who
distributed her likings among many
gentlemen; and she had found her
ideal well nigh realized in Mr.. Main
we'll. Only the evening before,
their talk had withdrawn itself from
the general topics which to each had
been congenial, and in her admira-
tlon OF his intelligence and msnIi-
ness, she had encouraged an approach
to that personal sort of converse
ton which relates to love and mat
rimony.
And now, to find Mr.. MAXWELL
this morning, with his coat off and a
smiths apron on engaged in mend
ing lock! He was doing it public
ly. The lock was on the door that
led to the middle of the front piazza.
where the fashionably dressed ladies
and gentleman Were sitting or prom
enading.
His back was towards her as she
approached, leaning on the arm of
| her friend. Anna E1est. She recOg-
nized him, looked intently at him,
gave her companion over to a party
of young ladies near, then stopped
| and spoke to him.
do you like that sort of work, Mr..
MAXWELL ?" she asked.
Il do, Miss Ellsworth. I believe
L am natural mechanic.n
1T appears odd TO see you doing
this"
1T is my trade" he replied, rising
from his work and turning to her.
Her cheek blanched a little: "Your
| trade" she said, family.
MY trade, Miss Ellsworth. The
| proprietor said the lock needed
mending, and l told him | could
mend it for him."
The party of girls came along just
| then. After wondering at Mr.. Main
well a while, and laughing at him,
they proposed a ride. There We're
| three carriages among them all.
| Those would take the party.
| Ned Whitaker here Joined them.
| "What the deuce are you about
| here?' he exclaimed to Dir. Main
well. "Ah," +" he added when the lat
| Ger turned and glanced at him. "But
while here you might as well enjoy
| yourself.u
Mr.. MAXWELL excused himself from
| joining the party, and they all went
away, leaving him to complete his
| work.
Miss Ellsworth left him without
any words of pan ting.
at is well, ,''he muttered 20 himself.
"1f she cannot take me as L am, she
is not worthy of me. The woman
who marries me must take me for
myself
He stood and looked after her till
she had disappeared. She did not
once turn To look back.
He gave his shoulders shrug,
compressed his lips, uttered a cynI-
cal 'humph :" and turned to finish
his work.
Let it be so, ;" he muttered, when
he was through and was putting on
his coat. | thought perhaps | had
found a woman after my own heart.
But let it be so. Amidst this whirl
of wealth and fashion she too has
lost her soul. Let her go.n
He avoided her thereafter. He
did not seek to catch her eye for
bow of recognition. When she en-
tered drawing where he was,
he was more than ever in the com
pany of Ned Whitaker Ned, in
passing to and fro between Miss
Ellsworth and him served as sort
of link between them.
lyon are a cynical fellow said
Ned, one day. "Why don't you take
people as they are? You'll find good
enough in them"
"But they won't take me as / am.
That is the trOuble.n
"POh You see yourself that she
allows no other suitOrs TO accompany
her. Don't you see that she is
alone, or with the girls most of the
time?'
Her heart is full of vanity
"Pshaw. She is trained to iuxu-
rious notions, that's all.n
MainweIl'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 initiG Is
not b. chance, for she had been very
busy scrutiniZing the trunks that
lay together in a pile-and when she
saw the initials she started and
turned pale. She recovered herself,
and withdrew with her companion
litlit way anu tDch StoOd sun aLd
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 he was at work upon the lock.
She did not turn away her eyes. She
bowed He lifted his hat. The ice
was broken. He approached her 10
bid her good-by.
What the conversation was that
ensued 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 lam locksmith, > said Main
well.
mo matter
Are YOU willing TO live as the
wife OF one who with his hands earns
his daily bread ~
Il am willing To undergo anything
to be with you. l have suffered
enough. During these last few days
l have learned what il is to despair
of being united with the one L love" "
"But your mother-your 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 re-
tinement.h
80 not say anything more. / am
willing To leave all for your sake. L
am weary OF being without you