Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-11-18
Seleft Story.
HUSBAND OUTWITTED
Two can Play at That Game.

Miss Elsworth's old friend, Ned Whit
taker. had introduced to her one morn
inc on the piazza. She had sailed wit
him. had strolled with him, or riddel
with him along the shores on the moon
Iioht evenings, and she had danced witt
him in the throEged drawing rooms.
Miss Ellsworth was not fiirt, who dis
tributed her likings among many gentle
men: and she had found her ideal wei
nigh realized in Mr.. Maxwell. Onl,
the evening before, their talk had with
drawn itself from general topics. and il
her admiration of his intelligence ant
manIiness, she had encouraged an ap
proach TO that personal sort of converse
tion. which relates to love and matri
mony.
And now to find Mr.. MAXWELL, thii
morning, with his coat off, and SMITH:
apron on, engaged in mending lock
He was doing it publicly. The lock wa
on the door that led to the middle of the
front piazza, where the fashionably
dressed ladies and gentlemen were sit
ting or promenading.
His back was toward her as she ap
preached, leaning on the arm of he
friend Annie West. She recognized him
looking intently at him, gave her com
panion over to party of young ladie:
near, and then stopped and spoke tt
him.
"Do you like that sort Of work, Mr.
Manwell?n
Il do, Miss Ellsworth. / believe an
a natural mechanic
at appears odd to see you do this"
at is my trade" he replied, rising
from his work and turning to her.
Her cheek blanched little. "Youl
trader" she said family.
my trade, Miss Ellsworth. The pro
prietor said the lock needed mending
and L told him could mend it for him.
The party of girls came along JUS
then. After wondering at Mr.. MARVEL
awhile, and laug hing at him, they pro
pose a ride. There were three carriage:
among them all these would take the
party.
Ned Whitaker here joined them.
"What the deuce are you about here? J
he exclaimed to Mr. MAXWELL. "Ah,
he added, as the latter turned an6
glanced at him; "but while you are
here you might as well enjoy yourself. ,
Mr.. MAXWELL excused himself from
joining the party, and they all wen
away leaving him to complete his work
Miss Ellsworth left him without WORD
at parting. :.
'tIt is well, he mutteredto himself
/" If she cannot take me as | am she i:
not worthy of me. The woman that
marries me must take me for myself "
He stood and looked after her until
she hadSdisappeared. She did not once
turn to look back.
He gave his shoulder a shrug, com.
pressed his lips, uttered a cynical
humph!n 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
a woman after my own heart. But lei
it be so. Amidst this world of wealth
and fashion, she, too, has lost her soul.
Let her 60.
He avoided her thereafter. He did
not seek to catch her eye for bow OF
recognition. When she entered the
drawing room where he was, he would
go 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 sort cf link between
them.
"You are cynical fellow, 4" 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 suitors to accompany her.
Don't yoa see that she is alone, or with
the girls most of the time?"
Her heart is full of vanity. "
"PshawI She is trained to luxurious
notions that's all.
Manwell'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, sc. NJ"
Miss Ellsworth, 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 recovered herself, and
withdrew with her companions 3 little
way, and then stood still and watched.
Soon MAXWELL came out with Ned, upon
the piazza He chaneed to turn his ewes
toward her, and their eyes met-.net 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 approached her ard gave
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 I am blacksmith, said Man.
well. y
mo matter
"Are you willing to live the wife OF
one who, with his hands, earns his daily
bread?n -..-...-
II am willing to undergo anything to
be with you'll have suffered enough.
During these last few days have learned
what it is to Despair of being mated to
the one love. Z"
"But your mother-your father?"
"Unless 1 am willing to leave them
for your sake, am not worthy of you. u
But the loss of wealth, position, OF
the surroundings of refinement"
DO not say anything more. / am
willing to leave all for your sake, I am
weary of being without you.
Would you be willing to become my
wife this day, this hour? Your father
and mother might put obstacles in youl
way!"
"I am willing this hour-thi:
minute. I"
"They still think you are wealthy
as did. T"
"Come, then, we will go on our way
with Ned, and come before the worlC
what we now are in spirit-husband ant
wife; and then, at once, we will taxi
the cars for the home have for you,
home which, though lowly, you will
make happy"
"Whither you go I will CO."
They were married in a quiet way, il
the little watering place Chapel, will
the wicked Ned sconniving at tn,
mischief. The next train sped then
to the city.
'sI will show you the shop where
work, said Maxwell, when the carriag
which they took at the depot hat
drawn up before one of long line o
bronze stone houses, in a splendid par
of the city.