The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-05-24
THE HUSBAND ourwIrTED.

intently.
'eThis is your house?" she asked.
eyes, madam"
stAld You are not poor, but rich?'
stYou speak the truth, Mrs. MAXWELL"
Sand why did you play the jest upon
me?" '
'.'To see whether you really loved me
for my own sake"
"Ah, pretty, indeed! And suppose
you do not love me2"
''But do"
s'Humphl"
So, there was a little family quarrel on
the spot
s''Now invite your father and mother
to come and see us" said Maxwell, after
the clouds had somewhat cleared away.
.'I will," she replied-I will. But
frat you must go with me 10 see them,
and pacify them in view of what we have
done"
'.Very WE'LL"
In few days they started out in the
carriage on their errand. Mrs. Man
we'll gave the directions to the driver,
and her husband could not help express
ing his wonder at the increasing squalor
of the neighborhood through which they
rode. The carriage drew up before o
miserable looking tenement house, and
stopped.
.sWhere the deuce are you taking
me?" asked MAXWELL, looking sharply at
his wife.
'.Come and see," she replied, as she
proceeded to step from the carriage.
'.Here, wait," he exclaimed, after his
frat hesitanoy, ''let me get out first and
help you out. What does this mean?"
''Follow me" was her reply.
She led him up stairs-np. up through
throngs. and dirt, and smells, to the
fourth story. Here she opened the door
without knocking, and the two entered
were the childten, but they were all
dressed very poorly, in keeping with the
place. The man was clad more care
1essly, and even more poorly. On his
head he kept his hat, which, certainly,
was full half q 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, s'for running away with
me-"
"Who are they?"
''Have I not told you; didn't I intro
duoe your
"Who were those at the watering
placeP"
''Some wealthy people, who had seen
me at the milliner's where sewed for
livelihood-served my trade, George
and fancied my appearance, dressed me
up, and took me there with them"
s'You jest"
"Do II Do I, inded? These people
seemed to recognize me as q daughter
and sister. Jest, indeed! You will
find that out"
''You are too cultivated, too tasteful,
too fine-featuredl'' ''All this" said
Mrs. Maxwell, "a milliner may be, or a
sewing girl. Look for yourself among
the class Is it not true? All that we
girls need, is dress"
Maxwell lifted his fist aud dashed it
through the air. He ground his teeth,
and, turning away, left the room, slam
ing 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, 1 will try
and bear it.
She sprang to her feet and confronted
him.
"Your wife, am II" she exclaimed,
sand doomed to live with one who does
not love her, but was in love with her
circumstances. No, sir; you may go; 1
will not live wife unloved for. myself
you must take me thus, or I will stay
Still can work."
He closed tho door and retired down
stairs to the street, clenching his hands
and his teeth as he went.
''The horrible disgrace of it," he NUT
tered. ''The derision that will be my
lot. And then to marry such girl!
But at the street door he tarried. He
had to struggle with himself all alone.
Suddenly he turned and dashed impetu-
ously 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"
''Now I begin to think that you love
me, she said, smiling in his face. "You
do love meP You really think you do,