The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1872-10-18
MI j s ceIIaIleous
THE HUSBAND OUTWITTED.
A GAME FOR TWO TO PLAY,

A week at the watering place, and most
of the time each day spent in the company
of Mr.. MAXWELL. the gentleman whom Mss
Ellsworths old friend Ned Whitaker had
introduced to her one morning on the
piazza. 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, and she bad found her ideal well
nigh realized in Mr.. MAXWELL Only the
evening before their talk had withdrawn
itself from the general topics to which each
had been congenial, and in her admiration
OF his intelligence and manliness, she had
encouraged an approach to the personal sort
of conversation which relates to love and
matrimony.
And now to find Mr.. MAXWELL this
morning, with his coat off and a 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 prom
His back was towards her as she ap-
preached, leaning on the arm of Anna
West. She recognized him, looked intent
ly at him, gave her companion over to a
party of young ladies near, and then stop
ped and spoke to him.
"Do you like that sort of work, Mr..
MAXWELL ?" she asked.
81 do, Miss Ellsworth. l believe am
natural mechanic"
1t appears very odd to see you doing
this
1t is my trade" he replied, rising from
his work and turning to her.
Her cheek blanched little. "Your
trade !" she said, family.
" Yes, trade, Miss Ellsworth. The pro-
prietor said the lock needed mending, and
told him could mend it for him."
The party of girls came along just then.
- After wondering at Mr. MAXWELL awhile
and laughing at him, they 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.. MAXWELL. "Ah," he
added when the latter turned and glanced
at him. "But while you are here you
might as well enjoy yourself"
Mr.. MAXWELL excused himself from join
ing the party, and they all went away,
leaving him to finish his work.
Miss Ellsworth left him without any
word at parting.
at is well," he muttered to himself eli
she cannot take me as am, she is not wor-
thy 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, compress
ed his lips, uttered cynical "humph !!
and turned to finish his work.
"Let it be so I" he muttered, when he
was through and was putting on his coat
81 thought perhaps that I had found q
woman after my own heart. Amidst this
world of wealth and fashion, she, too, has
lost her soul. Let her CO."
He avoided her thereafter. He did not
seek to catch her eye for bow of recogni
ton. When she entered a drawing room
where he was, he would 60 out by another
way. But he was more than ever in tn,
company of Ned Whitaker. Ned in pass
ing to and fro between Miss Ellsworth ant
him, served as a sort Of link between them
you are cynical fellow" said Ned
one day. "Why don't you take the people
as they are 2" You will find good enough
in them"
but they won't take ME as am. Tha
is the trouble"
Pooh You see yourself that she allow
ed no other suitors to accompany her
Don't you see she is alone or with the othe
girls the most of the time2"
"Her heart is full of vanity"
"Pshaw she is trained to luxurious no
tions, that's all"
Mainwells trunk was awaiting hing ant
the stage, outside on the piazza, at th'
time this conversation was going on. Or
the trunk were his initials, G. M. Mis-
Ellsworth, passing that way, saw the mi
tials, not by chance, for she had been very
busy scrutinizing the trunks that lay to
gether in plle-and when she saw thu
Initials she started and turned pale. Sh'
recovered herself and withdrew with he
companion little way, and then stood still
and watched. Presently MIR. Mainwel
came out with Ned on the Piazza. H.
CHANGED to turn his eyes toward her, ant
their eyes met-met for the first time sine,
| eho hod loft hin, while he was Mt work uOOi