Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-12-03
MISCELLANEOUS.
OUTWITTED.
A STORY OF FASHIONABLE LIFE.

STORY OF FASHIONABLE LIFE.
A week at the watering place, and
most of the time each day spent in
the company of Mr.. MAXWELL, the
gentleman whom Miss Ellsworth's
old friend 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-roOm.
Miss Ellsworth was not fiIrt who
distributed her ideals 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talk had withdrawn itself from the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 topic to which each had been
congenial, and in her admiration OF
his intelligence and manliness, she
had encouraged an approach to that
personal sort of conversation which
relates to love and matrimony.
And now to find Mr.. MAXWELL this
morning, with his coat off and his
smiths apron on, engaged in mend
ing lock He was doing it publicly
The lock was on the door that led tc
the middle of the front piazza where
the fashionable ladies and gentlemen
were sitting or promenading.
His back was towards her as she
approached, leaning on the arm OF
her friend, Anna West. She recog.
nized him, looked intently at him
gave her companion over to a party
of young ladies near, and then
stopped and spoke to him.
"Do you like that sort of work
Mr.. MAXWELL ?" she asked.
81 do, Miss Ellsworth. l believe
/ am natural mechanic"
"It appears very odd to see you
doing this"
"lt is my trade" he replied, ris.
ing from his work and turning to
her.
Her cheek blanched a little
Your trade !" she said, family.
"Yes, trade, Miss Ellsworth. The
proprietor said his lock needed
mending, and l told him 1 could
mend it for him."
A party of girls came along just
then. After wondering at Mr.. Main
we'll awhile, and laughing at him,
they proposed 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.. Main.
well. "Ah," he added, when the
latter turned and glanced at him,
"but while you are here, you might
as we'll enjoy yourself"
Mr.. MAXWELL excused himself
from joining the party, and they
went away, leaving him to finish
his work.
Miss Ellsworth left him without
a word at parting.
at is WE'LL" he muttered to him.
self. "If she cannot take me as !
am, she is not worthy of me. The
woman that marries me must take
me for myself"
He stood and looked after her un-
til she had disappeared. She did
not once turn to look back.
He gave his shoulders shrug,
compressed his lips, uttered Gym.
ical " humph !" and turned to finish
his work.
"Let il be so," he muttered, when
he was putting on hls coat.
thought, perhaps, that had found
W oman after my own heart. Amidst
this world Of wealth and fashion
l,,t hnr pnnl OF hnI
60"
He avoided her thereafter. Ht
did not seek to catch her eye for {
bow of recognition. When she en-
tered drawing.r room where he was
he would go out by another way
But no was more than ever in th'
company of Ned Whitaker. Ned
in passing to and fro between Mis-
Ellsworth and him, served still as
sort of link between them.
"You are q cynical fellow" sait
Ned, one day. L" Why don't yo,
take people as they are? You will
find good enough in them"
"But they won't take me as am
| That is the trOuble.'
| IOOn 1Ou So0 SouioSh sH'
she allows no other suitors to ac
compan her. Don't you see she
alone or with the other girls most Q
the time?"
"Her heart is rather full of anA
iety." -,
Pshaw! She is trained TO luxt
rious notions, that's ALL"
Mainwell's trunk was aWaitln
him and the stage, outside on In
piazza, at the time this conversatio
was going on. On the trunk wei
his initials. Miss Ellsworth, passir
that way, saw them-not by chanc
for she had been scrutinizing Il
trunks that lay together in pile
when she started and turned pale.'
She recovered herself and withdre
with her companion little way, az
then turned, stood and watched