Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-11-28
ON THE UPPER DECK. !.
BY Z. Z. GARRETT.

"You never know" said Dick reflective
| ", where tragedy is going to crop
out"
Tragedy! repeated the girl. with
smiling glance over the peace of the river
md its banks. Can you see one lurking
here?'
Behind that clump of oaks" said
Dick, pointing, there's cozy little
home where a man murdered his sweet
heart"
Gracious! Would it be exhausting to
get round to the beginning"
beginnings are always exhausting."
"True. Let us begin at the difficulty"
"He found her smuggling letter out
Of his sight; it was in IA masculine hand,
and he demanded it."
Il see. Unforgivable things were said;
them
"He left the house; she took pistol
"She took it."
"And killed herself"
"And the man?'
"He was your vis-a-vis at supper. =
"And-oh. l remember him-he ate.
That's no sign: man can't attend to
his business unless he eats. At break
fast notice an extra line or two in his
face"
"Yes-s," reflectively, "she was much to
blame"
Much! She should have given up the
letter Sac should have realized that his
very love for her made him peremptory
In the demand to silence instantly by
positive proof the first shadow of sus-
picion. He was wrong to suspect, but
the suspicion carried its own dagger. She
should have been Of quicker compassion.
"Yes-s, but I don't think she should
have shown the letter. There was the
other man to consider, and common self
respect
Common fiddle strings! The man was
in misery with the thought that she al
lowed some other man to say what she
dared not let him see. 1t was torture!"
"You yourself called his course MUIR
der"
80 1t was He was passionate and
suffering. and he left her 10 die. II he
had known, do you fancy he wGnld not
Infinitely rather have died himseliT.
Dick threw his cigar end over the rail
and began to walk the deck.
"Do you think" went on Dick. pausing
beside her chair, that she didn't do
worse than murder him?'
"Dick, suppose
"Yes?' The girls head stood out
clearly, like a cameo against the black
ness of the water. The steamer signaled
and curved toward a wharf.
"Suppose that the letter really was one
that she had encouraged another man to
write-one that she couldn't show him?'
well? Or course, there are such wo-
men"
"You would despise herT
"What elseT'
but, Dick, suppose that in a peniten-
tial mood I should suddenly confess to
YOU that I am such woman? Suppose
it." she repeated, with decided little
motion full of grace.
81 will not! Why should I?''
because l wish it; because it is nee
essary."
"What?'
"Well, not perhaps necessary, but
best"
| Nonsense! I have an abiding faith In
you, my lady, and it is part of me not
best disturbed"
But l have letters"
Dick laughed. He lighted a cigar.
! Across the flare Of the match he looked
at her and started in amazement. She
was pale, her eyes were full, her lips
nuivered and in the flash of his glance
across the fame she hid her face in her
hands, Dicks match made a little streak
of light as it fell through the fast thick
ening mist and struck the floor. A fog
bell rang out sharply, was answered. and
a steamer doomed up beside them, then
vanished swiftly. The girl was sobbing,
and to Dick, listening dazedly, there was
no other sound in the world.
"Show a little mercy" he said at last
in a shaking whisper. "Do you know
what you are doingT
81 know" And she raised her head.
81 have taken away the ideal of your
faith. and in its stead set only-myself.'
"And who are you, them"
As if to answer him, a sudden flood of
moonlight broke through the night and
touched the mist about her like halo.
They looked into one another's faces.
! The man flung his cigar after the match
and reached ont his hands.
NO" she said and shrank back. Per
haps you will call me a traitor and cow
ard. At first | was only mistaken-we
all make mistakes. you know" wistfully.
Il thought | loved him, and l told him
So"
"Ahr' said Dick. and turned from the
light.
"And then-I met you"
81 see. Then you thought you loved
me-"
Don't" said the girl gently. sit isn't
like YOU
"Oh. you poor. mistaken child! Do you
think l want to hurt you? Say the rest
quickly You are to marry this man?'
ooh, no; told you that was mis-
take. And he was married last week"
"Then what do you mean?"
"Why, that is what was so cowardly,
don't you see? I kept putting him of,
telling him about you. l was traitor to
him."
"And that's all?" said Dick, running
his hand through his hair.
She nodded.
fortunately" she said. che too had
fallen in love with another girl and de-
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