The Delawarean., 1900-08-25
"Judge, don't know what can say

Excuse me, sir" interrupted the
other, "but you have evidently made a
mistake. l think the gentleman called
the judge has passed into the salon"
Mr.. Bemis looked at the major like
a man seeing the face of death in a
nightmare, and beads of perspiration
started out on his forehead.
"Your-your wife is better this morn
ing, l think heard you say?" queried
the major in courteous tones.
"Y-yesr
"Glad to hear it. she should beware
of 0verexcitement Weather seems to
have settled and we are making a fine
run Of it. Have a light? No? Well
I'll walk little"
Mr.. Bemis stared after him as if see
ing a ghost, and his breath came in
sobs as he finally turned away. He
had seen the man whose home he had
despolled q dozen times or more, and
he believed that Judge Dale stood be-
fore him. Still there might be a chance
that it was simply wonderful resen-
blance. Such things had been known
1t must have been this faint hope that
buoyed up the wife to appear that aft
ernoon. A wife should be able to iden-
tify the face, figure and speech of the
| husband of even a fortnight, but the
elopers hoped for a miracle. Major
Davis had made several acquaintances
and Mrs. Bemis had no sooner appear
ed than he was ready to be introduced
Il am honored," he said as he made
his bow Permit me to offer my sin
cere congratulations ON your speedy
recovery"
IL thank you"
1T was your husband l met this
morning, l believe, and for a moment
he took me for some one else. 1t is
queer how youll often find two people
looking so much alike as to deceive
you at first glance"
"Y-yes. it Isl" she stammered, lean
ing on the back of chair for support
and speaking through bloodless lips.
"You do not find in me a resemblance
to any gentleman called the judgeY' he
queried as he looked her full in the
face.
"N-no--that is
"But | am keeping you. Pray, be
seated, and l think l see your husband
coming this way. Hope the fine wealth
er will put you in good spirits"
AT every meal Major Davis faced the
guilty pair. Some of the passengers
suspected nothing, but others insisted
that there was a queer mystery afoot.
The major gave nothing away. 1t
wouldn't have been good form. The
woman avoided him as far as possible,
but two or three times q day he found
excuse to speak to her. If she had
hoped for a miracle, her hopes We're
dashed at the first close sight of him.
Major Davis was Judge Dale, and
Judge Dale was the husband she had
fed from and disgraced She knew
him for quiet man, but also for an
implacable one He was torturing
them at the stake, but that would not
be revenge enough. In his desperation
Bemis again attempted to approach the
man he had wronged. He couldn't
plead for himself, but he would plead
for the woman.
Judge, it was my fault, and on me
should fall your vengeance" he said as
he cornered his man.
"Mistaken again. Ha, ha, har' laugh
ed the major. Really, but l shall
come to think that l am your judges
twin brother. See what cloudless
sky and how beautiful the sea. 1 trust
that your wife has had no more trou-
BILE with her heart. She is not looking
at all we'll"
God! God! But what a manr gasp
ed Bemis as he turned away with q
hunted look in his eyes.
The steamer was to call at the
Azores. One morning about 10 o'clock
she made harbor, and it was given out
aboard that she would not get away
before midnight Everybody was anx.
ious for brief run ashore-everybody
but Mrs. Benis. She feared that she
might overeXert and bring on another
attack of heart trouble. Mr.. Bemis
had decided to stay with her when Ma
jor Davis hunted him out and said:
81 trust you will make one of a little
party going ashore, and that you will
bring your revolver along, as I shall
mine?"
"The party isis began Mr.. BE.
mis- as his face blanched.
"A very exclusive one-just the two
of us, you see. You have a pistol, /
suppose|
eyes"
"Ah, Of course! We may find game,
you know. Do you wish to speak to
your wife first?"
mo"
"She's gone to lie down, eli? Well,
let's be off,"
The two engaged a boat as soon as
landing and pulled away to wooded
cape, and two hours later dead man
was brought back in the boat. 1t was
Mr.. Bemis. He had accidentally shot
himself while shooting at a bird, or
at least the major said so, and no one
doubted his word. He told his tale
without excitement. He was cool and
serene as he announced that he would
remain and see the body placed in its
grave. He came aboard the steamer
with the personal effects of the de-