The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1901-07-11


THE CODE
tion as a gentleman 1t was with Pay
son Graham's wife. He was also a
dawdler, dandy and a gentleman
This affair was his only lapse. and he
lived TO regret 1t. When be found him.
self In love with his friends wife and
realized that the wife reciprocated, he
acted the part of gentleman. Where
his lapse occurred was In falling In
love. All that followed was according
to the ethics of gentillty. He naturally
suggested an elopement His sense of
honor suggested that II was his duty to
remove the wife as far as possible from
her husband. The gossip over an elope-
ment Is always unpleasant, but II does
not sting like the gossip over the dis.
coyery of liaison under the gulse of
friendship. 1t was agreed all around
that Stafford acted like q gentleman In
bearing the unfaithful wife away on
bis yacht. Some gentlemen pursue an
clipping wife, and some sit calmly down
and seek to forget her. IL Is for him
to choose, and he loses no prestige.
Graham decided to pursue. and 1t was
recorded In the books of society that
be was quite within his province as a
gentleman. He was also a yacht own
er, aud when he discovered which way
his late friend had headed he took up
his watery trail.
Luck, accident and Providence were
oil on the side of the pursuer. Stafford
had headed for the Mediterranean,
meaning to make trip of a couple of
years. 1t is a good bit OF a voyage
from London to Gibraltar. and It had
not been completed by half when the
yacht with the clippers on board was
overhauled. No gentleman who elopes
with another mans wife must seek to
skulk away when fairly overhauled,
and as Stafford was a gentleman be
calmly waited for events tC take their
course. Perhaps the loss of some OF
bis spars In storm, thus leaving him
rather badly crippled, aided him some.
what In being philosopher. AS gen
tleman and an injured husband it was
Graham's place to make the first call,
and he did 1t. He was rowed off to
Stafford's yacht In his gig. and as be
went up her side he was received with
all due respect His wife bowed to
him, Stafford lifted bis hat and hoped
he was well. and If the sailors had
been looking for a brawl they were
disappointed. Unless a gentleman's
wits have been driven out by wine, and
that occasionally happens, he does not
roll In the mud in public. The wife
had no tears. Mysteries or excuses, and
Stafford did not put forward any re-
grets over his conduct On his part
Graham did not ask why this or why
that and then pull dagger and tear
his hair.
1t was all very quietly and nicely
arranged. The trio descended to the
cabin aud even lunched together. There
were no hot words or loud voices. At
the end of about an hour 1t was settled
what should he done. The wind had
died out, and the sea was calm. and
there must be an affair of honor. Moth
Ing less could be reasonably offered
and accepted In reparution. The cap
tains Of the yachts were to act as Sec
onds as far as they could. but 1t was
not to be duel on board of either
yacht. When all was ready, each prin-
cipal entered his gig and pulled away
to distance, and the two captains fol-
lowed and stationed them as near the
regulation distance as circumstances