Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-11-09
Bess, Queen of
Strategists
By RUTH sAsTELLE
csssdsA,. 1904. By 7. c. Mecl~,

Hight spring on the narrow strip of peb.
bIv beach. Without breath Of hesIta.
t,on she seized the prov OF the little
steel boat, gave vigorous push, a
practiced leap and stood polling swiftly
over the shadows with one oar. The
hlue line Of deep water reached, she
dropped into the seat and rowed with
long. strong strokes. Half across the
arm OF the lake. that lay between the
mainland and the little island toward
which she was pulling. she rested on
her oars.
"Hm-mr' This In tone of mild
surprise. "The bloodthirsty pursuet
doesn't seem to be gaining very rapid.
liz. Not a sign Of him yet. Guess I'll
give him a little chance. I've excuse
enough for wanting to remodel myself.
goodness knowsr'
And she raised her arms, barred to
the elbow and brown against the white
OF her gown, TO mass Of tawny hair,
very bewitchingly disheveled from tie
precipitousness of her launching.
I'm morally certain he saw me. toe"
she reflected. braiding the heavy coils
into a shining rope that more than
reached the floor OF the boat as she sat
"for he came around the corner of the
piazza just as | crossed the road into
the thlclSet | should think he'd want
to say goodby r~after-everythIng
But l don't care. said I'D never
speak TO him again, and shan'tT' She
seized the oars and pulled the remain
Ing half mile with vicious. snappy
strokes
1t would have been much cooler back
In the evergreeus, but she disposed
herself on the open sand with the pill
lows. book and parasol which formed
part OF the boats furnishings. The
bright scarlet sunshade was thus I'M
mistakably visible from the mainland
The warm discomfort of her vigil
was at length rewarded by the output
ting of q boat with a single white fan
nelad occupant. The scarlet parasol
swung around and presented broad
side view to the water. When the on
coming boat was half across, the girl,
her back persistently toward 1t. gath
cred up her belongings and betook her
self calmly to the friendly shadows o
few yards away.
The novel must have been intensely
interesting. for she had apparently not
taken her eyes from its. pages during
all the time that an athletic looking
fellow was bleaching boat, crossing
the sand and. throwing himself on the
ground at her feet.
Il came over TO say goodby, Bess,"
he volunteered to the back of the book.
No answer.
"And 10 ask you TO forgive me-"
Continued silence.
Wont you forgive me, BessT' With
quiet earnestness.
over the top of the book he was
given an instant's burning glance Of
scornfui eyes.
"Oh, | know you told me never to
speak to you again, and | don't sup
pose you'll answer me either. | was n
fool not to get at least your forgiveness
last night. but some way was too
too stunned. guess. But whether
you'll speak to me or not | must have
the privilege of saying few things
that want you to know. If-if you'd
just put the book down and let me
know that you're hearing. Best" he
pleaded.
The leaves OF the novel only turned
the faster.
I'm going on the O'Clock train" he
said tentatively. 1T seemed the only
thing to do to make II easier for-for
both OF us er-after-everything
But probably you heard that l am go
ing. was simply thinking that as
We'll presumably never see each other
again II wouldn't do any harm aud
would be so much more satisfactory II
you'd Just let me explain"
'Explain!" she flashed, unaware,
then bit her lip and turned another
page.
He smiled in spite of himself, though
her anger was far from being an
amusing thing to him
Yes, explain he continued, evident
ly encouraged. 1.-The FIRST thing
should want to do If knew had your
permission" Che paused for the re-
Spouse that was not vouchsafed). lis
to tell you that so far this has been
the happiest summer of my life and to
thank you for it. I've had such good
time, Bessi Tn working pretty hard,
you know, since they made me part
ner. and wasn't intending to take any
vacation. But when your aunt's note
came asking me for the house party l
was too deliriously glad to care rap
Tor the consequences. Because | knew
what 1t meant, you see-fhat you had
suggested 1t and wanted me to come"
She stirred uneasiIy pumped up
cushion behind her back. shipped an
ant from her skirt, then took up the
book again, not seeming TO notice that