Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1907-03-06
WON AT BRIDGE
WHIST


anu b.1tAlt%l ur Itl tn ~ 'lNthIFt4r " NAAAttaN
Something else burst forth az The same
time-the sunshine. for me. OF face
She came ON deck for the first time.
and her dlrnified father put her In
steamer chair. arranged her wraps and
sat down beside her like a shepherd
dog beside a lamb. Perhaps be saw
me looking at her. Al any rate. that's
what was doing. for couldn't keep
my eyes OF her. Such refined dignity.
such rcpcse. such gentleness, II must
have all come down from generations
OF gentiIity.
Why had the weather kept her he.
low till the voyage was nearly finish
ell? | must make the most Of TIRE brief
period left 20 secure an acquaintance.
Alas. the sun went down in clouds. and
SO did my hopes, She did not appear
on deck again. did not even see her
leave the ship.
Winter came and the usual round of
cayetles. An invitation-bridge whist
at Mrs. Peabody's-came. among 9th
crs. for me. and resolved TO accept.
on entering the card room the first
face set eyes on was the steamer
girl. | was surprised and. though de
lighted at my luck In meeting her
again. panied TO see her In the com
pany. Mrs. Peabody is ultra fashion
able. and the people she entertalns are
very ''smart"--that is. the women
gamble. If you ask why ] go with
such people, reply am a man and
can go anywhere without soillng the
feathers OF MY angelic masculine
wings. but had wife she should not
go TO Mrs. Peabody's.
at once sought an Introduction ta
the steamer girl. Miss Delaplain. and
soon saw that she was out OF her ele
ment When cocktail was handed
her she started and declined IT,
caught Mrs. Peabody frowning at her
as she did so with an expression which.
being interpreted. meant. You don't
get invited here again" Several young
hoods had been chatting with Miss
Delaplain when | was introduced TO
her. and they must have been putting
on their up TO date society manners.
for she looked ruffied. and when l adj
dressed her deferentially she figurative-
" nestled to me as one would cling TO
lifeboat.
Miss Delaplain and l were Mt first
partners l saw at once that she knew
very little about the game. and soon
suspected she didn't know she WAS
playing for money. When we changel
partners her new vis-a-vis soon mldr
her aware of her temerity in playing
I a game she did not understand. ~
every misplay he would scowi At her
and did not scruple to indicate that b.
was wroth. lf
After the evenings amusement was
about to take my departure when
met Miss Delaplain wearing a counte-
nance that told Of trouble.
What shall dof" she said. Il
have been told that my loss at bridge
whist is sos. had no idea | was
playing for money"
And my gain is exactly the same
amount Though knew that we were
playing for stakes, do not feel at lib
erty to accept my winnings"
"Why so?"
You for one did not know that you
were risking anything. The money
you lost may have gone to me. You
are in an unpleasant position. So am
| l. There is way out for both. Let
me turn in my winnings TO cover your
loss"
There was no trouble in persuadlng
her to accept the terms, at least tenn
porarily, for she had no money with
her, and she told me she would need to
break the matter to her father, who
would be greatly shocked at hearing
| that she had been gambling. l babe
her good night after asking permission
to call and. going to the hostess, paid
| her loss.
Two days later upon opening my
morning mail l found note from
Mrs. Peabody inclosing a note and a
check for Sos from Mr.. Delaplain in
payment of his daughters loss at
bridge whist. Mrs. Peabody called my
attention to the fact that the amount
was So more than the loss. supposed
ILLS " Dc al cIIOi uulli, IcAcITluS 10
Mr.. Delaplain's note, l saw in post
script on the second page. THE So is
to cover the supper
What should l do with this amount:
1t did not belong to me and was in
tended as a snub for Mrs. Peabody.
Should return it to her, calling her at
tention to the snub? Such crime
would preclude the possibility of my
attending any more entertainments at
her house. l thought the matter over
and concluded to accept the conse-
| Quences. ! inclosed check for the
surplus amount with Mr.. Delaplain's
note. understanding the postscript with
blue pencil
A week later l met Mrs. Peabody
face to face on the steps Of ST. James
church. She gave me the dead cut.
Ny decision was more than one relat
ing to Mrs. Peabody. 1t included the
smart Sot of which Nfrc boo odx xxoc