Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-12-01
Behman's
Compromise.
n, Se&s n n-yoo
By ~. r. Bryan.
Copyrighted. 1908. by Associated
Literary Press.

For a third time the by Request"
sign was hung in front Of the music
stand, and as Arthur Behman came
slowly down the stairs from the res
taurant ON the upper deck the strains
Of "The Merry Widow" waltz filed the
social hall. Behman fed.
It was not SO bad on the forward
deck, where the scraping Of catgut was
replaced by the music Of the waves.
Now and then the deep toned whistle
sounded above the noise Of the water,
but smart breeze from dead ahead
carried aft the sound Of the man made
music
1t was cool, almost cold, on the for
ward deck, and considerations Of COM
fort as well as culture held the people
inside the cabin. Behman was glad
that 1t was SO.
He had the deck to himself, so he lit
cigar and took camp chair well
ahead of the deck lights. shaded to-
ward the bow that the port lights
might he more easily seen by other
boats.
There was no moon. but the stars
shone brightly in the cloudless sky. and
the Milky way. like some phantom
banner. streamed across the blue ex-
panse. Beyond the dark waters dark.
er tone told Of the land. and here and
there the lights Of the beacons winked
solemnly into the night
There was the smell Of salt In the air,
the tang Of the sea that Behman loved.
and for the first time In weeks he al.
most knew content.
1t was worth while, this communion
Of the night and the sea, and Behman
was grateful to the musicians who had
driven him from the cabin. with its
satin upholstered chairs and its gaping
occupants.
Somewhere inside sat Nell Wheaton.
He had seen her In the dining saloon.
and he had taken seat close to the
stairs-and the music-that he might
be as far from her as possible.
He had no mind to let her think that
he would seek to attract her attention.
He knew that she had learned that her
jealousy was entirely without founda-
ton. 1t was her place to speak first.
Probably she was In there. with other
tourists, listening to the band.
He was better Off here In the cool OF
the summer evening. 1t was symbol
perhaps. he was far better of. after
all, even If she had broken the engage
ment, and he had vowed that life was
no longer worth the living.
Down on the lower deck q boyish
laugh rang out Half dozen young
sters were crowded into the sharp bow
and were leaning over the rail watch
ing the white fall of water on either
side Of the PROV.
Their voices came to Behman vague
ly and indistinctly, and he smiled In
diligently as he caught the note OF
youth and love Of life. He had felt
like boy himself only week ago.
Now he was a man who would carry
through life the thought that wo-
mans jealousy and wOman's pride
had spoiled his career. Let the boys
have their laugh. Their awakening
would come all too soon.
Behman found 1t rather pleasant to
sit and dream Of the last few weeks.
He was at the stage where self com.
miseration is balm to wounded
feelings, and he went over the Incl.
dents that had resulted In the breaking
Of the engagement by Nell Wheaton,
assuring himself that his course had
been blameless.
Surely 1t was Nell's place to speak,
and as be started out into the night
Behman found pleasant occupation in
wondering just how she would make
apology.
She was clearly in the wrong, and
1t would never do to bow to her before
marriage. He would be henpecked
all his life. and Behman hated the
sight Of henpecked man.
He would be rather stern at first.
he might even make her plead lit
tie. but in the end he would be mag
unanimous and would forgive her on
her promise not to offend again.
For her own sake as well as his, for
the sake of their future happiness,
here must be no compromise. He had
hinted as much to Bob Wheaton when
the latter had offered his services as
peacemaker between bis sister and
Behman.
So engrossed was Behman with his
thoughts that he did not hear the light
nor realize that his solitude had been
intruded upon until Nell Wheaton
stood beside the rail and looked out
across the foum capped waves.
She did not see him until she had
taken her stand beside the rail, and
then she was too proud to beat re-
treat. She stood quietly looking down
upon the water. one hand clasping the
rail. the other clutching her hat.
On the lower deck the boys had piled
into chairs. and now one Of them was
playing OH the mouth organ. He was
rather skillful and played with express
sion bits Of popular songs and snatches
from current musical productions. Beh-
man found this concert more musical
than the efforts Of the poorly paid
band within doors.
Thon tba music chuuypd from new to
old. and the boy was playing some Of
the songs that Nell had softly sung In
,he weeks just gone as he had pad
died the canoe or had drifted with the
current.
In the dark of the night Behman
could see the river again. with Nells
sweet eyes looking into his through
the soft moonlight.
He wondered II she. too, recalled the
scene and II her eyes were filled with
tears now. His own were moist as he
listened. and when the boy struck up
the song that had been their favorite
his teeth met together through his ci-
gar, and he tossed it over the rail.
This was simple little southern air.
half mournful. wholly musical, and she
had always sung 1t as they had come
In sight Of the landing.
1t had been their good night song.
and as they had trudged up from the
boat stage to the hotel she had always
hummed it softly to herself. He won
81 h,,,, ,ly,o 4 Cha