Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1908-12-18
ROCKVILLE MARYLAND FRIDAY MORNING. DECEMBER 49, 1905
Behman'S
Compromise.
~ 49, n m-y1~
BY az. r. Bryan.
Copyrighted. 1908. by Associated
Literary Press.

EOT u lHtA0 lAALO thO ~ AsNNNNeN
sign was hung In front Of the music
stand. and rs 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.
1t 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 a camp chair well
ahead of the deck lights, shaded to-
ward the bow that the port lights
might be 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
err 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 It's 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 hel
jealousy was entirely without founda
ton. 1t was her place to speak first
Probably she was In there, with othel
tourists, listening TO the band.
He was better off here In the cool o.
the summer evening. 1t was symbo
perhaps. He was far better off, afte
all, even If she had broken the engage
ment, and he had vowed that life wa
no longer worth the living.
Down on the lower deck boyisl
laugh rang out. Half dozen young
sters were crowded ipto the sharp bov
and were leaning over the rail watch
Ing the white fall of water on eithe
side of the PROV.
Their voices came to Behman vague
ly and indistinctly, and he smiled In
diligently as he caught the note
youth and love Of life He had fel
like boy himself only n week ago.
Now he was a man who would carr
through life the thought that VIC
mans jealousy and womans prid
had spoiled his career. Let the boy
have their laugh. Their awakenin
would come all too soon
Behman found II rather pleasant I
sit and dream Of the last few weeks
| lie was III lue SlhBb NhSiN "N'A NN'
miseration Is n balm to wounde
feelings, and he went over the Inc
dents that had resulted In the breakln
of the engagement by Nell Wheatol
assuring himself that his course ha
been blameless.
Surely II was Nel's place to speal
and as he started out into the nigt
Behman found pleasant occupation
wondering just how she would max
apology.
She was clearly In the wrong, an
1t would never do to bow to her befoi
marriage. lie would be henpecke
all his life, and Behman hated tn
sight Of henpecked man.
He would be rather stern mt frs
He might even make her plead a II
tie. but In the end he would be maj
unanimous and would forgive her G
her promise not to offend again.
For her own sake as well as his, II
the sake of their future happines
there must be no compromise. He he
limited as much to Bob Wheaton whe
the latter had offered his services I
peacemaker between his sister an
Behman.
SO engrossed was Behman with b
|, thoughts that he did not hear the ligl
football on the canvas covered dec
nor realize that his solitude had bee
= intruded upon until Nell Wheatt
@ stood beside the rail and looked o.
across the foam capped waves.
y She did not see him until she hi
taken her stand beside the rail, al
then she was too proud to beat I
treat. She stood quietly looking dov
upon the water. one hand clasping &
rail, the other clutchlng her hat.
On the lower deck the boys had pill
into chairs, and now one Of them W
playing on the mouth organ. He "
rather skillful and played with expr'
sion bits Of popular songs and snatch
from current musical productions. BE
man found this concert more music
than the efforts Of the poorly pa
band within doors.
Then the music changed from new
old, and the boy was playing some
the songs that Nell had softly sung
the weeks just gone as he had pa
died the canoe or had drlfted with I
current.
In the dark Of the night Benin
could see the river again. with Mel
sweet eyes looking into his throu
the soft moonlight.
He wondered II she, too, recalled
acana and n her cVeR were filled wi