Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1909-07-08
Bef,rnan's
Compromise.
BY EO. r. Bryan.
BY w. r. Bryan.
copyrighted 1905 by Associated
l.!terary Press.


Sign was hung in front of the music
stand aud as Arthur lehman came
slowly down the stairs from the res
taurant on tie upper deck the strains
Of The Merry Widow" waltz filled the
social bah. nchman fled
1t was no. 30 bad on the forward
deck. where the scraping Of catgut was
replaced by the Music Of the waves
Now ana then the deep toned whistle
sounded above the noise Of the water
but a smart breeze from dead ahead
carrlel aft the sound OF the man made
music.
1t was cool. almost cold, on the for
ward deck, and considerations of com
fort rs we'll as culturc held the people
inside the cabin Be,nnan VAS glad
that # was SO
He had the deck to himself, SO he lit
cigar and took camp chair we'll
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.
er tone told Of the land. ana here AMI
there the lights Of the teacons winkel
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 Behinall
was grateful to the musicians who had
driven him from the cabin. with It's
satin upholstered chairs and its gaping
occupants
Somewhere inside sat Nell Wheaton
He had seen her In the dining saloon,
and he had taken a 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
flt NbNlfi NNftN ~ Nitt flAA Itl dlttlilIiii
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 Il symbol
perhaps He was far better off, after
all, even If she had broken the engage
ment, and ne had vowed that life was
no longer worth the living
Down on the lower deck boyish
laugh rang out half Il dozen young
sters were crowded into The SHARP bow
and We're leaning over the rail watch
Ing the white fail of water Oh either
side of the PROV
Their voices came to Behmau vague
ly and indistiuctly aud he smiled in
diligently us he caught the note of
youth ana love of life He had felt
like boy himself only week ago.
Now he was man who would carry
through life the thought that wo-
mans jealousy aud 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 II was NeIs place to speak,
ana as he 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 doto bow 70 her before
marriage lie would be henpccNed
all his life ANA Bchmau hated the
sight of II h22pcckrl man
He would be rather stern az first
He might even make her plead a lit
tie, bu, In the end he would be mag.
unanimous 0ud would forgive her ON
her promise not to Offend again
For her own sake as we'll as his. Tor
the sake Of their futur, happiness
there must be no compromise. lie had
limited rs much TO Bob Wheaton when
the latter had offered his services lis
peacemaker between his sister aud
BehmJn.
SO engrossed was Behman with his
thoughts that no did not hear the light
football ON The canvas covered dcrE
nor realize that his solitude had been
iutruded upon until Nell Wheaton
stood beside the rail- and locked OUT
across tl.c Foam capped waves.
She ala uul sec him until she had
taken hnr ,arJ beside the ratl ana
then she Naa 600 proud IL beat Il ne.
treat She stood quietly looking down
upon the water oAe hand claspng the
rail, The other clulchius her hat
On the lower deck thr boys had pi.ed
Into chairs, and uaw ONE If them WAS
playing ON the mouth organ lie was
rather skil'tui ami played with express
sion bits 81 popular songs and suatches
from current musical pruaactiaas Beh-
man fouHd Ills concert more musical
than The efforts Of the poorly paid
band Within doors.
Then the music changed from new 10
old, ana the boy was PLAYING some ~