Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1925-12-30
The Breath of
Scandal
By J. A. WALDRON
(CoDyright.)


woman in the social swim to an inti-
Fifth avenue.
"Yes," the other woman rejoined
There was but line about 1t in the
Social News, yet the Scarletts are
again with him.
Aren't they almost always with
him? They seem inevitable companions
on his yacht. They visit him In town
and at his place on Long Island?
What will come Of it all?"
What always comes, Of course.
Waitl How can Scarlet be so blind"
Blind! 1t isn't that. Welland Is
simply rolling In money. He added
millions to millions during the war.
Scarlet must know. l hear there Is
4 third person on The Witch for this
cruise-a Mrs. Ashton. Somebody said
the affair had become SO glaring that
something had to be done. Mrs. Ash
ton is called a chaperon. Oh, la-la"
But who is sheY'
"A widow from somewhere north. I
met her at the Wyntons' dinner. Why.
she Is only a girl. Chaperon, indeed
And she's neutrality-suspicious. enough
to make her way in other circum-
stances. Not exactly a fine position
for even a young widow, to my mind!
But is there anything money can't do
these daysY
And these delightful women Cos
siped on, sometimes in half-whispers.
On The Witch, as well as on his
private premises, Welland escaped i'm
mediate contact with the gossips and
those who retailed the gossips' wares,
as we'll as the mothers and daughters
to whose fortunes the mothers were
devoted. And Welland chose his own
company-an exercise Of taste that Is
always resented by the aspiring who
are ignored.
Hugh Scarlet was Welland's closest
friend. Both natives Of Nova Scotia,
they had been college mates and their
friendship had waxed with their years
But the gossips based their close asso-
citation upon other grounds. Mrs.
Scarlet was a very handsome woman.
Hc &OSolpS Adu CACStCO a IAAaA6AS e~AAU
beat upon 1t with their hammers mo-
notonously. If Welland and Scarlet
heard the sound they gave no sign
The few among the gossips who knew
that Scarlet was an executive OF one
Of Welland's enterprises tortured that
fact to At their pet situation.
But ON board The Witch Welland
and his guests were enjoying life. The
yacht was bound for Halifax, where 1t
was to find a winter harbor. At din
ner the second day out Welland turned
to Scarlet, who sat beside him, Mrs
Scarlet and Mrs. Ashton being oppo-
site, with:
"Well, Hugh, we seem to be in for
happy cruise, cool as the weather Is"
Eyes, and like the sport much bet
ter than in mild weather. It's rip
ping! Lord, how 1t blows"
Let 1t blow. The Witch is staunch.
1 shall be delighted to 60 about Hall
fax again and renew pleasing memo
ries. OF course you remember the first
summer 1 visited you there. going with
you from collegeT'
II remember all your visits. Of
course"
Lets see! We were about twenty
then-almost exactly of an age. And
we were both full Of the JOY Of life
you particularly
II know I was!"
"Why not? Even then you were
counting the lady over there, young as
you both were!" His eyes caught
Mrs. Scarlett's with a twinkle. "And
you mOnOpolized more Of the time than
one college boy entertaining another
should. You left me to my own de-
vices!"
GUILTY." Scarlet threw a kiss at
his wife.
while was alone I had but one
wish"
What wish was thatT
THAT l had sweetheart Of your
sweetheart's age and as handsome as
Mrs. Scarlet was-and still Isl"
isn't this becoming little per-
sonalT' Mrs. Scarlet asked, with a
smile In which there was no implica-
ton Of rebuke.
IT'S perfectly honest" continued
WellaHd. But l foil In love just the
same. There was a girl about-then
not much more than q child-thirteen,
l think she was-a little dark beauty,
with curls hanging down her back. She
was my fate, but 1t has been my Sc
cret until tonight.
rs that why you have remained 4
bachelorr' asked Scarlet.
THAT Ia why haven't married My
memory Of that girl has always re-
manned my most vivid association with
woman. You know l went to South
America-tO Argentina"
"And none of the beauties there can
celed the memoryr' interrupted Mrs.
Scarlet.
mot q beauty! l was away several
years. And finally heard the charm