Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-02-24
BY MOONLIGHT.

l determined to bring things to crisis
with Pattie Brown at the forthcoming
masquerade. purchased a handsome ring
and got myself up as Romeo in style
that would have caused the hearts of the
Montagues to swell with pride, and those
Of the Capulets to burst with envy
How stunning Smith looks!" I heard
more than once whispered az fo6med up
and down in search of Pattie But Pattie
wasn't there. or, If she was, her disguise
was too complete to be penetrated. As I
walked anxiously about my attention was
attracted by the most piquant of shepherd
esses, whose movements betrayed per-
plexity equal to my own. AS she passed
her steps faltered.
Pardon me, sir. I feel faint" she
murmured, resting her hand upon my
arm, as if for momentary support.
Allow me to conduct you to the open
air, % answered st is quite suffocating
here"
She thanked me gracefully and assented,
explaining that she was stranger and
had become separated from her friends
The cool air revived her, and after a
short walk through the grounds her
strength and spirits seemed entirely re-
stored
Her conversation was viyacious and
witty. But when she came to talk of the
moonlight and flowers and poetry found
that in the field of sentiment she could
beat Pattie two to one. In fact, couldn I
help thinking how tame Pattie's rhap-
sodies, over which had been wont to go
into such ecstasies, would sound in com.
parison with the transcendent outbursts
of the little shepherdess.
In a retired nook, almost hidden by the
sbrubbery, we found a rustic seat, OF
which we took possession, feeling, or feign-
ing to feel, WEAKNESS after our walk.
The moon shone out in unclouded mai
esty, and beneath her radiance the flow
ers and blossoms which surrounded US,
gemmed with dewdrops, bloomed with a
brightness which the more ambitious god
of day might we'll have given half his
glory to witness
And how the little shepherdess i'm
proved the occasion! II Luna, female as
she is, had stopped in her course to listen
to the enchanting fattery lavished upon
her, I'm sure it could have hardly been &C.
counted a miracle
Pray remove your mask, ventured
to say at last-frst laying aside my own.
~ must look upon the face that mirrors
thought SO divine
II fear you will be disappointed, she
replied. 'Still, have nothing to dis
guise, and if you will dispel the illusion
under which you labor the punishment be
your own.
The features she exposed were Of sur.
passing loveliness Just dark enough tc
entitle her to be called brunette, her COM
plexion had that pearly transparency Of
which the purest of blends can rarely
boast. Her eyes sparkled like diamonds,
and yet were soft as gazelle's. The con-
tour of her head and face was faultless.
fairly lost my reason. So the reader
will think when relate that without
further ceremony threw myself on my
knees to the no small detriment Of Romeo's
finest hose, and, producing the ring had
purchased for Pattie, I incontinently placed
it on the shepherdess' engagement finger.
entreated her to wear it for the sake Of
one thenceforward doomed to be her slave,
and who sought no other boon than that
of dying OF unrequited love.
Heaven knows to what pitch of absurd.
ity should have gone had not the little
shepherdess, who seemed not unmoved by
my appeal-indeed she turned aside hel
head and fairly shook with some sort Of
emotion interrupted me with the excla
nation:
"Stay-there is one of my friends
sprang to my feet, but not before had
imprinted one kiss upon her lips and clasp.
ed her for one brief moment to my throb.
bling breast.
As l turned I stood confronted by q
fierce looking brigand, who, too, was in q
tremor of emotion. laid my hand upon
my sword. Perhaps he was rival Al
the Thought flashed upon me I fell
aroused within mo all the rancor of thu
ancient house of Montague, and had the
stranger SO much as "bitten his thumb
at me should probably have run hin
through for Capulet. As it was, tore
myself from the scene and FASTENED to my
lodgings.
A nights sleep measurably restored my
senses. When a man has made fool o.
himself overnight, it's wonderful how
clearly he sees 1t on waking up in thu
morning. Ny costly ring was gone. Tit
shepherdess was gone. And what, aftel
all, had she ever been to me2 A feetine
vision that had crossed my path-a mere
adventures perhaps. We're Pattie Brown
and her substantial fortune to be sacrificed
for such phantomp Not by a man in hi.
sober senses.
Like an awakened prodigal, resolved
to arise and go unto Pattie and have it out
with her at once.
found her alone and had just begun tt
repeat for her editication some Of the com
pliments inspired by the charms of the lit
tie shepherdess the night before when my
eye fell on an object that struck me dumb
1t was the identical ring had given TIT
shepherdess on Pattie's flnger
"Were you at the ball last night?" in
CURED Pattie, seemingly seeking to relieve
my embarrassment.
I'll was, stammered guiltily.
SO was Cousin Charley" said Pattie
with u roguish twinkle in her eye
Cousin Charley?" repeated. g.
haven't the honor to know him."
"No," replied Pattie "He only CAM
yesterday to pay us a short visit. 70,
CAM imagine how handsome he is!''
NJ dare say not" answered dryly.
AS pretty as grill" exclaimed Pattie
with feeling! He went to the ball las
night as shepherdess, she continued.
The d-deuce he did!' interrupted
"Yes'-and Pattie's eye twinkled still
more-''and one silly fellow, tricked out a
Romeo, actually made love to him ant
l., /, ~ =,