Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-03-13
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BY MOONLIGHT.

that would Rave caused the hearts of tho
Montagues to swell with pride, md those
OF the Capulots to burst with envy.
"How stunning Smith looks!" heard
more than once whispered as ! roancd up
and down in search of Pattio. But Patio
wasn't there, or, if she was, her disguise
was too complete to be penetrated. AS I
walked a~nxiously about my attention was
attracted by the most piqunnt of shepherd
esses, whose movements betrayed n per
plexity equal to my own. AS she passed
her steps faltered.
Pardon me, sir. I foel faint" she
@-murmured, resting her hand upon my
arm, as If for monentary support.
"Allow me to conduct you to the open
air, 1 answered. 1T is quito sufTocating
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 vivacious and
witty. But when she came to talk of tho
moonlight and flowers and poetry l found
that in the field of sentiment she could
beat Pattie two to one. In fact, I couldn't
help thinking how tame pattic's rhnp-
sodies, over which 1 had been won't to go
into such ecstasics, would sound in com
parison with the transccndont outbursts
of the little shcphcrdcss.
In a retired nook, almost hidden by the
s~hrubbery, we found a rustic scat, OF
which we took possession, feeling, or fcign-
ing to feel, WEAKNESS after our walk.
The moon shone out IN uncloudod maj
esty, and beneath her radiance the flow
ers and blossoms which surrounded us,
gemmed with dowdrops, bloomcd with a
brightness which the more ambitious god
of day might we'll awe given half his
glory to witness.
And how tho little shcphcrdess I'm
proved the occasion! " Luna, female as
she is, had stopped In her course to listen
to the enchanting ~flattcry lavished upon
her, I'm sure 1t could lave hardly been nc
counted Il miracle.
Pray remove your mask" I vcnturcd
to say at last-frst laying aside my own.
II must look upon the face that mirrors
thought SO divine"
II fear you will be disappointed" she
replied Still, l have nothing to dis
guise, and If you will dispol the illusion
under which you labor the punishment be
your own"
Thu features sho exposed were of sur
passing lovelincss. Just dark enough to
sntitle her to be called n brunette, her com
plexion had that pcarly transparency of
which tho purest Of blends can rarely
boast. Hor eyes spnrklcd like diamonds,
and yet were soft as n gazcllc's. Tho con-
tour of her head md fnco was faultloss.
1 fairly lost my reason. So the reader
will think when I relate that without
further ceremony I threw myself on nv
knees to the no small dctrilncnt of Romco's
hnest hose, and, producing the ring l had
purchased for Pattic, l incontincntly placed
1t on the shephcrdess' engagement finger.
! entrcated her to wear 1t for the sake of
one thenccforward doomed to be her slave,
and who sought no other boon than that
OF dying of ~unroquited love. ... .
Heaven knows to what pitch of absurd
lily l should have gone had not the little
shcpherdess, who seemed not unmOvcd by
my appoal-indeed sho turned aside her
head and fairly shook with some sort OF
enotion-intcrruptcd me with the cxctn-
nation:
.HStay-thero is one of my friends"
srraH&to u feet, but not before I had
imprinted one kiss upon hcrlips and clasp
ed her for one brief to my-throb-
bling breast.
AS I turned, I stood confronted by q
herco looking brigand, who, too, was in a
tremor OF emotion. I laid my hand upon
my sword. Perhaps he was q rival. AS
the thought flashed upon mo I felt
aroused within me all the rancor OF tho
ancient house of Montague, and had tho
stranger SO much aa "bittcn his thumb'
at me I hould probably have run him
through for u Capulet. AS it was, 1 tore
myself from the scene and huStened to my
lodgings.
A nights sleep measurnbly restored my
senses. When "a man has made "a fool of
himself overnight, it's wonderful how
clearly he sees it on waking up In the
morning. My costly ring was gone. The
shepherdess was gone. And what, after
all, had she ever been to me? A tlectiny
vision that had crossed my path-a mere
adventures perhaps. Wore puttic Brown
and her substantial fortune to be sacrificed
for such u phantom? Not by n man In his
sober senses.
Liko an awakened prodignl, l resolved
to arise and go unto Pattic and have it out
with her at once.
! found her alone and had just begun to
repeat for her ediflcation some of the COM
pliments inspired by the charms of the lit.
tie shepherdcss tho night before whom my
eye fell on al object that struck mo dumb.
1t was the Identical ring I had given the
shepherdess on Pattie's 1lngerl
Were you ut the ball last night?'' in
qu1rcd Patio, seemingly seeking to relieve
my embarrassment.
u was" I stammcrcd guilty.
S was Cousin Charley" said Pattie,
with a roguish twinkle in her eye.
cousin Charley" 1 repeated. II
haven't the honor to know him"
NO" replied pattie. "He only came
yesterday to pay us a short visit. You
can't imagine how handsome he isl'
81 dare say not" l answered dryly.
LAS pretty as a girll' exclaimed Patio,
with feeling. "He went to the bali last
night as q shepherdess, she continued.
The d-dcuce he did" I interrupted.
"9es"-and Pattie's eye twinklcd still
nore-'and one silly fellow, trickcd out as
Romeo. actually made love to him Il
Rugged and kissed him Into the bargainl'
I staid to hear no more 1t was, then,
HCousin Charley" whom I had embraced
and kissed and made myself u fool over, to
4 say nothing of ~bestowing my ring upon
him! And l have a suspicion to this day
7 that the III looking brignnd was no other
than Pattie Brown herself.
1have only to add that Pattie and Cousin
fshArlav Ipara p,rpta ip l.,s ill., -