River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-09-24
My Lady
Moonlight
BY MABEL A. RUNDELL
Copyright, 1908. by Daily Story Pub. Co.,
oh, NO, Dr. Hudson, | beg you nc
1 IN saw 1T Won must mott"

NH, NO, DR.. Hudson, | beg you not
to say 1T! You must mott"
Miss Cartwright, in her SuperinteI-
dents white uniform, stood facing the
doctor in the great bare office Of the
Emergency hospital. Her hand trem-
bled as she rested it on the desk at
her side, but the man saw no signs OF
agitation. He was conscious only that
this slender woman was looking UNI
falteringly into his eyes and that by
the tone OF her voice she was filling
him with the numbness of despair.
Was it sheer force of will, or was it
utter lack of emotion that kept the
face which confronted him so calm?
1t was almost a girlish face, with its
delicate pallor and full red lips. The
eyes were dark and soft as a child's.
The marvellous white hair, that swept
shining back from her forehead, must
be what set her so apart from other
women, that and the clear resonance
of her voice. He remembered the
sound of a chapel bell that had once
come floating down to him from
Swiss mountain height. Yes, it was
like that. 1t echoed from the unmelt-
ing SHOWS.
DR.. Hudson knew that his own face
kept it's professional mask, though he
breathed like man who has been run
ming. A white-capped nurse glanced
In at the door and slipped away before
he spoke again.
"It is quite useless to ask me to be
silent now. When a man has lived to
be 40 he doesn't give up easily the first
woman he has ever loved. 1t is three
years since / first saw you, coming
down the corridor toward me, your
hair like an aureole around your head,
three years that have loved you and
have been silent"
Miss Cartwright's lips opened. "But
/ have not
"No, you have not. I have had no
reason to think you could care for me.
You have always been thoroughly pro-
fessional," and he smiled cit is just
that The strain of this life is kill
ing you. | know so we'll what it is. /
wanted to take you out of il"
He turned away from her to the
window, where a dreary March rain
beat against the glass. A little brown
bird, with drenched wings, fluttered up
on the ledge and, finding no shelter
from the storm, flew off against the
wind.
DR.. Hudson went on bitterly: "It is
fitting name they have given you
Moonlight, Lady Moonlight" 1t is
what you are; cold and pale and beau
tiful-to drive men mad"
The woman drew in her breath
sharply 81 have told you that this
hurts me, hurts me deeply You have
been my good friend, but now-you
are cruel!"
Forgive me! | do not mean to BEL"
He crossed to her quickly, putting his
firm, warm hand over her cold one
that rested on the desk, and looked
straight into her eyes. will you tell
me that you do not love me?"
The red left her lips, but she faced
him dauntlessly. Il have told you
that l cannot marry you"
THAT is not my answer If the time
ever comes when you can love me,
when you do love me, will you come
to me and tell me?"
She spoke hurriedly for the first
time. you have no right-how should
/ know that you-?"
You will know, and you will tell me.
Promise!"
They looked at each other a long
moment, his strength against hers,
then her eyes fell.
"Yes!" she said it breathlessly, Yes,
| will"
He turned and left her without look
Ing back.
Two months later the hospital at
tendants brought stretcher through
the great doors and down the hall.
Upon it lay the huddled and apparent
Nv lifeless form of a man, with ban
daged head. Miss Cartwright, cross
ing the corridor. caught sight of the
patients death-white face, and her
own grew whittier still.
mo, not the public ward; bring him
in here!" and she threw open the door
of private room.
The men looked their amazement at
her strange tone and the unusual COM
mand.
Miss Morse''-to a nurse who had
entered-"send DR.. Hudson to me at
once. He is making the rounds. You
need not come back"
The men followed the nurse from
the room and closed the door When
DR.. Hudson opened 1t few moments
later Miss Cartwright turned toward
him a face whose wild appeal startled
him into an exclamation.
"Helen!"
Her fingers were on the mans
pulse. HE is alivei he is! But 1t
can't be long. know 1t can't. We
must rouse him. He must be con-
scious. Quick! Every moment means
so much. You don't know"
DR.. Hudson was working and she was
helping him, steadily and capably, even
while she was speaking in that high,
tense voice.
AT last the mans heavy eyelids iut-