Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-03-29
Ladu Moon
By a. n. DAVIES OGDEN
ropBr,git. Isu5, b2 Ruby Douglas
By A. n. DAVIES OGDEN

Immanageablc. Within the ripple of
soft laughter and waving of many fans
the glitter and glow of diamonds be
spoke the fact that Lady Cheynemore
had thrown open Little harrington
House for the celebrated tableauX of
which all London had been talking for
the week past.
The greatest beauties of the season
were TO pose, we'll known artists had
consented 10 arrange and drape their
lovely models, and every body" was
there.
Near the door, little ont Of the
| crush, Nigel Anstruther stood and
looked about him with the eyes Of
the man TO whom London sights have
been strange for the last six years.
He was Il little amused and a little
| bored Society functions were not
much IN his line Just back from In
dia on leave, he had run up to town to
see one or two old friends, and Homo
ria nerwentwater, having no spare
moment to grant him from her other
guests, had suggested his coming on to
Lady Cheyuemore's
Ii was rather nuisance, but he
wanted to get back 10 the country next
morning if possible And after all,
tie color, the lights, the pretty women,
We're not 50 bad Presently he must
lind liUnpTia s.nd ask the question that
this afternoons crowd had rendered
impossible 10 put. 1t was expected Of
him. he supposed. His people had al
ways hoped for it, And then all at
once, by II sudden freak of the imag
inatiOn, as he glanced about for the
fair English face there rose before him
the laughing, miscLievous eyes Of the
little American girl who had teased,
bewildered and thoroughly enchanted
him during those few brief weeks in
Simla Where was she nowI
Involuntarily his thoughts wandered
back to the day when he had seen her
first. dainty and sweet in fluffy white, /
sitting under a marquee at the vice
roys reception. She seemed such lit
tie thing that he started in surprise
when she complained of being unable
to secure q really good riding horse. .
The hands she held out for inspection
were absurdly small. Still doubtful, he |
had yet managed to get for her the
best woman's mount To be had In Sim
la. But the first minute she was up his I
misgivings vanished. She certainly /
could ride.
After that every day they were out ,
together exploring the hills, trotting /.
gayly over the smooth, hard roads, |.
Mrs Wharton. only too glad that Ethel /
had found some one to go with her, {
consenting willingly. And every day |
Anstruther's admiration deepened. II |
there was one thing he approved most |
II was good seat.
The girls father was dead, and she |
and her mother Il frail but indomlta- /
BILE spirited woman. were leisurely see 7
ing the world. After sitting in BON I
bay, they had run up to Simla for the /
breezes and fingered on, pleased with /
the queer little town and the Anglo ,
Indian life 1t was quite gay at that /
season. Simla was full, and every day !
there were dinners, luncheons teas and |
picnics
Would Anstruther ever forget the |
moonlight picnic he gave? The night
had been glorious. U.der the soft glow
OF an Indian moon the hills lay mistily |
radiant, every leaf on the deodars [
seeming to stand out with vivid life. |
Ethel Wharton and Anstruther with
several others had gone on horseback,
the rest OF the party in rickshaws with
coolies 10 carry the provisions. The pic
mic had been a great success. And then |
came the ride home. BY mutual
though unspoken impulse Anstruther
and Ethel had dropped back Of the
others. Both We're conscious OF u GER
tain exaltation OF mood, vague ex
element due to the influence OF the
moon-perhaps. Gradually their talk,
at first animated and quick, slackened |
TO monosyllables and at last died
away
For several moments they rode on IN
silence; then, as II oppressed by the
stiffness, the girl began to sing. To i
music Of her own she had set some
words by George Macdonald: Lady
Moon, Lady Moon, where are you row
ingi Over the sea. Lady Moon, Lady
Moon, whom are you loving? All who
love me" /
Anstruther, listening, was aware OF
sudden pang. Was she going over the
sea? Would she be going home?
Lady Moon" he began unsteadily.
"Ah. that is you-so white. 80 fair, 80
perfect And you, too, Will pass from
u.s. What shall we do without your
lightf"
The girl glanced at him quickly.
Lady Moon, Lady Moon, whom are
you loving?" she hummed. Anstruther,
his heart suddenly beating fast. leaned
forward
do you mean thatT' he demanded
tensely. do you love those who love
you? For you know that !, Ethel
as something IN the girls face made
his pulses leap. But, the great crimson
waves flooding up over brow and
cheek. she touched her horse smartly.
Come" she said breathlessly, "I'll /
race you home
Anst2lther went back that night to
his quarters. n glad exultation tingling
through every vein She cared, he was
sure she cared
And then the sight OF long, official |
looking envelope on his table for mo-
ment drove every other thought from
his mind His orders were 10 report |
at once There had been sharp up
rising I'm the hills He must take his
reg i.eHt our without delay. nor could |
he tell how long his absence might be.
With b-rely time to liing few neces-
sarles into his kit bag and scratch
hasty note to Miss Wharton he was off /
Three weeks later returning, tired, |
bronzed and eager. the first thing TO |
meet his eyes was the note still lying |
where the forgetfuI boy had left it, |
And Miss Wharton and her mother !
were gone Ten days ago they had |
left he WAS told There WAS no clew |