Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-07-27
BENEATH THE MOON.

asked, and young Orme, of course, as
scented
There is way back from Westerly BY
the road, which winds uphill nearly all
the time, and brings you out upon the
heath creditably and complaeently; but
there is a short cut through the woods.
Miss Alister would never have suggested
the latter route if it had not been a
night of iull moon. But you see, the
way was shorter, and besides it was more
picturesque. Young Orme was not going
to object. Indeed, the occasion and the
scene fired his blood. The moon amid
the flying clouds made an appeal to him.
as it struck through the boles of the frs.
How did you think it went % inquired
Miss Alister, bringing him back to the
concert.
"Splendidly," he averred, with enthu-
siasm.
Well" she demurred, after pause, 81
thought Mrs. Niyen was hardly in voice."
'Beastly fiat he FASTENED to say. !.
Pr afraid my cold" began Miss
Alister.
You sang beautifully" he protested.
It's kind of you to say So" said she,
amiably. "Of course, l know my voice is
not so strong naturally as Mrs Niven's."
"Oh, but a trained voice goes so much
further" he declared.
Miss Alister said nothing for a mo-
ment, and then rather stifly, Pm sorry
you think my voice is not good''
"Oh, but | didn't say that, Miss Ais
ter" he protested. Its beautiful. It's
beautiful naturally, and it's trained beau
tifully."
Isn't the moonlight loveIy?" said Miss
Alistor sweetly.
The boy devoured the romantic setting
with eager eyes. He was very young.
and very innocent. He had much to learn
OF life-and woman.
"Awfully," he calculated ''What
ripping idea of yours to come this way?
Do you know, Pm awfully fond of moon
light"
"Are your" said Miss Alister, interest
ed. ''Why?"
1T reminds one of-oh, lots of things.
1t makes one feel-Oh, | don't know.
Somehow it can't explain"
1t was feeble, of course, but you and /
would have understood it. Apparently
Miss Alister did not
THAT isn't very lucid" she remarked,
lightly.
1t wasn't. He tried again, encouraged
by her tone.
'Well, you see, it seems so romantic"
''Does it," she asked coolly. why
should moonlight be more romantic than
sunlight 2"
All, why? The brutal question con-
fused poor young Orme, and he could
Il ink of no rational reason.
"It's--it's always associated with ro-
nance" he stammered
Indeed 2" Miss Alister's tone displayed
superior amusement. "Do you know, |
think there's a great deal of nonsense
talked about romance"
"0h, but surely"
He was interrupted firmly. "Boys, of
course, know no BETTER but they learn in
time. A woman is not what they foolish
y imagine her to be-always in want of
compliments and always anxious for ad.
miration. and to be taken care of Wom-
en- don't think of such things. They are
quite independent" She paused in the
enunciation of her cold philosophy to sur
vey the scene. isn't that pretty?"
"Of course" he FASTENED to say, 81
know women don't-don't want admira-
ton. They're too nice for that But
You see-men-can't help admiring
them"
This was nicely put, and Miss Alister
approved it. He was quite nice boy.
'l'n afraid they're very foolish she
remarked with liberation. "It's not
women who want this absurd romanti
cism."
She stood moment watching the sill
yer light, and then of a sudden the clouds
drove over the moon, and the path fell
into thick blackness.
1.-THE mistake men make" said Miss
Alister, firmly, sis in supposing that there
is any real difference" little "Oh!"
came out of the darkness as she collided
with huge rhododendron bush. Young
Arme sprang to her assistance. "Thank
you, there is no necessity" said she. cool
ly extricating herself. MY one opinion
is that in many respects women are real
ly the stronger SEX" she resumed equa.
bly,. For example Is-does the path
go that way?" she broke off to inquire
anxiously.
ITO the left" said Orme Come this
way. Let me have your arHs."
1T is not at all necessary" replied
Miss Alister, formally as she fell among
the brambles. 'Oh, please-thank you
Perhaps l might as we'll" Young
Orme's arm thrilled as her little gloved
hand rested on it. 81 suppose you see
better than l can in this light"
There was silence for a little time.
young Orme being fully content with the
situation, and feeling his difficult way to
a remark.
lawfully Jolly this" he ventured at
last.
81 fail to see it," said Miss AHster
tartly. conscious of something trailing on
her skirt. She stopped. "Would you
mind-there's briar or something"
Young OTme stamped it off energet-
ieally, apologizing furiously for the ineon-
venienee she had suffered. until Miss Ais
ter was confirmed in her hitherto dawn.
ing opinion that it was his fault Then
he came to pause.
The path divides here. Now. which
way do we go?' he asked himself
Miss Alisters Just annoyance vented it.
self in an impatient exclamation. Don't