The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-09-02
Meta, The Moon
Maid Carl. rn..s..a l....

Its obscure depths Harold Gresham Of
New York. He wore no shoulder straps,
but many OF h officers in the vicinity
Of Carlota, Negros island, were less
conspicuous figures than the tall, hand
some, blonde sergeant. An order had
ment to locate an active band OF In
surrectos in the mountain businesses.
Sergeant Gresham was detailed to ac-
company the expedition.
Harold sat on the silvery sand OF the
coral beach n waited for the tiny
crescent of the young moon to appear
over the cocoenut grove by the sea.
loved to surround herself with mys-
teries soft as her clinging robes of just
cloth.
AS the silver flame leaped into the
light sky a young girl stood at the
opening Of the woods. The next mo-
ment Harold held in his arms Meta,
the moor maid. He had given her this
name because h met him only at
moonrise, and usually carried in her
belt a curious bolo, the handle Of which
was mounted with a jeweled crescent.
A period Of dark nights had elapsed
since their last meeting. Meta told
him in soft, fluent Spanish that she
had been far away in the free noun
tains that no American could ever sub
tugate.
He smiled tdown into the magnificent
black eyes, the gift of Metals Spanish
mother. II shall &C into the heart of
those very mountains in the gray light
Of tomorrow's dawn"
A sudden pallor blighted the rose on
her olive cheeks. You, alone, Harold!
All, you will never come back!"
II shall not be alone" he assured her.
He wondered at her actions. She
| 0nrono frnpo him on6 haof har hraoof
~passionately as though moved by ter
rible excitement. When she returned
her was calm and determined
but there was q light on her face he
had never seen before. It was a re-
Election Of the flame of liberty burn
Ing hercely in the heart Of a Mestiza
maid, whose father was a Filipino and
the leader Of the troublesome %insurgent
band.
Her purpose, born Of intense patriot
ism, never wavered. As the pale moon
lost itself In the cerulean depths, she
whispered a farewell to Harold. With
her lips to his, she breathed her dis
appointment that the long stretch of
moonlight nights must pass without
her lovers greeting.
Every large town in the Philippines
has Its magnificent church, and Carlota
was no exception. Religious services
had continued until 1t was discovered
that the great bell vas peculiarly active
when expeditions started for the in
terror from the military post stationed
in the town. Such campaigning was
unsatisfactory, resulting in the siege
OF empty villages or the humiliation of
small detachments Of American sold
iers. The church was, therefore,
closed.
The men were preparing quietly for
their secret march on the morrow, when
the bell of the cathedral rang out a
clear boom, boom, bang!
1T Is a warning to the insurgents"
said Lieutenant Prue to q junior o.
Ger. Sergeant Gresham take a man
and search the church"
The tall young sergeant calmly made
preparations to go to almost certain
death. Corporal Jones volunteered for
duty. The two men took lanterns and
entered h darkness of the vast ca.
thedral.
When Sergeant Gresham had flashed
his lantern rou one Of the huge
pillars neal the door he stationed his
companion to guard the only exit. He
went alone over every corner Of the
church, confident that the place of
concealment would be one of the win
towers. When he commenced the as
cent Of the bamboo ladder leading to
the belfry he fancied he could hear his
heart beat in the stiffness. Life is too
precious to lose willingly when the
heart is young and the fire Of love is in
the veins. The ascent was one of very
great peril. The man who carried q
lantern made himself an illumed mark
for the wary foe, who, with one sweep
Of a heavy bolo, could cut OF the head
rising above the wooden platform.
The lantern was close to HaroId'h
pale face as it appeared above the floor
ing Of the belfry. What was that? In
vain his keen blue eyes tried to pene-
trate the intense darkness, but his
trained ear had caught a faint gasp.
He drew up his arm to fire, but a
draught from somewhere swept into
the circle OF light q Woman's skirt.
He held his aim and swiftly mounted
the ladder. Crouched in a far corner
was a small female figure with her face
hidden in ermbling white hands.
AS Harold approached Meta started
up and faced him. xiii me-" she said.
II would have betrayed you to the en-
envy. I made Francisco promise to
bring me your dead body that I might
be buried with it."
Poor satisfaction for me-" said Har-
old, grimly, as he looked into the fierce,
hot face Of the wild thing he had loved.
S you rang the bell"
II did. Even your precious life was
nothing compared to the liberty of my
peopAS. 10 save you 1 COulQ not let my
father and brother be taken unawares.
That little band is the light of liberty
in this poor, blood-stained land, and I
could not let 1t be extinguished. I had
determined to hold this post desperate
ly, but when the light fell on your
golden head I could not strike. So
love disarms a woman. Kill me, Har-
old. Do not let them take me. I could
not stand the torture Of the water cure.
I might confess and destroy my coun-
try"
Harold bent over her pityingly. He
had responded to his. country's call but
a few months before. Why should he
deny her right to owe her land? II
shall leave the church door unlocked"
he whispered.
Meta, the moon maid, met Harold no
more when the crescent hung over the
musical sea. The expedition was post
pored. The following night he went
to the trysting place and found the
jauyala1 hpIO m tho uhita can1 hatu,oa-