The Topeka state journal., 1911-08-31
THE EVENING STORY
Moon-Blindness.


| 1inging length of ribbon about Ray
ner's arm. mo doubt you want to go
inside and talk to Patty. Content
yourself, sir, with mel Even me! Pat
ty is a luxury. She wouldn't be at all
good to you. Nor for your career. And
I have but just got her and young
Atherley we'll settled for the evening.
If he stays until IL, 1 shall know he
How shall you know it?" Rayner
interrupted. smiling, yet not quite
easily.
Mrs. Velvin laughed softly. Patty
is q wise virgin" she said. ''She never
sacrifices her beauty sleep for trifiers.
o, mol" as she caught Rayner's look
| of ANNOYANCE. 'She won't accept
him-not on three days acquaintance
she will merely take him under con-
sidcration. Trust my child for that!
have brought her up even more
beautifully than if she were my very
own
HIN! Are you six or two years her
elder?" Rayner demanded.
Again Mrs. Velvin laughed. LAS
though it mattered-the least bit"
she said by Bible count 1 am four
years ahead of my husbands dear
daughter. Spiritually I'm four centu-
ries-but for me the child would have
grown absurdly sentim entail"
Then wish she had had another
stepmother." Raynor broke out. "Still
| Il refuse to believe even you, much
as she loves you, can make her mer-
cenary, cold and calculating When
she marries it viii be man. not his
money
why not say a man and his
money!" Mrs. Nelvin asked archly.
you can't deny, Jealous as you are,
that Atherley is a good sort.
But not good enough for Patty
she-she deserves the very best" Ray
ner began eagerly.
Meaning yourself?" Mrs. Velvin
|
Then she got up and half dragged
Rayner out into a moonlit garden,
rose-scented. vital with the spice
breath of pinks.
Listen to the words of wisdom" ="
she began. I'm your friend in this
even more than Patty's. You are
frightfully ambitious-you have so
much in you it is no wonder Remem-
Der Kipling, He travels fastest who
travels alone With Patty you'd be
too happy-you'ds let go everything
but money-ma for nothing
but to keep her in cottonwood and
give her jewels and rings and all the
fine things. Take my word for It,
the spur of unhappiness."
''Stop mockingi" Rayner said, hotly.
She went on as if he had not spoken
LAS Patty's husband, you'd have five
years of absolute bliss. Then-you'd
remember-and regret. You'd see the
men you know are your interiors going
ahead, each in his way-and you
standing still. You'd be sour and dis
contented. And that would make my
girl miserable. So let her be. 1 won't
have her miserable. She was made to
be fed on the roses and laid in the
lilies of life -
Il don't believe it. Anyway I shall
ask her" Rayner said more hotly than
before. He stepped past Mrs. Velvin
and onto the piazza they had quilted.
It gave through long French windows
upon the dim-lit parlor, where Ather-
ley sat basking in Patty's presence.
Rayner peered at them, grinding his
teeth. He had sought them full Of
mad impulse=it died at sight of them
securely conventional-Patty at the
piano, striking a minor chord now and
then; Ather1ey telling sprightly tales
of life in Paris.
He had spent year there making
believe to study philosophy. He had
come away not much wiser than he
went-still he had a certain air.
Further, his globe trotting gave him
long advantage conversationally. He
had good eyes, and a certain knack or
seeing the humorous side of all things. |
How could even a desperate lover
burst in upon such a pair and demand |
that the girl take instant choice |
Rayner had been counting Patty stead |
fastly for six months. He had never
got around to proposing-by Ill luck |
he had thought-now he began to |
Atherley was palpabIy hit-still he was |
not a declared suitor. Convention may |
shackle even burning jeafousy-Ray- |
ner merely called a gay good night |
through the window, shot past 1t, !
mounted and galloped headlong away. |
AS the thudding hoofs grew fainter, |
Patty got UP and walked to the win
dow straining her eyes through the |
moonlight, yet seeing nothing. Sud
denly she sI1ivered. II wish Billy were
not riding Daredevil tonight" she said.
He is gentle as dog by daylight
but moonlight sets him wild"
"Oi dare say his master can man
age him." Atherley returned. "They
tell me at the club he can manage
anything, even women laughing sig
after the last word. Then
with a mock sigh. You don't Won
der I envy him bit ?"
why! How can you help it?" Pat
ty cried with artless cruelty. HE is so
out of the common every way He
manages horses and women by not be-
ing afraid of them. Both know they
can trust hirn-unless they happen to
be moon-blind."
80 you believe in moon blindness.
I thought that superstition had been
thoroughly discredited,' Atherley said
Patty did not answer-she was lis
tening too intently- There was break
III the hoofbeats-With wilder thud-
ding after it. Over her shoulder she
CIAo0 " AtncAASS, DG- :. .@ANA-A3
help me find Billy"
you think he has been throwni"
Atherley painted. struggling after the
flying figure.
It know it-he would hold Dare
devil to the last she answered, her
voice sharp with terror
They ran silently down the road
until it turned sharply in a little glade.
The white moon made it almost as
light as day-thus Patty saw two dg-l'