Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1912-01-03
MOOn-BIind-
ness
BY Martha Mccullo ch. Williams



finging length of ribbon about Ray
ner's arm. mo doubt you want to go
inside and talk to Patty Content
yourself. sir, with me! Even me!
Patty is a luxury She wouldn't be
at all good for you Not for your
career. And have but just got her
and young Atherley well settled for
the evening. If he stays until II,
shall know he has proposed"
How shall you know it?" Rayner
interrupted, smiling, yet not quite
easily.
Mrs. Velvin laughed softly. Patty
is wise virgin she said. "She never
sacrifices her beauty sleep for trifiers.
D. MOI" 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-
sideration. 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. "As
though it mattered-the least bit"
she said. "By Bible count l am four
years ahead of my husbands near
daughter Spiritually I'm four cen
turies-but for me the child would
have grown absurdly sentimental"
"Then-I wish she had had an
other stepmOther," Rayner broke out.
Still refuse to believe even you,
much as she loves you, can make her
mercenary, cold and calculating.
When she marries it will be a man,
not his money"
why not say a man and his
money!" Mrs Velvin 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,
Rayner began eagerly.
Meaning yourself?" Mrs Velvin in
terposed with a pretense of a yawn.
Then she got up and half dragged
Rayner out into moonlit garden
rose-scented, vital with the spice.
breath of pinks.
Listen to the words Of wisdom, u
she began. I'm your friend in this
even more than Patty's. You are
frightfully ambitious-you have sc
much in you it is no wonder. Re
member Kipling, He travels fastest
who travels alone With Patty you'd
be too happy-you'd let go every
thing but ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS fol
nothing but to keep her in cotton
wool. and give her jewels and ring:
and all the fine things. Take my
word for it, you'll never be a grea
man without the spur of unhappi
ress."
stop mockingi" Rayner said, hot!y
She went on as if he had not spok
en-. GAS Patty's husband you'd hav,
five years of bliss absolute Thea
4 you'd remember-and regret. You,
! see the men you know are your lnfe
riors going ahead, each in his way
! and you standing still. You'd be sou
q and disconnected. And that woul
4 make my girl miserable. So let he
! be. | won't have her misera BILE Sh
was made to be fed on the roses all
4 laid in the lilies of life"
81 don't believe it. Anyway l shaI
ask her." Rayner said more hot!y tina
before. He stepped past Mrs. Velvi
and onto the piazza they had quilted
1t gave through long French window
q upon the dim-lit parlor, where Atherle
sat basking in Patty's presence Ra,
q ner peered at them. grinding his teetl
4 He had sought them full of a mad in
q pulse-it died at sight of them S,
O curely conventiOnal-Patty at tn
piano, striking a minor chord now an
a then; Atherley telling sprightly tale
3 of life in Paris.
He had spent a year there, maxim
4 believe to study philosophy. He ha
8 come away not much wiser than b
q went-still ne had certain al
& Further, his globe-trotting gave hil
long advantage conversational,
q He had good eyes, and certai
"a knack of seeing the humorous side
q all things.
ID How could even a desperate love
y burst in upon such a pair and d.
q mand that the girl take instar
81 choice? Rayner had been courtin
8 Patty steadfastly for six months. H
had never got around to proposing
g by ill luck he had thought-now b
8 began to realize it was by will {
s. Mrs. Velvin. Atherley was palpabl
+ hit-still he was not declared suite
7 Convention may shackle even burr
ing jealousy-Rayner merely called
+ gay good night through the wiAdov
s shot past it, moAnted and gallope
4 headlong away.
AS the thudding hoofs grew fainte
Patty got up and walked to the viii
T dow, straining her eyes through tn
moonlight, yet seeing nothing. SUI
5 denly she shivered. 81 wish Bill
S were not riding Daredevil tonight
she said. "He is gentle as dog b
s daylight-but moonshine sets hil
fE mill