Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1915-06-22
MOONLIGHT MADNESS
BY MOLLY MeMAsTER.

and physically.
When inspiration had forsaken him
he had held a counsel of suggestion
with his cronies. 1t was Hapgood Of
the Musical Review, who had told
him about the camp in the Adiron-
dacks that would simply breathe into
his listening ear all the melodies and
shy whisperings that any music lover
needed.
II took Colgate less than a week to
make all preparation and locate him
self among the songs of the noun
tain's glory. He moved about as q
man in a dream. He was fearful lest
he awake and find himself lying in
his fiat with the noise of a piano
player humping the ceiling above
him.
He was more than startled on a
moonlit night to open his eyes slowly
after short siesta among the odor-
Gus balsam needles and see a slim,
daintily clad girl standing gazing down
at him.
you have had quite long Sleep"
she said softly. Colgate could not re-
member having heard voice so won
derful
who are you and where did you
come from" he questioned, rising
quickly to his feet. Though convinced
that he was dreaming still Colgate felt
a strong desire to test the power of
speech.
IF you ask questions l will never
come again." was the answer he was
given. so long as your curiosity re-
mains a negative quality will visit
the balsam grove every moonlit eve
ming for half an hour"
"Give me your hand" demanded
Colgate breathlessly.
Il isn't this rather sudden?" ques-
'tioned the girl with a soft laugh.
Il only want to make sure that you
are human he told her.
"Humph!" murmured the girl, and
slipped her fingers into his. He held
them.
"Don't!" the girl cried with a star
tied gasp. Upon her immediate re-
lease she turned her emotion to laugh
ter. Am human" she questioned.
very. very human" Colgate said,
and his breath came rather heavily.
"And | will tell you right now that If
you intend visiting this grove every
moonlit night I will have to be more
than human if"
Mocking laughter rippled from the
girls lips.
"In that case you would be as mad
as the hero of a song l know. Shall
/ sing 1t to your"
Colgate did not answer before she
had burst into the opening phrase of
his own ballad, Moonlight Madness"
"The hero in the song was tempted
to kiss the girls lips. because they
w1ere so softly red in the moonlight"
Remarked Colgate. 81 am tempted,
also, but | am not going to fall"
THAT is very nice Of you" The
mocking laugh again fell from her
lips, and she drew so near to Colgate
that her rhythmic breathing seemed
also TO be his own.
Il wouldn't tempt him too far If I
were you," he said, and smiled down
at the girls upturned face you are
very, very lovely" he added. IF you
laugh again as you laughed Just now
i think before retiring l could COM
pose a ballad called 'Mocking Laugh
ter"
The girl heaved sigh. There was
broken melody in her voice.
81 try to make you live up to a
hero of a song, and all you do is
think Of more songs" She turned
away from him. II am going now
and you are not to follow"
1t was five o'clock In the morning
when Colgate threw himself down
on his bed, exhausted mentally and
physically. The song was finished.
Slim wedges of moonbeams were
filtering down through the balsam
trees when Colgate waited impa-
tiently for the girl to come.
"You have inspired me to write q
very wonderful song." he told her
and there was no conceit in his
words. 1T will resuscitate my waver-
ing reputation"
"Oh! Can I have It first! Please,
please let me sing 1t before anyone
else!" In her enthusiasm she had put
a slim hand on Colgate's arm. Il
haveV sung all your songs successfully.
/ do want to have the new one first"
Il can't talk nationally while your
hand touches me-" he said quietly. IF
you continue to trespass on my coat
sleeve you will have to suffer the con.
sequences"
"And what are the consequences"
she asked and withdrew her hand.
81 will tell you before we go back
to the city" Colgate answered, and
wondered IL ever a man In the whole
of the world had fallen SO suddenly
and so wonderfully In love as he had.
'Is there a chance that you know