The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-09-07
MOONLIGHT
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

had been busy with other things. But
IL so-he doesn't give any intimation
of it here Read it for yourself
Philip Mercer lighted a cigarette
and held out bis hand Golf, boating
and so on, eh? Anything but girl
Is that the trouble, sis? | can't see
why you're so blamed anxious to have
him married"
''You are a living example OF what
I don't want him to be, Philip You
know you need an anchor, Philip.
You are merely nonentity floating
around this way and never getting
anywhere. Oh! Forgive me, Phil!
I'm so sorry / thought-you see-I
didn't know. 1t was all so long ago
/ thought it was over" She laid her
hand contritely on his arm.
The shadow passed from his face
and he patted her hand affectionately.
Its all right, sis, | think myself it's
all over-then something happens to
bring it back. Therei I'll love Pau
line till my dying day. / can't help
it."
Cheer up, Philip! I'll ring for tea
you need reinforcing"
I've about decided to go to Sum-
mer Beach myself and IL you like,
I'll undertake to be matrimonial
guide for your son."
It was late in the season for Sum-
mer Beach. But enough of gayety
remained at the great hotel to fill the
quiet moonlight night with sounds of
laughter and music.
Two men, Philip Mercer and his
nephew, Tom Baldridge, had dinner
on the terrace. The smoke from their
cigars was waited across the terrace
to another table, at which girl and
an older man were finishing their des-
sert The girl turned and Philip Mer-
Ger caught her glance A startled
glance it was, for. he was on his feet
in an instant staring as though he
had seen a ghost Then, seeing her
amazement, he sank back to his chair.
THAT girl, Tom-who is she?"
Patricia Talbot"
"Is her mother here?"
IT don't know anything about them.
met her on the beach and only
talked with her for little while"
"She is beautiful! And she is the
image of some one I used to know. /
don't know the name Of the man she
married. The family took her to
Japan, where she met an American
lieutenant in the navy-and mar
ried him. never knew his name. It
NAV have been Talbot"
Philips face had gone gray. He got
up. II think TIL walk on the beach
alone, Tom. I've headache and don't
feel like talking"
The beach, hard as a stone where
the tide had receded, showed white
and glistening in the moonlight. Philip
strobe along the edge of the water,
not hearing its soft lap, regardless of
time and distance.
He came to the delta of a small
river. He kept on until the stream
divided-and in the embrace of the
two arms was a small green island
and on the island-a house.
Then he heard the pumping Of a
motor in the distance-from the direc-
ton he had come-a boat coming up
stream from the sea.
The sound grew louder, and soon
through the trees Philip saw a tiny
launch hung with lanterns. Two peo-
pie were in it, man and a girl, Tom
and Patricia!
But before he had quite recovered
from his surprise something happened
the unexpected, of course. A crash
like hundred guns tore the quiet
highland there was q flash of fame.
1t took only an instant for him to
kick off his white shoes and dive into
the water. He found Tom first-per-
fectly whole so far as he could tell,
but unconscious-and got him to
shore. He dived twice for Patricia
before he found her caught in the
wreckage at the bottom.
The noise had brought two servants
| running from the house and woman
in white followed swiftly. Patricia!
Patricia, dear, where are you? Oh,
what has happened? Patricia"
Philips heart, hammering from his
exertions, almost stopped beating. He
knew that voice He went over to her
and took her hand in his wet one.
| There has been an accident" he
said simply, "but I think your daugh-
| ter and her escort will soon be all
right The tank blew up, but it must
have been almost empty-or-or-''
The woman's eyes grew wide
Phillip" she cried philip Mercer!
To have you here now to save Pa
tricia's life! / can't believe it." She
caught his hand in both hers for ar
instant, then few to the girl on the
ground
Mother" murmured Patricia sleep
ily And just them Tom sat up.
We'll get them to the house and
to bed, Philip! Thank God you were
near."
Amen" agreed Philip.
TITS odd how things happen" said
Pauline later, in the garden. Il had
just finished writing to you when the
explosion occurred. Admiral Talbot
has been dead year, and l wanted
you to know"
| -
/ Aweek later Mrs Baldridge received
4 two letters which afforded her infinite
Il satisfaction. One was from her sor
Il announcing his engagement to Patri
1 cha. In the other, her brother told OF
4 his discovery of the Iong-lost Pauline
Il Copyright, 1916. by the Mcclure Ns~spa