The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-17
MOONLIGHT
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

letter as her brother came In. phil
IN, here is a letter from Tom at last.
I had begun to hope that his silence
was portentous Of something-that he
had been busy with other things. But
IL so-he doesn't give any intimation
of it here. Read 1t for yourself"
Philip Mercer lighted cigarette
and held out his hand. Golf, boating
and so on, Ell? 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 a nonentity floating
around this way and never getting
anywhere. oh! Forgive me, Phil!
I'm so sorry! I thought-you see-I
didn't know. It was all so long ago
I thought It was over" She laid her
hand contritely on his arm.
The shadow passed from his face
and he patted her hand affectionately.
tits all right, sis, think myself it's
all oyer-then something happens to
bring It back. Therei I'll love Pau
line till my dying day. I 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 II you like,
III undertake to be a matrimonial
guide for your son."
1t 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
8 sert. The girl turned and Philip Mer
Ger caught her glance. A startled
a glance II was, for he was on his fee
I in an instant staring as though hi
!. had seen a ghost. Then, seeing hel
n amazement he sank back to his chair
THAT girl, Tom-who is she?"
|. Patricia Talbot"
r as her mother here?"
v "I don't know anything about them
I met her on the beach and onl'
# talked with her for little WHILE"
!. "She is beautiful! And she is tn
q image of some one / used to know.
z don't know the name Of the man sh
| fn " tnnk her 4
Japan, where she met an American
,e a lieutenant in the navy-and mai
d ried him. never knew his name.
n. may have been Talbot"
III Philips face had gone gray. He &c
Is up. 81 think I'll walk on the beach
IN alone, Tom I've a headache and don
feel like talking"
The beach, hard as a stone wher
the tide had receded, showed whit
NJ and glistening in the moonlight. Phil
strobe along the edge of the waite
Ia not hearing its soft lap, regardless
time and distance.
He came to the delta OF sma
river. He kept on until the streal
a diyided-and in the embrace OF II
40 two arms was small green islar
id and on the island-a house.
IN Then he heard the pumping OF
M motor in the distanoe-from the dire
ton he had come-a boat coming
nd stream from the sea.
m. The sound grew louder, and SOC
hv through the trees Philip saw a tir
" launch hung with lanterns. Two pc
nd pie we're in It, man and girl, To
IN. and Patricia!
~. But before he had quite recover'
a. from his surprise something happen'
the unexpected, of course. A Graf
~ like a hundred guns tore the qui
NJ. highland there was fash Of fam
nd 1t took only an instant for him
nd kick of his white shoes and dive In
he the water. He found Tom first-pt
"a fectly whole SO far as he could tie
80 but unconscious-and got him
shore. He dived twice for Patric
,ha before he found her caught In I
no wreckage at the bottom.
an The noise had brought two servar
a running from the house and WON
10 in white followed swiftly. "Patrici
os Patricia, dear, where are you? {
re- what has happened? Patricia"
~ Philips heart, hammering from
- exertions, almost stopped beating.
knew that voice. He went over to
..o and took her hand in his wet Of
- "There has been an accident"
-, said simply, "but think your dauI
49, ter and her escort will soon be
= right. The tank blew up, but 1t mi
Ia have been almost empty-or-or-
The woman's eyes grew wi
"PhiIip!" she cried. Philip Nero
a.. To have you here now to save
" tricia's lifei can't believe IT,"
caught his hand in both hers for
instant, then few to the girl on
ground.
son aMotber!" murmured Patricia sic
Iere Ily. And just them Tom sat up.
sia- We'll get them to the house 9
TO bed. Philip! Thank God you W
Ior near"
"Amen!" agreed Philip.
said 'Tts odd how things happen" s
xes' Pauline later, in the garden. Il
IN just finished writing to you when
explosion occurred. Admiral Tai
has been dead a year, and / wan
you to know"
big
re- Aweek later Mrs. Baldridge recei
two letters which afforded her infir
lot," satisfaction. One was from her
s to announcing his engagement to Pa
5 to cha. In the other, her brother told
max his discovery of the long-lost Paul
Lou downright, 1916, by the Mcclure News
per Syndicate.)