The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-20
MOONLIGHT
eY LOUISE OLIVER.


/ 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 1t here. Read IT for yourself"
Philip Mercer lighted cigarette
and held out his hand. Golf, boating
and so on. Ell? Anything but a girl
Is that the trouble. sis? can't see
why you're so blamed anxious to have
him married"
"You are 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 sorryi / thought-you see-I
didn't know. It was all so long ago
thought 1t 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 1t back. There! I'll love Pau
line till my dying day. / can't help
It."
"Cheer up, Philip I'll ring for tea
you need reinforcing"
1--WE about decided to go to Sum-
mer Beach myself and II you like.
I'll undertake to be a 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 I'LL 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 theiI
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 fee
in an instant staring as though h
had seen q ghost. Then, seeing he
amazement, he sank back to his chair
THAT girl, Tom-who is she?"
! Patricia Talbot
ais her mother here!"
81 don't know anything about them
II met her on the beach and onl
talked with her for q little while"
"she is beautiful! And she ia. tn
image Of some one used to know.
don't know the name OF the man sh
married. The family took her I
Japan, where she met an American
a lieutenant in the navy-and maj
ried him. l never knew his name.
may have been Talbot"
Philips face had gone gray. He &C
up. IT think I'll walk on the beach
alone, Tom. I've a headache and don
feel like talking"
The beach, hard as stone wher
the tide had receded, showed whit
and glistening in the moonlight. Phil
strobe along the edge of the waite
not hearing its soft lap, regardless
time and distance.
He came to the delta of q sma
river. He kept on until the strea
divided-and in the embrace Of Il
two arms was a small green islar
and on the island-a house.
Then he heard the pumping Of
| motor in the distanoe-from the dire
| ton he had come-a boat coming !
| stream from the sea.
The sound grew louder, and sot
through the trees Philip saw til
1 launch hung with lanterns. Two pc
pie were in It, q man and girl, To
i and Patricia!
i But before he had quite recover
4 from his surprise something happen
4 the unexpected, of course. A era
4 like q hundred guns tore the qul
/ highland there was fash OF nan
III It took only an instant for him
| kick on his white shoes and dive ir
j the water. He found Tom first-p
u fectly whole so far as he could t
"A but unconscious-and got him
Y shore. He dived twice for Patri
= before he found her caught in
wreckage at the bottom.
as The noise had brought two serval
I'M running from the house and won
in white followed swiftly. "Patric
he Patricia. dear, where are you?
"A what has happened? Patricia"
Il. Philips heart, hammering from
ha exertions, almost stopped beating.
an knew that voice. He went over to
an and took her hand In his wet o
N There has been an accident"
said simply. ''but think your dau
y. ter and her escort will soon be
~ right. The tank blew up. but 1t N
nv have been almost empty-or-or
nd The woman's eyes grew VI
an "Philipl" she cried Philip Nero
To have you here now to save
tricia's lifel l can't believe It."
~ caught his hand in both hers for
,av instant, then few to the girl on
ms ground.
NV "Motherl" murmured Patricia 81
fly. And Just them Tom sat up.
"weu get them to the house
~ to bed. Philip! Thank God you "
e nearl"
Amen" agreed Philip.
hoe IT'S odd how things happen" |
Pauline later. in the garden. Il
just finished writing to you when
explosion occurred. Admiral Ia
lille has been dead year. and wal
nd you to know"
boy
at Aweek later Mrs. Baldridge recet
two letters which afforded her inf
" satisfaction. One was from her
yed announcing his engagement to p
cia. In the other, her brother toll
ed. his discovery Of the longlost Paul
er's Copyright. 1916. by the Mcclure New
%. per syndieate.)