American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1916-12-09
rs THE MOON ROSE
BY mgLl1AeEL PUTNAM

] Howard 7 blN , AlftlA i'tAl'th &c III
1ccrcd cautiously around group OF
/ rnododcndrons ana caught glimpse
! If white In the shadow of the hem
locks 10 his excited fancy, it seemed
! Utmost phusphurCsccnt in the deepen.
/ ing dusk. Il dazzled MS eyes and
lazcd his brain, already sick with sus.
| pcnsc.
Then the tension snapped and ne
| sank imply into II garden chair. She
/ had meant It after all! lie had feared
| mother evasion. lie had not liked
/ the CLINT i'm her eyes as she said:
IF it really is important, meet me
| under the hcmlDcks us the moon rises.
| Mind now. Not an instant sooner,
not an instant mtcr. It's my lucky
hour Luna IS my patron saint, you
! know. And he very careful what you
say. Don't dare speak my name. Tho
moon maids don't like to he called by
name. 1t breaks the SPELL"
Imrsh She had looked and impishly
she had laughed; but she had meant
1t after all. The chase was ended.
Perpetual puzzle, he unused, that one
bit of fantastic femninity should 50
tlustcr man long immune to the rest
of the fascinating sisterhood. In this
case, there positively was no account
ing for 1t. He was perfectly able to
reason about his ilfatuatlon. He ad.
mitted frankly that Madge was not so
beautiful, not so charming, not so
good, not in any way so desirable as
well, fer instance, Marian Elting.
A subtle change crept over his nag.
gard face. Strange that ut this juno
ture, when his whole being was CEN
tered on another Marian's serene face
should rise like a star over the tn
lent sen of passion.
Odd that so rare a creature should
set her heart on any one man, and on
him OF all men. She was the sort Of
girl who would make any man an ideal
wife. His mother, his sisters, all his
friends would approve her as heartily
as they would object to Mudge.
Did this thought shake his iron pur-
pose? He asked himself candidly, and
the answer was swift and sure. Not
for the infinitesimal part of an in.
slant! 1t was rank folly, he knew
little Better than lunacy-pure mid.
summer madless-but that simmer
Of white there under the trees was
more to him than all the rest of crea.
ton.
At any rate, he had been scrupu.
lousy careful. He had nothing to re-
proach himself with. II by word or
look, If ever so unnwittingly, he had
given Marian cause to feel that he
was interested In her, there would be
but one thing to do.
However, he had been unfaillngly
circumspect, and his woolng of MaIge
had not been done In corner. II
had been spectacular. Some day
Marian would fad man more worthy
of her alteration; and yet-he frowned
uneaslly. lie knew people-and II was
his life work to study them-and he
was aware that Marian was Just the
sort In the circumstances, to 90 UNI
mated to the end--to be sort of old
maid aunt to his and Madges chill
Gren.
He smiled wryly. A second mother,
rather, and they would need one. II
was difficult to picture Madge u moth
or.
At any rate, he was glad Madge had
n friend like Marian. lie had watched
that attachment spring up grow and
blossom like II lovely plant; and he
had rcJoiceG In II, although it had in
ter'cred with his already difficult
courtship. The two girls had become
almost iEselarable. He had scarcely
seen Maige alone for days. One out
size their Immediate circle might well
have doubted which girl he was pur-
suing.
He glanced at the sky again and
started alertly. Along the horizons
eige the gloom was fading n trine. He
crew n deep breath. The crisis of
his life was at hand. His feverish
gaze flew lack to that statuellke fig.
ure uLGcr the trees. How motloIlcss
1t was. He had Lot supposed any liy-
ing woman could be still 50 long. Sure
ly this toded well for his suit. AL
ready butterfly Nudge was folding her
wings.
The faint CLEAN slowly Frightened
ard broaaened. Presently, pale gold
crescent appeared, tiara.wiSe, ON the
brow of the hill. Howard watched
1t grow with gaze solcmnly intent Just
what phrase should he use? Well. the |
greater tie occasion the simpler and
pIaiaer speech should be.
As the moon rose clear Of It's moor.
Ihgs ard iloatcd above the Distant
tree tops, he sprarg up and strobe |
stealthlly across tie grass. NIadge, /,
racing the moon, dbl not see him and
evidently did not Lear him ninth he |
oeht over her wlnniugly and whIs.
pered, Moon maid, win you be my |
wife?" '
Then the girl stood NJ and tprne6
aStounded, delighted, asserting yes
"l-l-thOught-n Shn ho,or tt.