Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-09-24
Under the influence Of the Moon.

Under the influence Of the Moon.
My days now began to drift rather
aimlessly, as without apparent pur-
pose continued to linger on an island
that might well seem to have little
attraction to a stranger--how little
could see by the mystifcation of the
good Tom. to whom. for once, Of
course, could not confide. Yet had
a vague purpose; or, at least, had a
feeling that. If I waited ON something
would develop In the direction Of my
hopes. The doubloon still suggested
that it was the key to q door of fas-
ciuating mystery to which chance
might at any moment direct me.
And-why not admit itH--apart from
! my buried treasure. to the possible
discovery Of which the 6oubloon
seemed to point, was possessed with
a growing desire for another glimpse
Of those haunting eyes. They needed
not their association with the mys-
FERROUS gold, they were magnetic
enough to draw any man, with even
the rudlments Of imagination, along
the path Of the unknown. All the
paths out of the little settlement
We're paths into the unknown, and, day
after day. followed one or another Of
them out into the wilderness, taking a
gun with me. as an ostensible excuse
for any spying eye, and bringing back
with me occasional bags Of the wild
pigeons which were plentiful on the
island.
One day had thus wandered unus-
| uaiiy far afield, and at nightfall found
| myself still several miles from home
! on rocky path OVERLAP. ing the sea.
| There was no sign Of haoitation any
| where. 1t was a wild and lonely place.
! and presently over its savage beauty
stole the glamor of the moon rising far
| over the sea. l sat down on q ledge
Of the cliffs and watched the moon
! light grow in intensity as the darkness
Of the woods deepened behind me. 1t
was night full Of witchcraft: night
! on which the stars. the moon, and the
sea together seemed limiting at some
wonderful thing about to happen.
Then. as if the fairy night were
matching my thoughts with a chal-
lenge, what was this bright wonder
suddenly present on one Of the boul-
ders far down beneath mef--a tall
shape Of witchcraft Wilderness, stand
ing, full in the moon, like q statue In
luminous marble Of some goddess of
antiquity.
My eyes and my heart together told
me 1t was she; and, as she hung poised
over the edge of the water In the at
titude of one about to dive. q turn of
| her head gave me that longed-for
glimpse Of those living eyes filed with
moonlight. She stood another mo
ment, still as the night, in her lowell
| ness and the next she had dlved d.
rectly into the path of the moon. !
saw her eyes moonfilled again. as she
came to the surface, and began to
swim-not. AZ one might have expect.
ed. out from the land, but directly In
toward the unseen base Of the cliffs.
The moon-path did lead to q golden
door in the rocks, I said to myself.
and she was about to enter 1t. It was
secret door known only to herself
and then. for the first time that night,
thought Of that doubloon.
| Perhaps If had not thought Of 1t
should not have done what then did.
There will. doubtless, be those who
will censure me. II 80, am afraid
they must At all events, 1t was the
thought Of that doubloon that swayed
the balance Of my hesitation In taking
the moon-path in the track Of that
bright apparition.
looked for way down to tho edge
of the sea. 1t was not easy to find, but
after much perilous scramblfns al
length found myself on the boulder
which had so lately been the pedestal
Of that Radiance; and, In another mo
| ment. had diyed into the moon-path
and was swimming toward the mys.
ferrous golden door.
Before me the rocks opened In q
deep narrow crevaSse, long rift, evil
IDENTIFY slashing back into the cliff, be
meath the road on which had been
treadlng. I could see the moonnt
water vanishing into sort OF CLEAN
ing lane between the vast overhang
ing wallis . 81.
Presently felt my feet rest lightly
on firm sand, and. still shoulder deer
in the water, walked on another yard
or two-to be brought to sudden
stop. There she was coming TOWARD
me, breast high In that watery tunnel
The moon, continuing its serene ascen
sion. lit her up with q sudden beam
O! shape Of bloom and gloryl
| For moment we both stood looking
at each other, as II transfxed. Their
she gave frightened cry and put hel
hands up to her bosom; as she did *
a stream Of something bright-like
gold pieces-fell from her mouth, ant
two like streams from her opened
hands. Then. rs quick a. light. sht
Rad darted past me and dived into TN
moon-path beyond. She must have
swan under the water a long way, TO
when I saw her dark head rise agar
In the glimmering path It was at .
distance Of many yards.
had no thought Of following her
but stood in dream among the wa
|, terry CLEANS and echoes.
For me had come that hour Of won
der; for me out Of that tropic sen, int
whose fawlsss dssDs my eyes had s.
often gone adream, had risen the crea
ture Of miracle. ii Ii 9,s TX N
OF shape OF moerlit marble I @