The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-03-10
THE DAY MOON
By ALICE p PHIsngY.

AtAA ~ httt AAltf ne 81 on Af'f~
hill among the daisies and dreamily
watched the pale day noon. An art
lists portable camp stool and an easel
stood beside her and IN her hands Was
q palette. much daubed with green
and yellow. The bees droned and AL
was sleepy and warm.
Then a mans voice quietly chlmed
in with her mood
II There's a superstition about that
| you know"
Il "YesT" she questioned without NOV
lng and then. startled. she turned 10
see a tanned. white flannel clad young
man standing behind her. his keen blue
eyes thoughtfully considering The day
moon
Funny so few ever write about that
or paint it, he was saying. Now !
could place II over hazy hills. between
columns OF marble" his long fingers
frightened on the brush they held. "but
that superstition" He turned 10 her
and she greeted him with a smile But
u was quite different from that inti-
entirely polite. the smile was. but very
cool for the girl had come back from
the white day moon TO this queer old
world where there are men who have
been introduced, and there are others
toh, quite attractive others) who have
not.
The artist laughed good humoredly.
Il didn't come up TO talk OF moons
he said, "and ! apologize for being so
Informal. but I'm painting this land
scape-" his sweeping gesture took In
the sunny hills and the cleaning riv.
er-''and Just as ! was getting II my
Hight yellows gave out--that's the
main t0ne-and then | saw your easel
and wondered II you, being painter.
too"
"Of course" she admitted, flight
yellows. one couldn't paint without
them today. But the oil tubes aren't
here yet If you'll wait
She motioned to him 10 be seated
"It's wonderful TO paint" she said
as he complied.
Isn't il, though? And on day like
this"
She nodded and shifted the sun
scented air dellghtedly. Natures Just
baking" she declared and laughed
as she added. Cooking things always
smell good TO me.
The artist tapped the ground with
his brush Mature he said. "is the
one artist who is practical There are
SO few like that"
In the valley below was white
church, seeming ridiculously tiny as
they looked down from the hill The
wee door swung open and
why, that darling white speck."
cried the girl. ITS a bride And |
the black speck is the groom. and all |
the rainbow specks are"
The artist watched them. From |
this distance" he unused, I'VE can sup
pose them the ideal couple Mother |
Nature is healthy. artistic and practi-
cal. We people can all be the first |
and then we have our choice between
the other two"
He had often talked In this strain /
at the club.
II hope" he added. that one OF |
those little specks can dream 10 some
purpose and that the other can-boil |
eggs. They might use the day moon"
he suggested.
"Oh." she remembered. "the day /
noon What was that superstition
An old Hindu thing. think. Your
watching II so intently made me re-
call II. On the noon OF the full OF
the day moon one should pray to II
for his hearts desire. But he won't
receive II unless II IL worthy and fair
ly practicable. It's best TO sleep with
white cat until the new crescent
appears. and there ought 10 be some
one else who wants the same thing.
They could vow for the practical"
How keen you are for the practi-
cal" She turned 10 look at him.
well. being an artist I've had to
cook for myself now and then. II
makes a man think. shall never
marry an artist. while you. now. II
you we're 10 marry some Intensely
practical fellow"
Suddenly he didn't want her TO mar
~ any too intensely practical fellow. +,
But maybe you're not an awfully
good artist" he suggested hopefully.
Il don't wonder our grandmothers
laugh at us she declared. rising
briskly. This way Of discussing our
most personal affairs in an impersonal
way with utter strangers Is funny"
lie chuckled az her dainty decisive
ness. and, rising. too, do you know ?
] wish you weren't an artistT"
The girl was shading her ewes and Y
looking OF toward the hot. lazy river s
a canoe. padded by a strong drab
riad woman. gIided ashore. The girl :
smiled. 4.
"Ah. there's Annette she mur.
INJURED
Annette Fraser the artist" he
nodded