Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 244, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 October 1911 — MOON-BLINDNESS [ARTICLE]

MOON-BLINDNESS

By MARTHA McCULLOCH-WILLIAMS

(Gopyri<ht. 1911, by Associated Literary Press.)

“Marplot!/ Have I got to tie you?" Mrs. Velvin demanded gleefully, flinging a length of ribbon about Rayner's arm. “No doubt you want to go Inside and talk to Patty. Content yourself, sir, with me! Even me! Patty is a luxury. She wouldn’t be at all good for you. Not for your career. And I have but just got her and young Atherley well settled for . the evening. If he stays until 11, I shall know he has proposed " "How you know it?” Rayner interrupted, smiling, yet not quite easily. Mrs. Velvin laughed sokly. "Patty is a wise virgin,” she said. “She never sacrifices her beauty sleep for trlfleas. O, no!" as she caught Rayner's look of annoyance. "She won’t accept him —not on three days’ acquaintance — she will merely take him under consideration. Trust my child for that! I have brought her up even more than if she were my very own/’ "H’m! Are you six or two years her elder?” Rayner demanded. Again Mrs. Velvin laughed. “As though It mattered —the least bit," she said. “By Bible count I am four years ahead of my husband’s near daughter. Spiritually I’m four centuries—but for me the child would have grown absurdly sentimental.” "Then —I wish she had had another stepmother,” Rayner broke out. Still—l refuse to believe even you, much as she loves you, can make her mercenary, cold and calculating. When she marries it will be a man, not his money—— * ~ “Why not say a man and his money?” Mrs. Velvin asked archly. "You can’t deny, jealous as you are, that Atherley is a good sort." "But not good enough for Patty—she—she deserves the very best," Rayner began eagerly. "Meaning yourself?” Mrs. Velvin Interposed with a pretense of a yawn. Then she got up and half dragged Rayner out Unto a moonlit garden, rose-scented, vital with the spicebreath of pinks. "Listen to the words of wisdom,” she began. ‘Tm your friend in this — even more than Patty’s. You are frightfully ambitious—you have so much in you it is no wonder. Remember Kipling, ‘He travels fastest who travels alone.’ With Patty you’d be too happy—you’d Jet go everything but money-making—care for nothing but to keep her in cottonwool, and give her jewels and rings and all the fine things. Take my ■ word for it, you’ll never be a great man without the spur of unhappiness." "Stop mocking!" Rayner said, hotly. She went on as if he had not spoken. "As Patty’s husband, you’d have five years of bliss absolute. Then — you’d remember —and regret You’d see the men you know are your inferiors going ahead, each in his way—and you standing stilt You’d be sour and discontented. And that would make my girl miserable. So let her be. I won’t have her miserable. She was made to be ‘fed on the roses and laid in the Hiles of life.’ ” ' "I don’t believe It Anyway I shall ask her,” Rayner said more hotly than before. He stepped past Mrs. Velvin and onto the piazza they had quitted. It gave through long French windows upon the dim-lit parlor, where Atherley sat basking in Patty’s presence. Rayner peered at them, grinding his teeth. He had sought them full of a mad Impulse—lt died at sight of them se? curely conventional —Patty at the piano, striking a minor chord now and then; Atherley telling sprightly tales of life in Paris. He had spent a year there, making believe to study philosophy. He had come away not much wiser than he went —still he had a certain air. Further, his globe-trotting gave him a long advantage conversationally. He had good eyes, and a certain knack of seeing the humorous side of. all things. How could even a desperate lover burst In upon such a pair and demand that the girt take Instant choice? Rayner had been courting Patty steadfastly for six months. He had never got around to proposing—by 111 luck he had thought—now he began to realize it was by will of Mrs. Velvin. Atherley was palpably hit—still he was not a declared suitor. Convention may shackle even burning jealousy—Rayner merely called a gay good night through the window, shot past It, mounted and galloped headlong away. As the thudding hoofs grew fainter, Ratty got up and walked to the window. straining her eyes through the modnlight, yet seeing nothing. Suddenly she shivered. "I wish Billy were not riding Daredevil tonight,” she said. "He is gentle as a dog by daylight—but moonshine sets him wild.” “O! I dare say his master can man(age him,” Atherley returned. "They tell me at the club he can manage anything, even women," laughing significantly after the last word. Then with a mock sigh, ‘You don’t wonder I »nvy him a bit?" "Why! How can yon help ttt” Patty cried with artless cruelty. "He is so out of the common every way. He manages horses and women by not being afraid of them. Both know they can trust him —unless they happen tn be moon-blind."

“So you believe in moon-blindness. I thought that superstition had been thoroughly discredited,” Atherley said lightly. '7 - Patty di<f not 'answer—she was listening too intently. There wail h" break in ~fhe hoofbeats —with wilder thudding after it. Over her shoulder she cried to Atherley, “Daredevil is running now—come help me find Billy.” “You think he has been thrown!" Atherley panted, Struggling after the flying figure. "I know it—he would hold Daredevil to the last,” she answered, her voice sharp with They ran silently down the road until it turned sharply in a little glade. The white moon made it almost as light as day—thus Patty saw two figures in the middle of it—Billy Rayner safe and sound, supporting a woman evidently half-fainting. Atherley touched her arm, saying significantly: "I think we had better go back.” Patty could grow no whiter, but she turned upon him eyes that blazed. "I am not spying,” she said clearly, then in higher key: “Billy-—what is the trouble?" "I don’t- quite understand —y—et,” Rayner answered. “Thfs lady,” bowing to the drooping figure, “had lost herself-—-and came out of the woods to ask the way. That scared Daredevil—l got down from him though —and he ran off home. Perhaps you can reassure the lady—she—she—seems to be upset” “No—only unhappy,” the stranger cried, suddenly uncovering her face. “So unhappy I shall die unless you tell me where to find him. You know —the man I love—Steven Atherley.” "I have brought him to you,” Patty said, running forward and dragging Atherley. The stranger flung up her hands—white hands, soft and heavily ringed. “O Steven! Steven! Forgive me!” she moaned. ‘“I—I had to come. Remember I have not seen you since Paris. And the minute I knew ” „ “Please spare explanations, Mabel,” Atherley said curtly,” I suppose you are staying with the Cudwins—let me take you to them at once." “Anywhere—so you take me,” the woman sighed, drooping toward him. He looked helplessly from her to Patty and back again, then held out his hands to imprison both of hers. Something in Patty’s steadfast gaze had shamed him into manliness. “I will explain,” he said, his head high. "Mabel —Miss Gray I mean—was my good angel in Paris. Indeed I think we should have got married there but for a senseless quarrel. Neither of us saw things quite right ” “I know—you were moon-blind. People get that way the same as horses,” Patty interrupted with an eloquent look at Rayner. He took her hand openly and laid his lips against it, saying joyously, "Happily it is only a temporary affliction; we come to clear vision after a little while.” "Oh, do we?" Patty asked with her most superbly indifferent air. He shook his head at bar, but said emphatically, "We do. In proof take this." And with that he kissed her full on the mouth.