Newspapers / Brevard News (Brevard, N.C.) / Feb. 17, 1927, edition 1 / Page 5
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Moon Madness j* * BY > Mary Hampton Mills ? (continued from last week) Thoughts of him dominated the hours and she found herself day after day waiting impatiently for the night of the full moon. The day before it was due she spent in packing and tonight she would know again tiie exquisite pleasure of watching the " moon rise ...... with him. Touight she would wear a grey dress. She took one from her closet and hung it carcfulW over the back of the only chair in ner small room, then searched in the dark little closet for grey slippers to match. It was yet early in the afternoon and several hours must pass before time to dress for the evening. Joan moved about the room restlessly, but coald find nothing else to pack. Ev erything was carefully put away save the few things sho absolutely needed. "I believe I will go for a walk," .she thought to herself, "it will help pass the time. And then, it will be my last walk until I come again. I love this old place, every in.'.i of it. 1 hope to enjoy one more season In the old house before it is remod ??lo' i . " Most of the guests were taking their usual afternoon naps, so Joan left th:> h9tcl unobserved and walked into the woods, turning here and ther ? with no particular thought as to direction. The day had been sultry and now thr*atening clouds tossed themselves in billowing, fantastic shapes, across th face of the sky. Joan walked aimlessly1 on, neither thinking or ?n which direction . her feet were taking her. The rising wind L?wiod her. She found a moss i Wired stone and seated herself to rest, allowing her thoughts to run riot. She leaned her head against th? trunk . of a tree and sat there, forgetting the count, of time, until the sun sank from sight, leaving in its wake clouds black and threaten inir Suddenly a flash of lightning seemed to split the sky asunder and a peal of thunder reverberated through the hills like the report of heavy artillery. The storm was on! i hot mghly frightened, Joan sprang to her feet and turned in the direc tion ah - thought would take her to the hotvl. She began .gunning as large drops of rain fell heavily through the loaves -overhead. She could hear the rain increasing in volume as* it drew nearer and the wind was already bowing the trees earthward, hissing through the leaves and branches like something powerful and alive. The roaring increased and the large drops which had been splashing upon Joan's fly ing torn:, changed into a down pour. Lightning leaped across the sky. tunning clown ward in her path like fiery serpents. "What shall 1 do? ' Joan moaned helplessly as her strength began to ebb. She caught her foot in an en ormou.' root and fell face downward on th'? soft, wet earth. It was growing so dark she could not determine in which direction to liu, but ran aimlessly on and on, tears intermingling with the rain pou rint; down her cheeks. She had told no one at the hotel of her intended walk and if she were missed from the supper table, those who missed her would of court* >? think that she was safe in her own ' room. No one would bother to make sure. She began sobbing softly like a frightened child. Thojc was no use in calling. No one would be out in such a violent storm, and even if it were her voice could not be heard three feet away. She ."topped and when the vivid flftah;.* lighted the woods, tried to get lv?r hearings. It would be aw ful it 'he. should fail in finding her way i>ut of the woods and be obliged to spend the night in*the darkness and ..torm, but what could she do? Her hat had been blown from her head '.ong ago and her dress was so twisted about her body, walking was difficult, hut on and on she hurried, fast as her soaked garments and trMmhIir.g limbs would allow. The next flash revealed a huge oak, tire spreading limbs of which might ierve to break the down-pour, and r.'.iohing its friendly shelter, Joan leaned heavily against the trunk and closed her eyes wearily. Suddenly, above the roar of wind and rain, her strained ears caug the distant honk of an automofe Facing the direction from whenc came she began running again. "If I can only reach the road!.| Oh, dear Lord, let me reach 1 road!" she prayed. She fell, scr rA .ed to her feet to begin runq again. A warning honk from the cad it rounded the curve, and J it-ached the road and threw he] ?vithin the radius of the light the oncoming car and threw up arms wildly. She looked like some wind-sj her hair blowing across her face ?Varments twisted tightly aboui .slender form. As the car slowel .she realized help had come ti nt last, she gave a little cry| fainted dead away. From somewhere high above out of the darkness and rain neard a voice. Someone was| ing her cold, wet hands and - to her in some strange lafl .he could not understand clea] .'he did not mind. She fefl Portable, protected. As her dull brain clearl realized that the voice, was J .nj?- her and she wearily opif eyes. . ? ? "Thank God! Oh, my dea my Moon-lady, . . .how earn] far from home, and alon ? oice asked wonderingly ;new instantly the owner -stranger. The wind had taken hi| . he found herself looking f ?hut she had known. TheJ lifted her into the car J . orm a nil her head was _ nis breast. Dully she be| call vhnt had happened I a;scd herself, still facc. In a flash she recoi "(in;!; You!" "Yes .sweet, and the driven you to inc. I will I go from me again. M| waiting for you, Joan, aj not be denied one of 1 vou haye always known ( wanted you, dear, bul peak until I had maJ worthy of you." I Joan watched him wifl S:cp: "wsion in her owl went on: "It was al| ?hat first night of the j keep from revealing but I had to make know that your arc -Joan was sitting un ho man was tlelibefl h;- car. in the road. "Two miles back rcfccn North find V t.u have wandered the hotel. Do you . . . .and love me?" "1 think I have seem* now that I hi for you all my life] "Then you are mf I truvssed Well." She did not_ th t.av *l>ed over until they cam* which had beet ,h,. lino where tna The man whej nodded he," ,,?! words from Joan a woman followed came into the the master of minutes later Jo* Once more band wrapped he, wet | lover-like at thl way back Joanl quietly and ??? Kreal J?y l>d f aftir to nl,nV As they reaeK the Head Joanl car lonp enourf from belf and the lwhtl face revealed! happiness in > Ht whisperedl "Moon-madi wonderful nM And the 11 words were I youth. ;'r "l love. He P'l a long k'49 I l?The cUrlJ inelv as th4 to him. an. I masculine , Sowell and | THE ASHEVILLE TIMES, At your door ? Promptly ? each ever* and Sunday morning ? from HendersJ GUY DEAN Pi Good Meals and Perfj ? at -J THE MANHATTjI Waltermire Bui BROAD STREET SEI OPPOSITE GRAMMAR SCllOOlJ SERVICE SUq (? UKM.tNK OH. AND ACCKSSC CARS WASHED A."^ GIVE US A] I PHONE
Brevard News (Brevard, N.C.)
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Feb. 17, 1927, edition 1
5
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