The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-02-28

shrubbery, and he asked me, in a
sort of whisper, who she was.
told him, and he gave a dreadful
cry of angrish and dispair. To
be brief, the poer wrech collaps-
ed then and there. 1t was as
If the life had been broken in
him. There was no longer any
question of fitting him out and
taking him on board ship, it was
a matter of bed and medical at
tendance and nursing"
The girl stared at Lord Rid
forth with frowning, puzzled eyes.
She still failed to understand, but
she began to be afraid.
II nursed this wreck of man
for ten days, ten very terrible
| days. l heard horrors which will
haunt me SO long as l live as
they haunted my poor friend be-
fore he died."
Miss Lindon hid her face with
a little exclamation of horror, but
Lord Ridforth faced her sternly.
Perhaps you would like to
KNOW" said he, why this poor
lad left civilization and suffered
and died so terribly. 1t was, so
please you, to find a pearl for a
lady who had told him she loved
him."
The girls hands slipped down
from her face as If the strength
had gone suddenly out of them,
and for a long silent instant she
stared across at Lord Ridforth.
Then she gave a lond sharp cry
that was well-nigh a scream.
Jerry Castle! 1t was Jerry
Castle.
Il know" she said in a swift
whisper. "The Harvest Moon l
saw 1t this morning in that win
dow. l saw 1t. Jerry found it
he really found it-somehow-
And you brought 1t to me-"
He put one hand into his waist
coat pocket and, between thumb
and forefinger, withdrew a small
object. 1t was the Harvest moon.
A deep flush swept Miss Lin
dons face, and her hands twitched
and moved toward the pearl, but
withdrew themselves, and lay, as
1t were, half encircling it.
Abruptly she folded her arms
together, and laid her face upon
them, and began to weep with
terrible and rending sobs. Lord
Ridforth watched her without a
tremor.
But after long time the girl
sat up once more, and her face
was still, but grief had ravished
it Incredibly.
And So" said she, II have
killed him. l have brought him
to his DEATH" She said:
mo, didn't even love him. II
I had"
You told him you loved him."
said Lord Ridforth. you -
kissed him, understand, and
promised to wait"
Ibid II" she asked duly. Ibid
do that? I dare say. It's
rather like me-" She gave an ex-
ceedingly bitter smile.
"You see," she explained pa
tiently, 81 wanted to marry well
to have position and influence
and beautiful things-jewelry-
all that. 1t has been a passion
with me. On that cruise, a few
weeks ago, when / met you, I de-
liberately did everything in my
power to attract you to me. !
saw myself making great mar
riage. I'd have given by body
and soul for It. You knew, sup
pose? You saw me at it,"
II did," said Lord Ridforth.
well, failed at that, and so
took the Soames man instead. I
et him propose the very evening
before we landed at Suva. And
Jerry saw us - saw me let
Soames kiss-Oh!"
She covered her eyes, writhing.
so now you know what am
have been"
Have been?" the man de-
manded.
Yes" said she. Have been.
1t may seem a little odd but, you
see, love him now. Now that
he Is dead l know that / love
him; ! wish I could crawl on
hands and knees to where he lies
and tell him SO. wish l were
dead and lying with him In his
grave.
Perhaps, you know she said
perhaps deep down In me, UNI
der the other things, I've been
loving him all the while. won
der"
Love. observed Lord Rid