The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-02-28
||||||| |lI| ||||l||E 81
The Harvest Moon
BY JUsTUs MILES FORMAN
downright. 1QtA Inv Tho N~,y.

the Harvest Moon, swept like a
scourge through the southern
world a decade past, and yet
find that even the name Is cur
iously unknown here in the north.
Then quite suddenly the pearl
disappeared for nearly five years.
1t is with its resurrection that we
have here to deal.
Miss Violet Linden came out of
the postoffice. She nodded to sew
eral acquaintances, for everybody
is In George street in the morn
Ing, and presently became aware
that there was a little knot Of
people before the window of Sgd
ney's. leading jeweler and gold
smith. The usual window display
OF rings and brooches and of pins
set with Australian stones had
been covered with a sort of pail
OF black velvet. And upon this
little elevated platform lay a sin
gle unset gem. huge pearl, pear
shaped, fiery pink in color-the
ruby in a mist"
She made queries. The pearl
was the property of traveller
who had graciously allowed its
exhibition for O day or two. 1t
was not for sale, and the owner
did not wish his name known. She
had meant to do several things
that morning, but they had fled
from her mind. She said: Home"
got into the car and fell back
against the soft cushions with a
little sigh.
Arrived at her brief journeys
end, she went through the house.
found nobody about save a parlor
maid, and so passed on into the
garden. Miss Linden went to a
certain bench which stood in the
shade, and sat down there.
She closed her eyes, and 1t was
as II the three years past were
suddenly removed from the pro-
cession of time. She heard young
Castles voice as he sat beside her
on the bench; she heard 1t drop
to pleading whisper as he lean
ed near to her.
Three years! And where was
young Castle now? God knew
If anybody.
1t was not very often that Miss
Lindon allowed her memories,
feelings, emotions unrestrained
license. But the sight of the Har-
vest Moon lying in state upon its
pail of black had shaken her
more than she would have be-
lieved to be possible. 1t brought
him back, the boy who had loved
her. with an illusion of reality
that almost frightened her. She
heard the boys voice-it pleaded
with her once more:
"Give me q chance! Let me
sack a city or two for you, build
an empire, win a crown for you.
Isn't there something you'd like
done?"
1t seemed to Miss Linden that,
in some strange fashion, she was
looking on, apart, like stranger,
an unseen third in that place. She
heard the girl say a little YEARLY,
as II she were beginning to be a
trlfle bored:
"Oh, yes, heaps of things!
Bring me the Harvest Moon, II
you're looking for something to
do"
Young Castle answered.:
81 will or die trying. And
when / come back with It, Vio-
lett"
81 shall be waiting" said she.
CPL wait for you, Jerry" Once
more he spoke. unsteadily. He
said:
do You love me, Violet" And
she. still in her odd, tender mood,
said:
Eyes. Oh, yes, indeed, Jerry.
Yes, and I'll wait for you. Never
fear! I'll wait"
She said: Its test for you,
isn't it?"
"If fail I shan't come back. T
shan't be alive, you see." Then
he kissed her hands and went
away. And that was all of 1t.
The three years slipped neatly
and clearly back into their place
In the procession of time. Miss
Lindon covered her eyes with her
hands. Afterward she gave lit
tie unsteady laugh, and 1t turned
at the end, to laugh of mock
cry.
Had she ever loved him? She
shook her head slowly.
Poor Castle, with his dreams
and his romantic oaths and his
fond eyes! Where was he now?
Alive or dead?
The girl sat up with little
sudden cry. Could 1t be that
young Castle was the mysterious
traveller who had brought the
Harvest Moon to Sydney? She
dropped back again smiling. Not
he. Success was not in such as
Castle. He was marked for fail
ure.
She heard her mothers shrill
voice at window, and rose to go
In.
At the door sealed note, sent
by hand. was given her. 1t was
signed "Ridforth. The girl gave
an exclamation of great surprise.
She had met that midle- aged
peer few weeks before on a
cruise among the islands. The
marquis of Ridforth, making a
leisure tour Of the globe, CHANGED
IN fnoIuda fhfa Iffflo crufao In hia