Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-11-13

tIdDSG-
Through the next week her face
haunted him. They met again, and
the charm grew and deepened. He
could not define it, he scarcely acknowl-
edged it to himself; only away from
Miss Rayburn he was restless and un-
easy, until he again found himself with
en- the scope of her destinations.
Yet her nature remained an enigma
to him. Although so young in years,
so beautiful in form and feature, she
seemed cold even to haughtiness, re-
tlcent almost to scOrn.
1t was as though some exquisite mar
bic statue had risen in his pathway,
which might some day warm into life.
She welcomed him whenever they
met with manner which, while i; gave
him no cause for omplaint, yet chilled
the hope springing within his breast.
One day, on going to her home, the
servant met him at the door with the
announcement that she was very i'll,
This knowledge brought other knowl.
edge-the fact he could no longer con-
ceal from himself that he loved her,
and that on his hope of winning her
hung his iife's happiness.
He went back to his studio, wretched
and despairing, and seated himself at
his easel. He had not meant to paint
her face-his brain seemed uncon-
scious Of his finger toil-yet, when the
morning broke, it was her features
smiling upon him from the canvass,
and he remembered the words his host
ess had uttered on the night he first
had met her-that thus should he rem
der himself immortal.
He grew pale and wan in the days of
anxious suspense, when those who
watched over her couch knew not which
would conquer, the angel of life or
death. But there came an hour, never
to be forgotten, when he was admitted
into her presence.
She was very white, very fragile, but
more beautiful than in tie cOloring of
perfect health. A new expression, too,
was in the violet eyes raised to welcome
him.
II am very glad to meet you again."
she SAID gently. 81 near you have been
anxious about me. You were very
kind"
Then the words he had not meant to
speak burst from bis lips.
"Anxious?" ne said. "Can a man
Miss Ray perishing ofhunger, hear
of the famine without a shudder? I am
presumptuous, you will say. 1t is true.
What is my life, with its many sealed
pages in which your eyes could never
look, that l should dare offer it to you?
And yet, purified by your love, [ would
try to make it more worthy. Tell me
answer mel If | serve as Jacob served
for Rachel, is there hope that Imay win
you?-My darling! my darlingI l love
Fyou! [ cannot live my life without you!
VIII you not share it?
Lower and lower dropped the lids, Jun
til the long. dark lashes swept the mar
ole check, while the sweet mouth trem-
bled; but the monentary weakness
passed as she spoke:
Forget all that you have said, Mr..
Clayton. 1t can never be-"
"You do not love me?" he questioned,
sadly.
Again that swift exposition of pain
fitted across the lovely face.
81 shall never marry" she answered,
"but," and in her voice crept an almost
pleading tone, az need my friend very
much, Mr.. Clayton. Do not desert mew
81 cannot he replied. "To desert
you would be to desert hope of one
day forcing you to unsay your cruel
words-the hope which will go with me
to my grave"
What was the barrier between them?
This was the question ever ringing In
II - oh IoI
when she procured his doom, so he fam
cied she might have looked when the
statue warmed into life.
Since then, she had been colder, more
distant, than before; but he had caught
the momentary expression, and trans
! ferred it to the picture on which his ey-
cry leisure moment was spent.
He was thus engrossed, one morning,
ever striving to add new beauty to his
almost perfect work, when a low knock
at the door aroused him.
"Come IMP he called, then bent anew
to his task, without so much as raising
his head, until a low laughing voice
sounded close beside him.
I'VE were caught in the shower, Mr..
Clayton, and | persuaded Margaret to
seek shelter with me here. ! did not
dream she would find herself forestall-
ed"
1t was Mrs. Somers who spoke-tne
lady who first presented him to Miss
Rayburn-whose instruction he had,
unknown to her, carried out.
Margaret" she added, turning to
her friend, you have been sitting for
your portrait, and did not let me know.
Why have you kept It such q secret ?'
He had now sprung to his feet III
time to see the rosy tide spread over
Margaret Rayburn's face.
SIT was liberty I took without Miss
Rayburn's knowledge, Mrs. Somers,
he explained. II assure you have
never been so fortunate as to secure a
sitting.
well, you shall have one now, and
you must thank me for it, !" she reioined
while Margaret turned away to ex-
anime the sketches lying about IN pro-
fuse confusion.
Here are some sketches taken while
l was studying abroad, Miss Rayburn,' y
said Harold. ''Will you amuse your
self by looking at them?"
81 will return in few minutes" in
terrupted Mrs. Somers. "Wait for me,
my dear"
A word of expostulation rose to Mar
garet's lips, but too late. The door had
closed behind the speaker.
Silence fell between the two thus left
behind when a low cry arrested Harold s
attention. He sprang to Miss Rayburn's
side.
His eyes were fixed upon a little
sketch she held in her hand. 1t repre-
Senteh q oannh hing IA BILE at one end of