River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-11-13
LITTLE PEARL.
.tRed Winsi'

ana again Teltefdttu q. only ulN6IslHeu
with that of Red loses!' which broke
the stiffness in the superbly-appointed
room at Homburg, with the gaming
table in its centre, round which were
gathered its eager votaries, behind
whom were the scarcely less interested
group of loukeTs-On.
Come away, my DEAR" said very
lovely woman among the spectators, in
a low whisper to her husband. 81 am
sorry that we came. This Is no place
for. Pearl" indicating, with nod OF the
head as she spoke, an exqisitely beautl-
lul girl. scarcely more than a child of
some twelve or thirteen summer, who
stood beside them.
"Come, PEARL" the father said.
But the girl stood entranced, her
eyes fixed upon mans face seated at
the farthest end of the table. 1t was a
strikingly handsome face, even when
wearing, as it now did, an exDression Of
calm, born Of desperation. No tinge of
color was in either cheek or lips
HIS eyes shOne with IL strange and
har glitter, and were liked upon the
balls as they swung round, as though on
the color uppermost hung his hope of
life or death.
And 50 it was! He had sat down pos
sessed of fortune; he rose a beggarl
Fate had pursued him Win It's knocking
hopelessness, until he had placed his
last stake, only to see it mercilessly
swept from him.
He half arose from the table. What
more was to be done, save to out
somewhere into the still night air, and
send bullet through his heart or brain.
1t was at this moment the girl, with
flushed cheeks and half parted lips,
darted to his side.
Take this" she pleaded, for my
SAX >, +" and pressed Il gold piece INTO his
cold hand.
He turned. TO his excited magma
ton he seemed scarcely mortal, III her
pure, c hid like lovliness. His first inn
pulse was to return her oilering-he
was not yet an alms-taker; but again
rang out the croupier's cry of com
mand q place the stakes.
The child stood breathless in her
eager expectancy, her eyes burning
with feverish interest.
4 sudden impulse overmastered him.
Without speaking a word he placed the
gold upon the table.
IHt IlFAl lilli4NttC q CiAAeiAA liAAC vi EOAh
was at his elbow lie staked it all
again. Again he won. A bright spot of
car,et replaced the pallor on mis- cheek,
which spread and deepened as Dame
Fortune, who had so persistently frown-
ed upon him, now reserved for him
only her smiles.
Morning was breaking when he no e
from the table, no longer desperate
al A., r Il
turned to him.
After the first winning he had turned
10 return to the child her Offering, but
she had vanished. Should he ever find
her, ever repay the debt? He knew
not; but, standing at last out under the
clear blue sky, with great weight lifted
from heart and brain, Harold Clay ton
vowed that it should be his life search,
but that the lesson taught him should
never be forgotten, and the gaming
atbles should know him never more.
Six years passed, and Harold Clayton
was winning name and fame in his own
land in his profession as an artist.
Standing one night in a crowded as
semhly, some one in passing touched
him lightly on the arm with her fan,
ttAAO SithAiNfhS 8oAAAANi ~ 49, NAAS NsAAAat
ing face of his hostess.
Come she said, Il want to present
You TO my belle. Ii you can prevail
upon her TO give you sitting, and
transfer her coloring to canvass, you
will render yourself immortal"
'IS she then so beautiful? ?" he queS-
toned.
Judge for yourself" she lightly re-
joined, leading him to little group do
Ing homage to the fair girl in Its centre.
Miss Rlyburn-Mr. CLAYTON" were
the formal words of the introduction, as
Harold bowed in acknowledgment be-
fore the woman whom his artistic eye
confessed the most beautiful he had
ever met.
Before the evening was ended he
might have added the woman whom he
had ever loved, since she had awakened
in him an interest as new as it was
strange.
Through the next week her face
haunted him. They met again, and
the charm grew aud deepened He
could not define it, he scarcely acknowl-
edged it To himself; only away from
Miss Rayburn he was restless AMI uu-
cas-, until he again found himself with
en- the scope of her destinations.
Yet her nature remained an enigma
to him. Although 80 young in years.
so beautiful in form and feature, she
seemed cold even to haughtiness, re
ticent almost TO scorn.
1t was as though some exquisite mar
bic statue bad risen in mas pathway,
which might some day warm into life.
She welcomed him whenever they
met with manner which, while it gave
him no cause for COMPLAINT, yet chilled
ihe 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 life's happiness.
He went back to his studio, wretched
and despairing. and seated himself at
his easel. He had not meant TO paint