The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-09-20

he was admitted into her presenre.
She Was very whitej very fragile, bu
more beautiful than in the coloring of per
feet health A new e$hressi5hy too, was il
the violet eyes taised to welcome him.
"l am very glad to meet you again," sht
said, gently. AZ hear you have been anx
ious about me. You were very kind"
Then the words he had not meant t.
speak burst from his lips,
"Anxiotls7' he said. "Can man Mis-:
RayburnJ perishing of hunger, hear of the
famine withuut shudder am piesumpt-
uous, you will say. ttlst true. What is my
life with its many sealed pages in which
your eyes cUuld never look, that should
dare offer it to you And yet, purified by
your love, would try to make it more
worthy. Tell me-answer me If serve
as Jacob served for Rachel, is there hope
that may win your My darlingl my
darling l love you cannot live my life
without you Will you not share it ?'
Lower and lower dropped the lids, until
the long dark lashos swept the marble
cheek, while the sweet mouth trembled ;
but the momehtary weakness passed as she
spUkel
"Forget all that you have said, Mr.. Clay
ton. II can never be-"
"You do not love mc7" he questioned,
sadly.
Again that swift expression of pain fitted
across the lovely face.
al shall never marry" she answered (;
"but," and in her voice crept an almost
pleading tone, "I need my friends very
much, Mr.. Clayton. Do not desert mel"
81 cannot," he replied. "To desert you
would be To desert the 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 Harold
Clayson's ear. AS she looked when she
pronounced his doom, so he had fancied she
might have looked when the statue warmed
into life.
Since them she had been colder, more
dstatitJ than before but he had caught the
momentary expression, and transferred it
to the picture on which his every leisure
moment was spent.
He was thus engrossed, one morning,
ever striving to add new beauty to his al
most perfect work, when low knock at the
door aroused him.
"Come in /" he called, then bent atiew 10
his task, without so much as raising his
head, until low, laughing voice sounded
close beside him,
We were caught in the shower, Mr..
Clayton, and persuaded Margaret to seek
shelter With me hefe. did not dream she
would find herself forestatied,"
1t was Mrs. Somers who spoke the lady
Who had first presented him to Miss Ray
burn-whose instructions he had, unknown
to her, carried out.
"Margarety" she added, turning to her
friend, "you have been sitting for your por-
trait, and did not let me know. Why have
you kept it such secret2"
He had now sprung to his feet in time to
see the rosy tide spread over Margaret Ray
burns face.
1t Was liberty took without Miss
Rayburn's knowledge, Mrs, Somers," he
81 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 rejoinedj while
ttrned away TO examine the
sketches and studies lying about in profuse
"Here are some sketches taketi while |
was studying abroad, Miss Rayburn," said
Harold. "Will you amuse yourself by look
ing at them 2"
81 will retdrn in few momeuts?" in
Mrs. Somers. "Wait for me, my
iear."
A word of expostGlstioh rose to Margar-
Its lips, but too late. The door had closed
behind the speaker.
Silence fell between the two thus left be-
hind, when low cry arrested Harold's
'ttention. He sprang to Miss Rayburn's
tide.
Her eyes we're fixed upon little sketch
he held in her hand. 1t represented a
saming' table, at one end of which sat
nan, baggard, desperate, despairing, and
y him child, holding out 10 him a single
,old piece, with smile in her eyes, and
prayer on her lips.
You would know the history of thst
'ietureP he said (" Let me tell you.
fears ago l was in Homburg. The gaming
ables attracted mej and every night found
ne beside them, losing Or winning, accord
ng TO the fortune of the hour. One even
ng the demon of ill-luck pursued me. lost
nd lost, until found my all was slipping
rom me. In the vain hope of retrieving it ,
went on, until knew that was beggar-
d. Maddehed, desperate, determined to
'ut an end to my miserabls life, when
ONE one touched my shoulder a ehilds
ngel stood before mo and slipped into my
Iand piece Of gold. For my sake she
whispered. The etoupier's hoatse call
warned me no time was 10 be lost. I
taxed the gold and won but turning to /
i've her back her own she had fed. When {
rose from the table had recovered all {
nd more, but l vowed vow TO my un-
nown deliverer that | would never again {
azard dollar of the fortune | considered !
ers. have never found her, Margaret. t
'he child will never know her work, but i
m not afraid to meet her, for have kept c
ny pledge" l
Harold Pit was almost whisper, but