The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-12-31

! the words MS nOSteSS Hau uttSf0u Oh Tie
night he first had met her-that thus he
should render himself immortal.
He grew pale and wan in the days OF
anxious suspense, when those who were
watching over her couch knew not which
would conquer, the angel of life or death
But there came an hour. never to be for
gotten, when he was admitted into her
presence.
She was very white, very fragile, but
more beautiful than in the coloring OF
perfect health. A new expression, too,
was in the violet eyes raised to welcome
| him.
she said, gently. ST hear you have
been anxious about me. You were very
kind"
Then the words he had not meant to
speak burst from his lips
"Anxious?" he said, "can man, Miss
Reyburn, perishing of hunger, hear OF
the famine without shudder I am pre-
sumptuous, you will say. It is true.
What is my life with its many settled
pages in which your eyes could never
| look, that I should dare to offer il to
you? And yet, purified by your love, |
would try to make it more worthy. Tell
me-answer me If I serve as Jacob
served for Rachel. is there hope that I
may win you'll My darling! Ny dar-
ling! I cannot live my life without you!
viii you not share it?"
Lower and lower dropped the lids, I'M
til the long dark lashes swept the marble
cheek, while the sweet mouth trembled;
but the momentary weakness passed as
she spoke: Forget all that you have
said, Mr.. Clayton It can never be.
You do not love me?" he questioned
sadly.
Again that swift expression Of pain
fitted across the lovely face.
~ shall never marry she answered;
"but, and in her voice crept an almost
pleading tone, II need my friends very
much, Mr.. Clayton. Do not desert mel''
Il cannot, he replied. To desert you
would be to desert the hope of one day
forcing you to unsay those 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 Clayton'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 then, she had been colder, more
distant than before; but he caught the
momentary expression, and transferred
1t 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
almost perfect work, when a low knock
at the door aroused him.
Come in!'' he called, then bent anew
to 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 I persuaded Margaret to
dream she would find herself forstalled. F."
1t was Mrs. Somers who spoke-the
lady who had first presented him to Miss
Reyburn-whose instruction he had, un-
known to her, carried out.
Margaret" she asked, turning to her
friend, you have been sitting for your
portrait, and did not let me know. Why
have you kept it such o secret?"
He had now sprung to his feet in time
to see the rosy tide spread over Margaret
Reyburn' s face.
''It was liberty 1 took without Miss
Reyburn' s knowledge, Mrs. Somers, he
explained. II assure you I have never
been so fortunate as to secure sitting. I"
'Well, you shall have one now. and
you must thank me for it, she reioined
while Margaret turned away to examine
the sketches and studies lying about in
profuse confusion.
"Here are some sketches taken while
was studying abroad, Miss Reyburn, y
said Harold Will you amuse yourself
by looking at them?
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 low cry arrested Harold s
attention. He sprang to Miss Reyburn's
side
Her eyes were fixed upon alittle sketch
she held in her hand. 1t represented a
gaming-table, ct one end of which sat a
man, haggard, desperate, desparlng, and
by him child, holding out to him sin
| gle gold piece, with smile in her eyes,
and seemlnglya prayer on her lips.
''You would know the history of that
picture" he said ''Let me tell you.
Years ago was III Hamburg. The gam
g-tables attracted me, and every night
found me beside them, losing or winning,
according to the fortune of the hour.
One evening the demon Ill luck pursued
me. lost and lost till / found I was
beggard. Maddened, desperate, / re-
solved to put an end to my miserable
life. when some one touched my shoulder;
cnlld angel stood before me and slipped
into my hand piece of gold. For my
sake' she whispered The croupier s
hoarse call warned me no time was to be
lost. / staked the gold and won, but
turning to give back her own, she had
fed. When I rose from the table had
recovered all and more, but I vowed to
myunknown deliverer that would never
again hazard dollar of the fortune Icon
sidered hers l have never found her,
Margaret. The child will never know
her work, but L am not afraid to meet
her, for have kept my pledge"
'Haroldw-it was almost q whisper,
but something in the tone made his heart
give wild, joyous leap have I known
you all this time, and you have Just
found me out? TWAS this, Harold, that
| separated us. / dared not give my life
to man whom 1 had first known as
gambler. l supposed you still played,
aud thought that to see again the ex-
preston on your face I had seen that
night would kill me- Tell me, is it true?
! Have Won never touched card since?"
"Neverl' he answered, solemrly
"And it is to you owe tit and life.
Pearl-Little Pearl, can You not trust
the man who has been so long faithful to
the child to be still faithful TO the wo-
man? My own, you will not doom the
life that you have saved?"
Butat this juncture, Mrs. Somers, open.
| ing the door beats a preclplate retreat.
Harold's statue has warmed into life.
and, pressing the lovely bps to his, he
thanks God that it is breath which has
awakened it.
S--------.---~-=-.--
Genuine EI0Quence.
Leitch Richie, in his "Travels in
| ireland relates the foliowinor incident :.