The Russellville Democrat., 1880-05-20

uttered on the night he first had met her-that thus should he render himself immortal.
 He grew pale and wan in the days of anxious suspence, when those who watched over her couch knew not which would conquer, the angel of life ol death. But there came an hour, never to be forgotten, when he was admitted into her presence.
 She was very white and fragile, but more beautiful than in the coloring o perfect health. A new expression, too was in the violet eyes raised to welcome him.
 "I am very glad to meet you again, she said gently. q hear you have beer anxious about me. You are very kind.
 Then the words he had not meant tc speak burst from his lips.
 "Anxious?" he said. Gan man, Miss Rayburn, perishing of hunger, hear of the famine without shudder? am presumptuous, you will say. It is true What is my life, with it's many settled pages into which your eyes could 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 I may win you? My darlingi my darling! I love youl l cannot live my life without youl Will you not share it?"
 Lower and lower dropped the lids un- til the long, dark lashes swept the mar 1 ble cheek, when the sweet mouth trem- bled; but the momentary weakness pass ed as she spoke:
 Forget all that you have said, Mir. | Clayton. It can never be-"
 "You do not love me?" he questioned sadly.
 Again that swift expression of pain fitted across the lovely face.
 'I shall never marry" she answered. but" and in her voice crept an almost l pleading tone, "I need my friends very much, Mir. Clayton. Do not desert mew
 "I can not" 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 ears. As she looked when she pronounced his doom, so he had fancied she might have looked | WHCIl lilC otdtuC liltO IiiGs
 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 every leisure moment was spent.
 Hewas thus engrossed one morning, ever striving to add new beauty to his almost perfect work, when low knock at the door aroused him. | Come in," he called, and then he bent anew to his task, without so much as raising his head, until low, laughing voice sounded beside him.
 "We were caught in the shower, MT. Clayton, and persuaded Margaret to seek shelter with me here. l did not dream she would find herself fore stalled"
 It was Mrs. Somers who spoke-the lady who had first presented him to Miss Rayburn-whose instructiont be 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 seeret?"
 He had now sprung to his feet in time to see the rosy tide spread over Marga- ret Rayburn's face.
 It is liberty I took without Miss Rayburn's knowledge, Mrs. Somers," he explained "I assure you have never been so fortunate as to secure sitting"
 'Well. you shall have one now, and you must thank me for it." she rejoined, while Margaret turned away to examine the sketches and studies lying about in profuse confusion.
 Il sHere are some sketches taken while I was studying abroad" said Harold. Will you amuse yourself by looking at | them?"
 q will return in few moments" in- terrupted Mrs. Somers. "Wait for me, my dear. !" ltRFG .Gt'1e E
 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 loud cry arrested liar. old's attention. He sprang to Miss Ray burns side.
 Her eyes were fixed upon a little sketch she held in her hand. 1t represented g gambling. table, at one end of which I sat a man, haggard, desperate, despair ing, and by him child, holding out to him single gold-piece, with smile in her eyes, and seemingly prayer on hei lips
 "You would know the history of that r picture,n he said. "Let me tell you Years ago was in Hamburg. The gam II ing tables attracted me. and every night found me beside them, losing or win ming, according to the fortune of the hour, One evening the demon ill-luck pursued me. l lost and lost until found was beggared. Maddened, des perate, resolved to put an end to my miserable lite, when some one touched my shoulder; a child-angel stood before me and slipped into my hand piece oi gold. For my sakep she whispered The croupier's hoarse cail warned me nc time was to be lost. l staked the golo and won, hut turning to give her back her own she had fled. When l rost from the table had recovered all anC more. but vowed VOW to my unknowr deliverer that would never again haz ard dollar of the fortune I considered hers. l have never found her, Marga ret. The child will never know hel , work, but am not afraid to meet her for have kept my pledge" | "uarold!" it was almost whisper. bu , something in the tone made his hear l give wild. joyous leap-"have l knowr { you all this time, and have you jus found me out? It was this, Harold } which separated us. I dared not giv' l my life to man whom had first knowI as gambler 1 supposed you stil [ played, and thought that to see agaiI the expression on your faee I had seer