Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-06-10

anu uneasy, ulltll he again lOullu
himself within the scope Of her
fascinations. Yet her nature re-
IHiainedIa Iain enigma Ito him. AL
though SO young in years, SO
beautiful IN form and feature, she
seemed cold even to haughtiness,
reticent almost to scorn. 1t was
al. .thodgh.solhe exquisite marble
statue had i.iseiY in his pathway,
Which might some day warm In
to life. She welcomed him when
ever they met with a. manner
whioh, while it gave.him.nolcause
for complaint, yet chilled the
hope'springing in his breast.
One day, ON going toher home,
the servant met him at the door
with the announcement that she
was very i'll. This knowledge
brought other knowledge-the
fact chat he could no longer con-
ceall from himself the fact that
lhe loved her, and that onShis hope
of winning her hung his life's
happiness. lie went back to his
studio Mretched and despairing,
and seated himself at his easel.
He had not meant to paint her
faees-his- brain seemed uneon-
scious Of his fingers toil-yet,
when the morning broke, it was
her features smiling at him from
the canvas, and he, remembered
the words his hostess had uttered
ON the night he first, had met heI
that thus should he render him.
self immortal .sNe3oAa m6S
He grew pale and wan in the
days of anxious suspense, when
those who watched overher couch
kpew;not WHICH woubl conquer,
the angel of life or death. But
there came a time, never to be
forgotten, when he was admitted
into her presence. Sllelwas very
white, very fragile, but more
beautifnl-thafi in the eolofing of
perfect health. A new express
sion, too, was in the violet eyes
raised to welcome him. -. =
81 am very glad to meet you
again." she said,o gently. "I hear
you have been anxious about me.
You were very kind" 10
Then the, words he had not
meant to speak burst from his
lips. s...,,sp .Ire es9
@Anxious?p he said: "Can a
man, Miss Reyburn. perishing of
hulieershear. of the famine with
out a. shudder? ] am, presump-
tuous, you will say. 1t is true.
What is nay life, with its many
sealed pages, inlwhich your eyes
could never look, that ] should
dare ofRlTitt9 you? land yet,
purifiefI by your love, / would try
tosnnlke it mSre worthy q Tell
me-answer mel If / serve as
Jacob served for Rachel,is there
hope that I.,may win you! My
darling! my darling! l love you!
/ cannot live my life without you!
VIII you not share it?"
Lower and lower dropped the
lids, until the long dark lashes
swept the marble; cheek, while
the sweet mouth trcmbled; but
the momentary weakness passed
asshc spoke: fForget ALL that
| you have said, Mr.. Clayton. 1t
can never he.p q y Z J y
"You do not love me- he ques-
toned SADLY" tn % l9''a - s'q + +
Again that swift expression of
pain fitted across the lovely face.
t"I shall never marry" she an
swered; "but,''' and in her voice
crept an almost pleading tone, 81
need my friend yely much. Dc
not desert me-" fr'sl l'.''''
~ can not" he replied. "TC
desert you would be to desert
the hope of one day forcing you
to slnsay those cruel words--the
hope which will go with me tc
my grave. s. &, '... s,sis 8
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 fan.
cied she might have looked wher
the statue warmed into life. Since
then she has been colder, moro
distant than before; but he haC
caught the. momentary expires
sion and transferred it to the pic.
] ture on which his every leisure
moment was spent. He was thus
engrossed one morning, ever stri.
wing to add new beauty to his
almost perfect work, when a low
knock at the door aroused him
+ @Come ini he called, then bent
anew to his task without SO mucl
as raising. his head until a low
laughing voice sounded close be-
side him. or sefe s2gsEsFe
eve were caught in the show
er,e. Mr.. Clayton, and | persuaded
Margaret to seekshelter with mC
here. s ! did not dream she would
find herself forestalled."
Itwas Mrs, Somers who SPOKE
-. -. =. I a A ~ A