The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-07-22

DER the clear blue sky, with q great
weight lifted from his heart and brain,
Harold Clayton vS8ed that IL should be
his lie search, but that the lesson
taught him should never be forgotten,
and the gaming table should know him
no 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 crowded as
sembly, some one, In passing, touched
him lightly on the arm with her fan,
and glancing around, he met the smiling
/ face Of his hostess.
Come" she said, 81 want to present
/ you to my belle. II you can prevail
upon her to give you a sitting, and
transfer her coloring 10 canvass, you
/ will render yourself immortal"
'ls she, then, 50 beautiful? 2" he ques-
toned.
"Judge for yourself" she lightly re-
Joined, leading him to a little group
doing homage TO the fair girl in its
centre.
"Miss Reyburn-Mr. Clayton" were
the formal words of the Introduction, as
Harold bowed in acknowledgement be-
fore the woman whom his artistic eye
confessed the most beautiful that, in all
his wanderiugs, he had ever met. Be
fore the evening was ended, he might
have added, the first woman be had
ever loved, since she bad awakened in
him an interest as new as il was
strange.
Through the next week her face
I haunted him. Then they met again,
and the charm grew and deepened. He
could not define It; he scarcely acknowl-
edged it to himself; only away from
/ Miss Reyburn he was restless aud I'M
/ easy, until be again found himself with
/ in the scope Of her destinations.
Yet her nature remained an enigma
/ to him. Although so young in years,
so beautiful in form and feature, she
/ seemed cold even 10 haughtiness, reti-
cent almost TO scOrn. 10 was as though
some exquisite marble statue had risen
/ in his pathway, which might some day
warm into life. She welcomed him
/ whenever they met with a manner
| which, while il gave him no cause for
complaint, vet chilled the hope spring
ing within his breast
One day, on going to her home, the
I servant met him az the door with the
announcement that She was very i'll.
I This knowledge brought other kuOwl-
edge-the fact that he could not conceal
from himself that be loved her, and
that on his hope Of winning her hung
his life's happiness.
He went back to his studio, wretehed
and despairing, and seated himself al
his easel. He had not meant TO paint
her face-his brain seemed unconscious
Of his fingers toil-yet when the morn
ing broke, il was her features smiling
upon him from the canvass, and he re-
membered the words his hostess had
used the first night he had met her
that thus should he render himself inn
mortal. He grew pale aud wan in the
days Of anxious suspense, when those
who watched over her couch knew moi
which would conquer, the angel OF lif,
OF death.
But there came an hour, never to b.
forgotten, when he was admitted TO be
presence. She was very white, very
g fragile, but more beautiful than in th'
colOring Of perfect health. a new eX
. preston, too, was in the violet eye
raised to welcome him.
81 am very glad TO meet you again,
, she said, gently. 81 hear you have
been snxious about me. You were very
; kind"
Then the words he had not meant 6,
speak burst from his lips.
Anxious ~ be said. 'Cau q man
Miss Reyburn, perishing Of hunger
hear OF the famine without a shudder
| am presumptuous, you will say. It d
true. What is my life, with its many
settled pages in which your eyes cOui,
never look, that / should dare offer 10 4
you? And yet, purified by your love,
would try TO make 1t more worthy. Tel
me-answer me- II ] serve as JacOl
did Rachel, is there hope that | MAJ
4 .f-r III
. love YOU / cannot live my life with
out YOU! Will not you share t?n
Lower and lower dropped the lids
until the long dark lashes swept th
marble cheek, while the sweet mOutl
trembled but the momentaTy weak
ness passed as she spoke:
"Forget all that you have said, AIl
Clayton. Il can never be-"
"Iou do not love me?" he questioned
sadly.
Again that swift expression OF pail
fitted across the lovely face.
D 81 shall never marry" she answered
! "but,n and in her voice crept almost
e pleading tone, 81 need my friend yer.
3 much, Mr.. Clayton. Do not deser
= mer
e "I cannot" he replied. 'To deseT
! you would be 70 desert the hope Of on
} day forcing you to unsay those erue
words-the hope which viii go with N
: to my grave
4 What was the barrier between them
= This was the question ever ringing d
r Harold Clayton's ear. As she locke
e when she pronounced his doom, so b
= had fancied she might have locke
4 when the statue warmed into life.
o Since then, she had been colder, NOR
distant than before; but he had caugh
the momentary expression, and trans
s ferred 10 TO the picture on which hi
t every leisure moment was spent.
Y He was thus engrOssed Que morning
: ever striving 10 add new beauty to hi
D almost perfect work, when low knoc
u at the door aroused him.
e "Come in ~ he called, then bent anel
d to his task, without so much as raisin
z bis head until a low, laughing vote
= sounded close beside him.
awe were caught in the shower, Nj
j. Clayton; and l persuaded Margaret
; seek shelter with me here. l did nC
z dream she would find herself fforestalled.
q It was Mrs SOmers who spoke-th
v lady who had first presented him
Miss ReybuIn-wh0se instruction b
t had, unknown to her, carried out.
Il Margaret" she added, turning
q her friend, "you have been sitting fo
n your portrait aud did not let me know
Why have you kept it such secret p?
b He had now sprung to his feet !
3, time to see the rosy tide spread owe
Margaret Reyburn's face.
Y at was a liberty / took withou
Is Miss Reyburn's knowledge, Mrs. som
ers," be explained. 81 assure you
= have never been Sd fortunate as TO 81