The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1880-07-28


Margaret sheadded, turning TO
her friend, you have been sitting for
your portrait, and did not let me
know. Why have you kept il such
a seeret2p
He had now sprung toshls feat in
time to seethe rusy tide spread over
Margaret Rayburn's face.
" is aliberty j took without Miss
lRayburn's knowledge, sIrs. somers,s Z
he explained. 81 assure you Ishaye
never been SO fortunate as TO secure
a setting
PeiE sou shall have one now,
and guu must thank me for it, she
ffejoined, while Margaret, turned
away 70 examine the Sketches and
studies lying about ii pfoiuse con.
iuslon' !.
.l Here are some sketches iaken
lIia ,gl saybura,'
said Harold " ~ |yvdsaniass yJiE.
selfby looking at themYs
Il will return in afcw moments y
interrupted Mrs. ,somers. "Wait for
me, dear +.
A word of exposlulatioa rose to
Margaret's lips, but too late. The
door had closed behind the speaker,
Silence fell Between the two thus
left behind, when loud cry arrested
Harold's attention. He sprang to
Miss Rayburn's side.
Her eyes were fixed upon Il little
sketch she held in her hand. Itrep-
resented a gaming table at one end
of which sata man-haggared, des-
perate, despairing, and by him a
child, holding out to him single
gold piece, with u smile in her eyes,
and seemingly q prayer ON her lips.
"You would know the history of
that picture2n he said. LET me tell
you. Years ago was in Hamburg.
The gaming tables attracted me, and
every night found ME beside them,
losing or winning, according to the
fortune Of the hour. One evening
the demon i'll luck persued me. l
lost and lost until l found was beg
CARED. Maddened, desperate, Iresol-
we'd to put end to my miserable life,
when some one tuched my shoulder;
a child angel stood before me, and
slipped into my hand piece Of gold.
"For my sakela she whispered. The
croupier's hoarse call warned me no
time was to be lost. / staked the
Igold and won; but turning to, give
.fher back her own, she had fled
When 1 rose from the table, Ihadre4
covered all and more, but | vowed q
WOW to my unknown deliverer that
Fl would never again hazardta dollar
tof the fortune / considered hers. i
have never found her, Margaret.
! The child will never know her work
but / am not afraid to meet her, for
| have kept my pledge"
"Haroldl"-it was almost whis-
per, but something in the tone made
his heart give wild, joyous leap
'have | known you all this time,
and have you just found me out? 1t
was this, Harold, that separated us.
1'dared not to give my life to man
whom | had first known as gam
bier. | supposed you still played,
and / thought that TO see again that
expression on your face l had seen
that night would kill me. Tell me,
is it true? Have you never touched
q card since?"
"Neyerl" he answered solemnly.
"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 woman? My own,
you will not doom the life you have
savedl'
But at this juncture, Mrs. soners,
opening Che door, beats a precipitate
retreat. Harold's statue had warmed
into life, and pressing the lovelylips
to his, he thanks God that it is his
breath which has awakened it.
A clergyman who had been travel.
ing in remote part of the west,
uoe oSl, o1 h,, :, ,>;s,,e Ill I1 80