The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-05-11
TRI-WEEKLY EDITION.

formal wcrds,of the introduction, as Harold
bowed in acknowledgement before the wo-
man whom his artistic eye confessed the
most beautiful, that Ain all his wanderings
he h9d.eycr met. ,S -sf% $$E
Before the evening vas ended he might
have added, the first woman whom he ever
loved, since she had awakened in him an
Interest as new as it was strange
Through the next week her face haunted
him. Then they met again, and the charm
grew and deepencd. He could not define
IL; he scarcely acknowledged ii to himself; :;
only away from Miss Rcyburn he was rest
less and uneasy, until he again found him
self Within the scope Of her fascinations
| Yet her nature remained an enigma to
him. Although so young Ill years, 80
beautiful in form and feature, she seemed
cold even to haughtincss rciccnt almost to
scorn.
1t 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 manner which, while 1t gave him
no cause for complaint, yet chilled tho hope
springing within his breast.
One day, on going to her home, the ser
want met him at the door with the an
nounccmcnt that she was very ill., This
knowledge brought other knowlege-thc
fact that he could no longer conceal from
| al fl,of1 1,n
hope of winning her hung his &fe's happi-
ness.
T lie3'wcn back to his studio, wre,chcd
and despalring, and seated himself at his
easel. He had not meant to paint her face
his brain seemed unconscious Of his flu
gers, ioil-yet, when the morning broke,
j. washer features smiling upon him from
the canvas, and he Remembered the words
his hostess had uttered on. The night he first
!had met her--that thus should he render
himself immortal.
lie grew pale and wan in The days of
anxious suspense, when those who watched
over her couch knew not which would
conquer, the angel Of )ifc or death. But
there came an bonr never to bcS forgot zen,
when he was admitted into her presence.
She was. very white, very fragile. but
more beautiful than Ill the colorng of per-
feet health. A new expression, too, was
in the violet eyes raised to welcome him.
81 am very glad to meet you again, she
said, gently. 81 hear you have been any-
ious about me, You were very kind.
Then the words he had not meant to
| speak burst from his lips. -
"Anxious?" he said. "Can a man, Miss
Rcyburn, pcrishing of hunger, hear of the
famine without shuddcr2 lam preslmp-
tuorls, you will say. Ii is true. What is
my life, with .lts. many settled pages in
which your eyes could never look, that
should dnre offer it to you? 2And yet, puri-
fled by your love, would try to make it
more worthy Tell me-answcr me! If
| serve rs Jacob served for Rachel, is there
hope that l may win you? My darling!
my darling! l love you! cannot live
my life without you! Will not you share
it,"
Lower and lower dropped the lids, until
the long dark lashcs swept the marble
cheek, while the sweet mouth trcmbled; !;
but the m omcntary weakness passed as she
spoke: 'Forgct all that you have said,
Mr.. Clayton. 1t can never BE-"
''You do not love mc?" he questioned
sadly.
Again that swift expression of pain fitted
across the lovely face.
81 Shall never marry, she answered; ;
''but," and in her voice crcpt all almost
pleading tone, 81 need my friend very
much, Mr.. Clayton. DO not desert mel"
81 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" "'s@ 3@ 3"
| What was the barrier between them
This was the question ever ringing in Har.
old Clayton's car. AS she looked when she
pronounced his doom, so he, had fancied
she might have looked wien the statue
warmed into life.
Since then, she had been colder, more dis
tant than before; but he had caught the
momentary expression, and transferred it
to the picture on which his every leisure
moment was spent. J
lie was thus cngrosscd one morning, over
striving to add new beauty to his almost
perfect work, when a low knock at the
door aroused him.
"Come m!' he called, then bent anew
to his task, without so much as raising his
head until low, laughing voice sounded
close beside him.
eve were caught in the shower, Mr..
Clayton; and persuaded Margaret to seek
shelter with me bcre. did not dream she
would find herself forstallcd."
twas Mrs. Somcrs who spokc--thc lady
who had first presented him to Miss Rcy-
| hmm ipof nj ho had