Smyrna times., 1880-04-14

Anxious ~ he said Can man, Miss
Rayhurn, perishing with hunger, hear of
the famine without Il shudder? am pre-.
sumptuous, you will say. 1t is true. What
Is my life with its many sealed pages, in
which your eyes could never look, that
should dare Oder it to you. And yet,
| purified by your love. | would try to make
1t worthy. Tell me-answer me! If
served as Jacob served Rachel, is there
hope that may win you? My darling! my
darling! ! love you! | cannot live my life
without you! Will you not share it ?"
Lower and lower dropped the lids, until
the long, dark lashes swept the marble
cheek, while the sweet mouth trembled
but the momentary weakness passed as she
spoke:
Forget all you have said, Mr.. Clayton.
1t can never be-"
You do not love me?' he questioned
sadly.
Again that swift expression of pain fitted
across her lovely face
q shall never marry" she answered,
Butt" and in her voice crept an almost
pleading tone, 81 need my friend very
much, Mr.. Clayton do not desert me.
cannet," he replied. ITO desert YOU
would be to desert the hope of enc day
forcing you to unsay your 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 ear. As she looked when
she pronounced his doom, so he fancied
she might have looked when the statue
warmed into life
Since then she had been colder. more
distant than before; but he had caught the
momentary expression and transferred it
n 10 nj sol; Z.
moments was spent.
He was thus engrossed one morning,
ever striving to add new beauty to his al.
most perfect work, when a low knock on
the door aroused him.
Come in,' he called. anil then bent
anew TO his task, without 50 much as rails.
ing ms mead, until a low laughing voice
sounded beside him
:" We were caught in the shower. Mr..
Clayton, and persuaded Margaret to sock
shelter with me here. did not dream she
would find herself forestaIled.'
IT was Mrs. Somers who sp0<e-the lady
who first presented him to Miss Rayburn-
whose introduction he 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. Whv
nave you kept It such q secret?
IL" had not sprung to his feet in time to
see the rosy tide spring over Margaret Ray.
burns face
It was liberty took without Miss
Rayhurn's knowledge, Mrs. Soiuprs," he
explained. 81 assure you | have never
beer so fortunate to secure a sitting"
Well, yOu shall have one now, and YOU
must thank me for it, she rpioined. while
| sketches lying around in confusion.
! Here are sketches taken while was
studying abroad, Miss Rayburn. said EIar,
old. "Will you amuse yourself by looking
at them?"
will return in few moments" in
terr1pted Mrs. SOmers. Wait for me,
my dear.
a word Of expostulaton rose to Marga.
rets lips. but it was too late. The door
was closed behind the speaker
SILENCE fell between the two thus left
behind, when a low cry arrested Harold's
attention. He sprang to Miss Ray burns
side.
Her eyes were fixed on little sketch
she held in her hand. 1t represented u
gambling table, at one end of which sat a
man, hagcard, desperate, despairng, and
by him a child holding out to him a single
piece Of gold with a smile in her eyes and
seemingly prayer on her lips.
You would know the history of that
picture" he said. Let me tell YOU ::
Years ago was in Hamburg. The gamb.
ling tables attracted me and every night
found me beside them, losing or winning,
according to the fortunes of the hour One
evening the demon il!.luck pursued me.
lost and lost until M all was slipping from
| me In Ia
went on, until | knew | was beggared.
Maddened, desperate, determined 10 put
an end to my miserable life, when some
one touched nay shoulder; a child angel
stood before me, and slipped into my hand
piece of gold. For my sake" she whis
p0rsd. The croupier's hoarse cry warned
nae no time was to be lost. ! stakQd the
gold and won, but turning to give her back
her own, she had fled. When arose from
the table had recovered all and more, but
vowed to my unknown deliyerer that
would never again hazard dollar of the
fortune | considered hers. | have never
found her, Margaret. The child will never
know her work, but am not afraid to
meet her, for have kept my pledge"
" Harold PIT was almost a whisper. but
something in the tone made his heart give
a wild, joyous lsap-"have known YOU all
this time, and you have just found me out {?
1t was this, Harold, which separated us. I
dared not give my life to man whom I
had first known as a gambler. supposed
you still played, and thought to see you
again with the expression on your face that
had seen that night would kill me. Tell
me is it true! Have you never touched a
card sihce2"
"Neverl" he answered solsmnly. "And
is 1T to you ] owe tit and life. Pearl
PEARL can you not trust the man who has
been so long faithful to the child to be still
faithful to the womanP Ny own, you will
not doom the life that you have saved?"
But at this juncture, Mrs. Somers, open
ing the door, beat a precipitate retreat
HarOld's statue was warmed into life, and
pressing her lovely lips to his, thanks God
that it is his breath which has awakened it,
Regarding the West Point alleged out
rage, opinions differ. Some say Whit.
taker was injured by the white cadets and
others claim that he must have mutilated
himself. The fact that his ears were split