The Newtown bee., 1880-01-21

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 Before th evening was ended he might have added, the woman he had ever loved, since she had awakened in him an interest as new as it was strange.
 Through the next week the face haunted him. They met again and the charm grew and deepened. He could not define it, he scarcely acknowledged to himself; only away from Miss Ray burn he was restless and uneasy, until he again found himself within the scope of her fascination.
 Yet her nature remained an enigma to him. Although so young in years, so beautiful in form and feature, she seemed cold even to haughtiness, reti cent almost to scorn.
 It was as though some exquisite mar bic statue had risen in his pathway, which might some day warm into life.
 She welcomed him whenever they met in @ manner which, while it gave him no cause for complaint, yet chilled the hope springing within his breast.
 One day, on going to her home, the servant met him at the door with the | This knowledge brought other knowl- edge-the fact he could no longer con ceal from himself that he loved her, and that on his hope of winning her hung his life's happiness.
 He went back to his studio, wretched his easel. He had not meant to paint her face-his brain seemed unconscious of his finger toil-yet, when the morn ing broke, it was her features smiling upon him from the canvas, and he re- membered the hostess had uttered on the night he first had met her-that thus should he render himself immor- tai.
 He grew pale and wan in the days of anxious suspense, when those who watched over her couch knew no which would conquer, the angel of life or death. But there came an hour. never to be forgotten. when he was admitted into her presence.
 She was very white, very fragile, but more beautiful than in the coloring of perfect health. A new expression, too, was in the violet eyes raised to welcome him.
 am very glad to meet you again." she said, gently. 1T hear you have been anxious about me. You were very kind"
 Then the words he had not meant to speak burst from his lips. I ''Anxious!m he said. 's Can a man, Miss Rayburn, perishing with hunger, hear of the famine without ,hudderP am presumptous, you will say. It is true. What is my life with it's many sealed pages in which your eyes could never look, that should dare offer it to you. And yet, purified by your love, I would try to make it worthy. Teil me answer me! If I served as Jacob served Rachael, is there hope that I may win you? My darling! my darling! I love you! l 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 that you have said, Mir. Clayton. It can never be-"
 "You do not love me?" he questioned sadly.
 Again that swift expression of pain fitted across her lovely face.
 ''I shall never'marry," she answered. "But," and in her voice crept an almost pleading tone, 'I need my friend very much, MT. Clayton, do not desert mer'
 'I cannot," he replied. "To desert you would be to desert the hope of one day forcing you to unsay your cruel words-the hope which will go with me to my grave"
 What was the barrier between them? This was the ques jon 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 trans ferred it to the picture, on which his every leisure moment was spent.
 He was thus engrossed one morning, ever striving to add new beauty to his almost perfect work, when low knock at the door aroused him.
 "Cdme imp he called, and then bent anew to his task, without so much as raising his head. until a low laughing voice sounded beside him.
 "We were caught in the shower, MT. Clayton, and I persuaded Margaret to seek shelter with me here. I did not dream she would find herself forstalled."
 It was Mrs. Somers who spoke-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. Why have you kept it such a secret?"
 He had now sprung to his feet in time to see the rosy tide spread over Margaret Rayburn's face.
 1t was liberty took without Miss Rayburn's knowledge, Mrs. Somers," he explained. '' assure you I have never been so fortunate as to secure a sitting.
 "Well, you shall have one now, and you must thank me for it." she rejoined, while Margaret turned away to ex-. anime the sketches lying around in pro- fuse confusion.
 r'Here are sketches taken while I was | studying abroad, Miss Rayburn," said Harold. Twill you amuse yourself by l looking at them"
 'sI will return in few moments" in- | corrupted Mrs. Somers. ~ Wait for me, my dearn