Smyrna times., 1880-04-14
PEARLS Gold Piece.
{" Red wins -

"Rsd wins"
1t was the croupier's hoarse cry, again
and again reiterated, only diversified by
that of " Red loses!' which broke the still.
ness in the superbly appointed room.
Hamburg, with the gaming table in the
center, round which were gathered its
eager votarieS, behind whom were the
scarcely less interested group Of look on.
Gene away, my dear" said II very love.
ly woman among the spectators, in low
whisper to her husband. =" am sorry We
came. This is no place for Pearl" indica.
ting, with Il nod Of the head as she spoke
to an eXquisitely beautiful GIRL scarcely
more than child Of some twelve or thir.
teen summers, who stood beside them.
Come, Pearl 7" the father said.
But the girl stood entrancsd, her ewes
liked upon mans face seated at the far.
thest end of the table. 1t was a strikiugly
handsome face even when wearing ns it
now did, an expression of calm. born of
desperation. No tipge OF color was in
either cheek or lips.
His eyes shone with IA strange aud hard
glitter, and were fixed upon the balls as
they swung round, as though on the color
uppermost hung his hope cf life or death.
And 10 it was! He had sat down posses
sed of a fortune; he rose beggar! Fate
haa pursued him with his mocking hope.
lessness, until he had played his last stake,
only to see it swept mercilessly from him.
He half rose from the table. What
more was to be done, save to 20 out some
where in the still night air, and send
bullet through his heart or brain?
1t was at this moment the girl, with
flushed cheeks and halfparted lips, darted
to his side.
Take this" she pleaded, "rNr my sake"
and pressed gold piece into his cold hand.
he turned. TO his excited Imagination
she seemed scarcely mortal, in her pure,
chldlike loveliness. His first impulse was
to return her oterRg-he was not yet an
aims taker; but again rang out the Group.
| iers cry OF command to take the stakes.
The child stood breathlcss in her ex.
| pectancy, her eyes burning with feverish
| interest.
A sudden impulse overmastered him.
Without speaking word he placed the
gold upon the table.
The next minute a small pile Of goll was
at his elbow. lie staked it ali again.
Again he won. A bright spot Of scarlet re-.
placed the pallor ON his cheek, which
spread and deppened as Dame Fortune.
who had SO persistertly trowned upon him,
now reserved for him only her smiles
Morning was breaking when he arose
from the table, no longer desperate man
but with his fortune threelold returned to
| him.
After the first winning he had turned to
return the child her offering but she had
vanished. Should he ever find her, ever
repay tie debt? lie knew not; but stand
ing out under the clear blue sky, with a
great weight lifted from heart and brain.
Harry Clayton vowed that it should be his
life search, but that the lesson taught him
should never be forgotten, and tho gaming
tables should know him never more.
| Six years passed, and Harry Clayton was
winning name and fame in his own land in
his profession as an artist
Standing one night in a crowded assem-.
oily some one in passing touched him
| lightly on the shoulder with her fan, and
slancing around, he met the smiling face
Of his hostess.
"Come," she said ~ want to present you
to nay belle. If you can prevail upon her
to give you sitting, and transfer her col.
oring to canvass, you will render yourself
immortal"
ed.
Judge for yourself" she lightly reioin.
ed, leading him to q little grOup doine
homage to the fair girl in its center.
Miss Rayburn-Mr. Clayton" were the
formal words of introduction, as Harold
bowed in acknowledgement before the
woman whom his artistic eye confessed the
most beautiful he had ever met.
Before the evening was ended he might
have added, tho woman he had ever loved,
| since she had awakened in him an interost
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 it to himself
only away from Miss Rayb he was rest.
less and uneasy, until he again found him.
self within the scope of her fascination.
Yet her nature remained an enigma to
him. Although so young in years, Sc
beautiful III form and feature, she seemed
cold even to haughtiness, reticent almost
to scorn.
1t was as though some exquisite marble
statue had risen in his pathway, which
might somo day warm into life
She welcomed him when ever they met
IN manner which, while it gave him nc
cause Tor complaint, yet chilled the hops
springing within his breast
want met him at the door with the an
nouncement that she was very i'll. Thi.
knswfedge brought other knowledge-ths
fact he could no longer conceal from him
self tnat he loved her, and that on hi,
hope Of winning her hung his life's happi
ness.
He went back to his studio, wretched anC
despairing, and seated himself at his easel
He had not meant to paint her face-hi
brain seemed unconscious OF his finger toi
yet, when the morning broke, it was he
features smiling upon him from the canvas
and ho remembered the hostess had uttered
on the night he frat had met her-tha
thus should he render himself immortal.
He grew pale and wan in the days o
anxious suspense, when those whe watched
ever her couch knew not which would con
quer, the angel of life or death. But ther
J came an hour, never to be forgotten, whsr
/. he was admitted to her presence,
!. She was very white, very fragile, bu
more beautiful than in the coloring O
I perfect health. A new expression, too, wa
7 in the violet eyes raised to welcome him.
81 am very glad to meet you again,
aha aain gamtlw % haaw wn.s hawa ~ a,