Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-04-21

it; he scarcely acknowledged il to himself;
only away from Miss Reyburn he was rest
less and uneasy, until he again found him.
self within the scope of her destinations.
Yet her nature remained an enigma TO
him. Although 50 young In years, so
beautiful in form and feature, she seemed
cold even 10 haughtiness, reticent almost TO
scorn.
| II 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 a 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 ser
want met him at the door with the an
nouncement that she was very ILL THIS
knowledge brought other knowlege-the
fact that he could no longer conceal from
himself that he loved her, and that on his
hope of winning her hung his life's happi-
ness.
J
and despa,ring, and seated himself al his
easel. He had not meant to paint her face
his brain seemed unconscious of his fin
gers, toil-yet, when the morning broke,
it was her features smiling upon him from
the canvas, and he remembered the words
his hostess mad uttered on the night he first
had met her-that thus should he render
! himself immortal.
! He 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 life or death. But
there came an hour, never to be forgotten
when ne was admitted into her presence.
! She was very white, very fragile, but
more beautiful than IN the coloring of per- !
! feet health. A new expression, too, was
in tie violet eyes raised to welcome him.
Il am very glad to meet You again, she |
said, gently. II hear you have been anx-
ious about me. You were very kind.
Then the words he had not meant to
speak burst from his lips.
"AnNious!' he said. ''Can man. Miss !
Reyburn, perishing of hunger, hear of the
famine without shudder! ] am presump-
tuous, you will say. 1t is true. What is !
my life, with lis many settled pages in |
which your eyes could never look, that ] !
should dare offer it to you: And yet, puri- !
, fled by your love, would try to make it /
more worthy. Tell me-answer me. If I
serve as Jacob served for Rachel, is there !
hope that may win you: My darling, /
my darling. / love you! cannot live |
my life without you. VIII not you 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,
Mr.. Clayton. 1t can never be"
"You do not love mei" he questioned |
sadly.
Again tha, swift expression of pain fitted /.
across the lovely face.
Il shall never marry she answered; I,
''but," and in her voice crept an almost !
pleading tone, II need my friend very
much, Mr.. Clayton. Do not desert me-"
Il cannot, he replied. ''To desert you |
would be to desert the hope of one day
forcing you to unsay :hose cruel words
the hope which will 90 with me to my 1
grave.
| What was the barrier between them:
This was the question ever ringing in Har |
pronounced his doom, so he had fancied
she might have looked when the statue |
warmed into life.
Since then, she had been colder, more dis
t8nt than before; but he had caught the
momentary expression, and transferred il
to the picture on which his every leisure
moment was spent.
lie was thus engrossed one morning, ever
striving to add new beauty 10 his almost
perfect work, when low knock at the
door aroused him.
| NplHc Dtul
to his task, without so much as raising his
head until low, laughing voice sounded
close beside him.
"We were caught in the shower, Mr..
Clayton; and persuaded Margaret TO seek
shelter with me here. did not dream she
would find herself forstaled.'
II was Mrs. Somers who spoke-the lady
who had first presented him to Miss Rey
burn-whcse instruction nc had, unknown
to her. carried out.
Margaret, she added, turning to her
friend, '.you have Leeu sitting for your
portrait, and did not let me know. Why
have you kept !; such a secret!"
He had Row sprung to his feet in time to
see the rosy tide spread over Margaret Rey-
burns face.
1t wss a liberty took without Miss Rey-
burns knowledge, Mrs. Somers," he ex-
planned. Il assure you have never been
30 fortunate as TO secure a sitting
"Well, you shall have one row, and you
must thank me for il, = she rejoined, while
Margaret turned away TO examine the
sketches and studies lying about in profuse
confusion.
.Here are some sketches taken while l
was studying abroad, Miss Reyburn," said
Harold. ''Will you amuse yourself by
looking at them!'
81 will return in few moments" in
terrupted Mrs. Somers. "Wait for me,
my dear"
A word Of expostulation rose TO Mar
garet's lips, but too late. The door had
closed behind the speaker.
Silence fell between the two thus left
behind, when low cry arrested Harold's
attention. He sprang to Miss Reyburn's
side
Her eyes were fixed upon little sketch