The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-03-25

night he first had met her-that
thus he should render himscls immur-
tai.
lie grew pale and wan in the days
of anxious suspense, when those who
were Watching over her couch knew
| not which would conquer, the angel
of life or death. Eut there came nm
hour, never to be forgotten, when he
was admitted into her presence.
She was very white, very fragile,
but more beautiful than tho coloring
of perfect health. Anew expression,
too, was in the violet eyes raised to
welcome him.
"I ann very glad to see yon again,
she said gently. al hear you have
been anxious about me. You were
very Kind" /"
Then the words l.e had not meant
to speak bust from his lips.
"Auxious,n lie said, "cau man,
Miss Royburn, perishing of hunger,
hear of famine without Il shuddor :
| am presumptuous, you will say. II
is true. What is my life with its
many settled pages in which your
eyes could never look, that should
dare to offer ii to you ? And yet, put
riticd by your love, | would try to
make 1t moro worthy. Tell me-au-
swer me Ii | serve as jacob served
for Rachel is there no hope that | may
win you My darling ! My darling
| cannot live my life without y0u
VIII you share it -
Lower and lower dropped the lids,
until the long dark lashcs swept the
marble cheek, while the sweet mouth
trembled but the momentary weak
ness passed rs she spoke. "Forget
all yea said, Mr.. Clayton. Il cannot
be-"
''You 90 not love me-" ho queS-
toned sadly.
Again that swift expression OF pain
llilted across lie lovely face.
al shall never marry" she an
swcred {; "but," and in her voice
erept an almost pleading tone, ~
need my friends very much, Mr.
Clayton. DO not desert me -
al cannot" he replied. 'To de-
seit you would be 10 dcsori the hope
of one day forcing You 10 unsay those
cruel words-the hore which will -
with mo TO the grave"
What was thc barrier between
them: This was the question ever
ringing in Harold Ciayton'a ear. A.
she looked when shc pronounced hie
doom, - lee had iluvtcl siie misht
naVc ls.,t,sd ,lhen tie. statue warmed
into liie.
sinrc ltru -Ec hsd hc,u colder.
more distant thau ht .rr bu, hr
caught lhc nancniary expression and
Transferred 1t 81 lhc picture GA which
ni- ever leisure arvHefi ~Ha -pr.g.
Tie Was th,Ts cugra~sr'l Cac mora
,Ig, cscr striving to 8di ns IS hcJu.y
~ his almost perfect wor., Whvn
low knogk al the door aroused him.
"t'oiuc in!' hc called, then bcnt
aLc~ H. hi task, without $50 much a~
rai-Ing his head up;il 3 low, laughing
soire -a;Iodcd Il .~c b,-i,ir him.
We were caught ia the shower,
az. Ci1ttn1, ;tn.l persuaded MuEt-
ret ln scek shelter WiiI nc here. /
did nnt dream she wsaid iiDd herself
forc-Hlicd. ."
il was Mr. Shfnrf- vino spike
thc lldy who had ,i.st Frcscuscd him
la Miss i,ayburn whose instruction
he had, unknown to her, carried uui.
"Margarct," she asked, turning to
her friend, "you have been sitting
for your portrait, 1nd did not l''t 'nr
know it. Why have you kept /, ."r:,
n secret >"
He had now spru"g tn his feet ia
time to see the rosy tide spread over
Margaret Reyburn'3 face.
cit was liberty took without Miss
neyburn's knowledge, Mrs. Spmers,
he explained "I assure sou have
Revcr been 20 fortunate as to secure
aEilling."
"WcIl, you shall have one now,
and you must thank me for it," he
rcjoined, while Margaret turned
away To- examine the sketches aud
studies lying about in rrofuse con-
fusion.
"IIere are some sketches taken
while / was studying abroad, Miss
Reyburn," said Harold. OWN you
amusc yourself by locking at them?"
81 will return in Il few moments"
interrupted Mrs. Somers. "Wait for
me, my dear" A word Of cxposiu-
lation rose to Margaret's lips, but too
late. The door had clo9cd behind the
speaker.
Silence fell between the two thus
left behind, when low cry arrested
Harold's attention. lie sprang To
Miss Reyburn's side. Her eyes were
fixed upon little sketch she held in
her hand. 1t represented gaming
table, at one endDf which sat Il man,
hagglrcd. d"@n"rl'r, despairing, and
by hin child, holding out single
gold piece, with Il smile in her eyes,
and seemingly Il prayer on her lips.
"You would know the story Of
that picture" he said" Let me tell
you. Years ago | was in Hamburg.
The gaming tables attracted me, and
every night found me beside them,
losing or winning, according to the
fortune Of the hour. One evening
the demon ill-luck pursued me. 1
lost aud lost till ! found / was beg
CARED. Maddened, desperate, re-
solved to put an end to my miserable
life, when some one touched my
shoulder child angel stood before
me and slipped into my hand piece
ofgoId. 'For my sake, she whis.
perod. The croupier's hoarse call
j Il IL 4 L