Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-02-13
Pearls Gold Piece


SIS she then so beautiful he ques-
toned.
Judge for yourself" she lightly re-
Joined, leading him to a little group,
doing homage to the fair girl in its
center.
"MisS Rayburn-Mr. Clayton" were
the formal words of introduction, as
Harold bowed in acknowledgment be-
fore the woman whom his artist eye
confessed the most beautiful he had
ever seen.
Before the evening had 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 deeper. He could not
define it, he scarcely acknowledged 1t
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, re-
ticent almost to scorn.
1t was as though some exquisite
marble statue had risen in his path
way, which might some day warm into
life
One day, on going to her home, the
servant met him at the door with the
announcement that she was very Ill.
This knowledge brought other knowl
edge-the' fact he could no longer con-
ceaI from himself that he loved her,
and that on his hope of winning her
hung his life's happiness.
. fHe: went. baek)to hfs studio, wretch
/ ed and sdespairing, and seated himself
at his easel. He had not meant to
paint her face-his brain seemed un-
conscious of his finger toil-yet, when
the morning broke, it was. her fea-
lures smiling upon him from the can
vas. and he remembered the hostess
had uttered on the night he first met
.her-that thus should he render him
self immortal.
She welcomed him whenever they
met in. manner which, while it gave
him no cause for complaint, yet Chill
ed the hope springing within his
breast.
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 he was
admitted to her presence.
She was very white, very fragile,
but more beautiful than In the color
ing of perfect health. a new express
sion, too, was in the violet eyes raised
to welcome him.
81 am very glad to meet you again."
she said gently. 81 hear you have
been anxious about me. You were
kind"
Then the words he had not meant
to speak burst from his lips.
"AnXious!" he said. "Can a man,
Miss Rayburn, perishing with hunger,
hear Of the famine without shudder?
1 am presumptuous, you will say. 1t
Is true. What is my life with it's
many sealed pages in which your eyes
could never look that 1 should dare
offer it to you? And yet, purified by
your love, l would try to make it
worthy. Tell-answer me! If
served as Jacob served Rachel, is
there hope that 1 may win you? My
darling! my darling! 1 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 that you have said, Mr..
Clayton. 1t can never be-"
you do not love me?" he ques-
toned sadly.
Again that swift expression of pain
fitted across her lovely face.
81 shall never marry" she answer
ed But" and in her voice an al
most pleading tone, Il need my friend
very much, Mr.. Clayton; do not de
sert mel"s
q 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 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 cooler, more
distant than before; but he had caught
the momentary expression and trans