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

every IelSure moment WAS Spent.
He was thus engrossed one morning,
ever striving to add new beauty to his
almost perfect work, when a low knock
at the door aroused him.
Come in" he called, and then bent
anew to his task, without so much as
raising his head, until a low laughing
voice sounded beside him.
I'VE were caught IN the shower, Mr..
Clayton, and l persuaded Margaret to
seek shelter with me here. l did not
dream she would find herself fore
stalled"
1t 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.
ct was a liberty l took without
Miss Rayburn's knowledge, Mrs. Som
ers," he explained II assure you
have never been so fortunate as to Sc
cure a sitting"
WELL you shall have one now, and
you must thank me for it," she re-
joined, while Margaret turned away to
examine the sketches lying around in
profuse confusion.
Here are sketches taken while l
was studying abroad, Miss Rayburn,"
said Harold. evil you amuse your
self by looking at them?"
81 will return in a few moments"
interrupted Mrs. Somers. "Wait for
me, my DEAR"
A word of eXpostulation rose to
Margaret's lips, but too late. The door
had closed behind the speaker.
Silence fell between the two thus
left behind, when a low cry arrested
Harold's attention. He sprang to Miss
Rayburn's side
Her eyes were fixed on a little
sketch she held in her hand. 1t rep
resented a gaming table, at one end Of
which sat a youth, haggard, desperate,
despairing, and by him q child, hold
ing out to him single gold piece, with
a smile In her eyes, and seemingly a
prayer on her lips.
"You would know the history of that
picture? Let me tell you: Years ago
1 was in Hamburg. The gaming tables
attracted me, and every night found
me beside them, losing or winning, &C
cording to the fortunes Of the hour.
One evening the demon ill-luck pursued
me. lost and lost, till l found my
all was slipping away from me. In
the vain hope Of retrieving it l went
on, until l knew 1 was beggared. Mad
dened, desperate, 1 determined to put
an end to my miserable life, when
some one touched my shoulder; a
child angel stood before me and slip
ped into my hand a piece of gold.
For my sake she whispered. The
crOupier's hoarse cry warned me no
time was to be lost. l staked the gold
and won, but. turning to give her back
her own, she had fled. When l arose
from the table / had recovered all
and more7 but 1 vowed a vow to-. my
unknown deliverer. that l. would never
again hazard a dollar of the fortune 1
considered hers. 1 have never found
her. Margaret. The child will never
know her work, but l am not afraid
to meet her, for have kept my
pledge"
Harold pit was almost a whs-
per, but something in the tone made
his heart give a wild, joyous leap
''have,I known you all this time, and
have you just found me out? 1t was
this, Harold, which separated us. 1
dared not give my life to a man whom
l had first known as a gambler. /
supposed you still played, and
thought to see again the expression
on your face / had seen that night
would kill me. Tell me, is it true?
Have you never touched card since"
"NeverI" he answered solemly..
"And it is to you 1 owe tit and
life, Pearl-little Pearl, can you not
trust the man who has been so long
faithful to the child to be still faithful
to the woman? My own, you will not
doom the life you have saved?"
But at this juncture, Mrs. Som
ers opening the door, beat a precipi-
tate retreat. Harold's statue has
warmed into life, ana pressing the
lovely lips to his, he thanks God that
it Is his breath which has awakened
it.-Waverley Magazine.