The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-05-30
THE PAINTERS BRIDE.

" Il family named SolariO occupied hut ia
The suburbs of Christi, the capital OF the
AbruzZo Citra. II was thatched with reeds
rt.b twigs, and couple of holes in The wall
admitted light and air. In the centre were
rome smooth stones, on which che fire Was
kindlad the smoke OF which cased u in SCOT
like lining of ebony. 4 kettle or two. a few
STOOLS rough table, pile OF leaves covered
with Sleeps kins, and rnde cracitix, formed
its furniture. magnificent white dog
stretched himself ut length before the door, II
cat purred by the HEARTH and the donkey e q
pig made free OF the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES In
and out at pleasure.
But all this Gid not matter much, since 1t
was not q home. nor even a ds9eiling, but sim
ply shelter for its aominal Inhabitants al
such times rs its sitting at mOsphere and uu
s4voTy scents were more endurable than the
cold and storm without. Especially might
this be said Of the little An tonic, who often
slept upon its roof, and took his meals of hard
bread, oil. salt and goats cheese, by the wa
ter tank which served the peasants in that
quarter OF the town. There, at least, he could
feast his eyes il not his palate, aud could
either aid to the enjoyment OF his dessert %
Chestnuts and pine seeds, or could tighten the
lab Jr of masticating An unusually tough crust,
is the case might be. Butt pon ii high hill,
the city commanded view OF a wide and
fertile valley. Noble vines were trained ana
tended in great vineyards, or clambered an
tanned from tree TO tree. The soft gray Of the
olivs contrastcd wit - the shining foliage of
the laurel hedges. The square tower Of q
convent rose out of a group OF Expresses, and
hamlet Of silk growers was just visible in
its framework Of lofty rnulberries, Pyramids
OF evergreen verdure, uplitted upon The tai
trunks of the stone pines, dotted the broad
grain fields which were shut in by the Maiella
Mountains with their woods and crags
But not even the pleasant laugh and gossip,
or the tWanZ of old Btbllo's guitar ,couid-giYe
~ the cool, piant-frnged rim of the basin a
chtrm equal to that of Antonio's own nook
in a corner of a Roman ruin. There the deep
tsnder gloom of gig mite ilaxas, and the lick
ering shadows OF tighter growths, fell upon
.t1,4.. VIA et,e
ttls like snow II likes over the magical mo-
safes wrought by lovely blooms by white
and rose-Hushed dnemones, sweet yiolpts,
daisies and the golden cistus. Shattered pill
lars in various positions lyed with creeping
plants, which had fastened upon their tons
and went swaying downward with wild
and careless grace. Here IN exQuisitpIy
moulded torso wts wreathed with the rich
fl mes OF the scIrIat cactus-there vast shafts
of granite were embedded among thick, juicy
aloes. Along the crumbing wall grew pat
ches OF light.h ued moss. red giilyflowers, ana
masses OF fragrant honeysuckie. Thither
Antonio, in sCduty Jacket and shaepskin trou-
sers much the worse for wear, daily led his
goats; and while they browsed around him,
he drank in the beauty of each time and sea
son, and was melted 10 a pleasing satiuess by
the traces of buried centuries, though he
knew not why. More than once also he
went with neighbor to the valley of Orien.
t., where the water fail of that name ma kes
it, double leap from the stupendons heign ts
ot Monte Cayello and MONTE Mucchit in
long reaches of living crystal, until break
Ing into foam in its rocky bed II Ills
the pass with rainbow tipped spray. and
sends it's thunderous music far through the
dim gorges. He sought too shnggy cliffs
bare and pitiless, rock-strewn ravines, silver
and purple with clinging lchens, and tangled
eiens, through whose green roof the sun
beams slowly sifted. He prepared for his
life-task hy this hearty companionship with
nature. UncoLsciously, no viewer, for he knew
nothing of art except through a few hard an
guiar Madonnas in the churches of Chieta,
and two or three in a better style hy Thomas de
Steffani and Gennaro di Colo in the Converts
whittier he had sometimes gone on Saints
day with myrtyie garl1uds and punches of
wild flowers for the high altar. His amb
tion took "A much more humble direction, and
the utmost that he desired was to become Il
coarse smith, and to have q hammer and An.
vii he his uncle pieiro Fortunately, Pietro,
liking his honesty and modest self-reliance
smoothed all difficulties, made him as good a
craft~man as himself, and then sent him 10
n pies with Il new Jacket, Il handful of baioc-
chi, and his benediction.
There Antonio's quickness and ingenuity
enabled him 10 attempt nicer work than his
mas ter had executed, and al terna teiy striking
hard blows on the glowing iron. mendiug a
pan for an old woman, or an ear ring for a
young one. ne found his position quite TO his
mind. But this care-free state was dae tined
To be OF short duration. Coian tonic del Fiore
the then only painter OF distinction in south
ern Italy, had daughter of bewiiching
beauty. She was yet a child, and one morn.
Ing on her return from school she trippad
lightly up to Antonio wi IN her missal She h nj
broken the clasp; would he mend il? The
padre, her muster would De angry at her care.
Iessness.
The very moment the smith saw her shark.
ling face, and married her graceful sten ha If
tiinid and h ALI eager, his heart was gone She
must give uirsctionS-must stay, really To seq
the work done. Possibly he might not O her
wise please her. Then, as she hesita ted he
began mountain story, so overlooking with
arch merIiment that IL was impossible 10 90
lie called her Nioletta, Violet, and afterwilrd
WAS perpetuailY Inventing some innocent lit.
Tie artiilce To draw her 10 his side. 1t wa:
truly wonderful how he always happened &
have such surplus OF pretty tokens, whie h
she must accept simply 10 help hiIh to get rid
OF them. Now 1t was cluster OF fine cherries
which they ate together, but OF which the
smith was careful not to ttke too many; then
IL was dish of choice figs, the first of The
season. More substantial but still simple
gifts, followed, ending with dog from the
chilti cabin. In time, the interviews must
have become more confidential, for, after one
of them, Fioletta burst into del Flores studio
exclaimiug
Dear Father, will you believe that have
had an offer ~
''of tart or n bunch Of grapes. sup
pose"
No, indeed, father it was an offer of mar
rage, just such as grown ladies have?
MAY l be permitted to inquire the gentle
mans name %
"Antonio Solario, the handsome smith hy
The tapuan gate. You know him, father "
And may / ask VIVA was your reply -
Il said that you would not ri We me to any
b"t painter; and he replied that he would
then be painter hlmself-thaI hs was ALREADY
half at one"
"And what then ~
lie sked me how long / would wait foI
nun, ana answered ten wears we wer,
young and could we'll do So And thai il an
only he Is coming 10 ask for me an hour be
fore Vespers "
"Ha, Ia ha. no hot no :" LAUGHED de
Fior-. well, child. go TO you nurse -
.h"t " nat shall You say To Antonio. aea,
faiherf' aea'
sob. ! shalt say yes. of course Won ,.;,
forget him In two months" ~
Aud del tiore turned 10 his easel n nd thonsh
no norr OF has daughter suitor uutii he stool
before him.
''Signor del Fore," said the smith. 81 b..
come 10 ask the hand Of your d,ughier"
"Eut You are not Il painter, Sol.rio"
may marry her IL at The end of ten year
can prove myself one and VII you prom is
that during my probation she shall not be i
any way influenced against me -
certainly She shall do As she chooses
entirely ms she chooses =
Then may bid her fare well before ieay
Eapies7 %
:. But are you not making too much of thi
affair, Soiariof Fioletta II Young. and yout
both ehanges and forge,s
II do not think SO, Signor. Atleast, let m
hope "
Del Fore withdrew and in few moment
ylolvtta appeared.
my owl Darling BRIDE" whispered Anto
nio, - must bid you good by. Your lathe
would rot, for many reasons, desire me To re
main with him W pnpii, and could not ~