Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-07-13
The Lump Of Clay.

was by birth an Italian, but we lived
during our married life in the city of
New Orleans. He was not poor ar
tist; on the contrary he was wealthy,
and spent his money lavishly, as men
of genius often do. The daintiest vi
ands, the rarest wines, were always
upon Our table; and he would have
dressed me like a queen, had not my
Puritan tastes interposed and sobered
down the gorgeous robes, he would
have had me wear; while our house
was crowded with costly trihes, and
our plate the finest in the city.
Often and often friends have spo-
ken to US half in jest and half in earn
est, of the tempting bait our dwelling
offered to burglars or dishonest serv-
ants; but Ludivico laughed at their
warning, and | never knew fear when
he was by.
So we had lived for FIVE years, less
careful by far than many who have
little save their four walls to protect
and never suffering except from some
petty pilferer, when the autumn Of
18-came. We had just returned
from our summer trip inland, and Lu-
divico was busy with preparations for
new work; fresh clay had been car
ried to his studio, models engaged,
and every thing prepared for busy
winter. | had my duties and cares
also. for "a little infant not three
months old lay on my breast. And
we were very proud and happy in our
new treasure; never in our lives had
we talked so much of the future. Ev.
cry hour of that coming winter was
portioned off. | remember the fact
now with a sort of horror and an in.
describable appreciation Of the dark.
ness which wells the future from our
eyes, which | never felt before.
Yet why should We have feared to
hope? We were young; we were
healthy, We had enough and to spare
of this worlds goods; and we ador.
ed each other. The thought that all
this might not last forever never en-
tered my mind, nor | believe my huS
bands.
One night | had put my babe to
sleep and went into the kitchen tC
see the cook to whom | had certain
orders to give concerning breakfast
but could not find her. Our servants
were forbidden to remain out later
than nine o'clock, and it was nearly
eleven. felt angry with the girl
the more so that she had left an out
er door swinging and Tapping in The
wind; and with an exclamation OF
impatience | went to close it.
As | stood for a moment on tn,
; thresh-hold | could see the gardel
still full of beautiful flowers, and a
its foot, leaning over the low fence
stood the girl Jane, talking to man
The moon shone full upon then
aud | saw the features of both plain
ly. Jane was light mulatto, and
: was impossible to tell whether tn
: man was of her own color or a yer
: swarthy white person. But white 0
Q black, the expression Of the face wa
i hideous, maIevolent, brutal, full 0
; cunning; a face to be seen among fe
= on's faces; such a face as Hogart
J has drawn, and no other man beside
u who ever handled brush.
e | gazed one moment; then calle
g out sharply and quickly, "lane CON
J in; it is too late to stay out, and r
a treated.
); In a moment Jane was with N
D. apologizing in her own servile wa
p and taking my rebuke very quietly.
i | gave her my orders AID sent h
al to bed, and then went up stairs ar
+ forgot all about the matter, though
~ was in my mind to speak of it wht
y | was at the door.
For once in the room | found n
l. husband had brought in upon boal
" a piece of wet clay and laid it at Il
Sc foot of the bed, and my first wor'
Y were:
10 "Are you going to work to-nigl
Ludivico ?"
NO." said he, "the clay is too We
ID but tomorrow the first thing am
ing to begin-can you guess what
at "No," said |.
"Our baby" said my husband "'
Sc will make sleeping cupid of him.
shall be my first work this winter.
ill | laughed with glee.
'I shall prize it So" | said. 81
All is lovely, is he not ?" and | kissed t
child softly as he slept. An hour
ng ter | was sleeping also, tranquil
dreamlessly. The lamps were o
III all was darkness and peace. HI
long it lasted | do not know.
Zip | awakened with a start. | 81
pose some slight voice aroused I
n.y. for after lying awake few momel
W. | became conscious that some one v
wi. moving stealthily about the room
some one with bare feet.
| called out, "Ludivico, is that you
yes and then with terror heard his sic
ing breath at my ear, and knew SO
to stranger was in the room. SoOr
heard q stumble and an oath. S
Ills pressed but plain; then the board
which the clay rested seemed to
ry- pushed across the floor. My he
throbbed fearfully. | knew now t
ian burglars were in the house, ant
thought only of our personal safe
me They might take all, if they did
harm my husband or my child.
on watched and listened, holding
breath until a ray of light shone
alf the room, and | knew the thief
lighted dark lantern. | heard
,m- tinkle of the different articles he 8
ped into bag. | heard drawers /
cal wardrobes stealthily opened, ant
prayed that his cupidity might be
ion isfed, and that he might go leaving
tunhornnod