New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-24

~ But Lucia cared only for Lorenzo, ant
) declared she would never make her debu
ss pr1Ma donna unless Lorenzo had mrs
gained fame and fortune by his pictures
So Lorenzo worked hard, and painted
several heads. which attracted not LITTLE
attention among the cOgnOscentl and dliet
tamil. for whom every one looked out tht
magic eyes Of Lucia.
AT last fortune seemed to smile upon the
youthful pair, for an order came from the
painted by Lorenzo d'Urbino, and Lorenzo
d'Urbiao alone. For the fame of Lucia's
marvellous beauty had travelled all over
| Italy by this time, and it had come to be
| pretty we'll understood that only Lorenzo
would have the privilege Of transferring il
| to canvas.
Lorenzo and Lucia were beside them
selves with joy when the order came; and
that evening Lorenzo spent his last tart
for boat, in which they sailed on the
crystal waters of the bay, now shining and
shimmering in the moons pale light, and
INDUCED in dreams of future happiness and
prosperity, mingled with vows of eternal
The studio Of Lorenzo was now a busy
scene Day after day he worked hard at
the Venus. Lucia sitting. opposite to him for
hours, until sometimes she would fall asleep
from WEAKNESS. Then Lorenzo would
awake her with kiss, and she would toss
back her golden tresses and gaze into his
eyes with an expression Of such seraphic
tenderness that Lorenzo would rush fran
tically to his easel, and strive to transfer
that very look to the canvas. Another time
they would chat innOcently and gayly of
their future naenage, and Lucia's laugh
would ring through the old building as she
pictured to Lorenzo the countless luxuries
and indulgences which the price Of that pic
ture was to bring them.
| Then IOrenzO oxro,,16 nrv- .Surolv, <bo,,
art more beautiful now than have ever
seen thee, Lucia. One moment. carissima-
| let me paint that smile upon thy lips, it is
so kravishingly sweet Then he would
paint earnestly for few moments, then
push the canvas from him with gesture Of
despair.
| 1T is useless. Lucia" he would exclaim,
throwing himself in respondent attitude
at her feet: II have attempted more than l
| can do. / shall never be able to portray
the unearthly beauty of thy face"
Nay. caro- miO," she would reply, as she
wound her arms around his neck, and drew
his head down upon her shoulder; thou
ways gazing upon my face, and never at |
the canvas l will come no more to the |
studio it thou dOst not attend better to thy |
work."
And then she would help Lorenzo to nut |
aside his brushes and his colors, and they |
would wander out upon the shore. and |
watch the sails cleaning over the sea. and |
scene, which, combined with the living
romance in their own hearts, made the
shores of the Mediterranean a paradise to
them.
The next morning, when Lucia came to
the studio, she was dismayed to find the
face of the Venus entirely Obliterated
'Oh, Lorenzo" she exclaimed. while the
large tears gathered in her eyes. chow
cOuldst thou blot out the result Of so much
labor and so many hours Of precious time'
Already the maestro reprOaches rue for
spending all my days in thy studio and
neglecting him. A lifetime will be con-
sumed in painting thy Venus, and We shall
be old and weary of life before it really be-
gins for u.s.
And she threw herself despondently on a ,
low couch, and looked up sadly into her {
lovers face. :
'Stay, Lucia. will take a new canvas =
and sketch thee thus" he exclaimed. Il,
will be better to beg in all anew"
1T Will be better to get new model then. +
Lorenzo replied the girl. These sittings r
have worn upon my strength, and am no
onger able to give thee SO many hours each 9
lay"
:Wilt thou then desert me. Lucia. lust as :
anne and fortune are dawning for met" said h
Ter lover, with slight tinge of asperity in
lis tone. Perhaps some richer artist has i,
invited thee to sit to him. =
II will not cOndescend to reply to such i
N accusation" replied Lucia, rising and "
hrOwing her little mantle over her shout II
lers. "When thou art i'll better frame of
nlnd, Lorenzo. thou canst send for me; l | H.
will stay no longer to-day" And, without a
urning her head, Lucia ran lightly down a.
he steps of the studio. and, with flushed N
heeks and flashing eyes. wendell her way
0 the Conservatory of Music. v
That evening Lorenzo wandered on the /
bore alone. He was unhappy and ill at -
ase. In vain the rosy hues of sunset tinged
ne rising moon flooded the waters with her ~
livery beams. There was no sunlight or ~ ~
Moonlight for Lorenzo without his Lucia.
And Lucia had been equally miserable. a:
he had sung badly at the COnservatorio, le
ade false notes and vexed the old maestro, ID
no tainted her with neglecting the divine IL
It and despising the noble gifts Of God for '"
le love Of mere man. &C
So Lucia wept, and could sing no more, 60
Id went home really ill, and was re- II! ~,
coached by her mother for her Incidence ~
I'D listlessness in much the same terms as l.,
e had been by the maestro. All that ". W.
ght she wept and grieved, and the next III
orning rose at the very earliest dawn Of ~
y, and after bathing and adorning her
If until she looked, indeed. like Venus We
st rising from the sea- wended her way to- tn
ard LOrenZOs studio. III
As she approached the outer doorway she
W young and very beautiful girl pass Ca
t and walk very rapidly away in an op- wi
site direction. All the wild blood in re'
lcia's Southern nature rushed up to her
&c and neck as she thought, Lorenzo has an
en- taken me at my word, and has found on
other model And the bitter tears gath
ID thickly in Lucia's eyes. Dashing them Til
ay with a trembling hand, she rushed tn!
petuously up to LOrenzo's studio and fey
md him sitting calmly at his easel Blu
n transport of delight at seeing her he1
ain, Lorenzo caught Lucia in his arms he;
1 nearly snhOcated her with caresses !.
Release me, Lorenzo, release me-" she pill
claimed. LET me see if thou hast tin
rked at the Venus since left thee Lo
Yes, Lucia" he replied, land 1 work viii
ter from memory than when thou art be- the
e me. The sight of thy enchanting love- the
ISIS bewilders and confuses my mind ligl
But these eyes are not my eyes, Lorenzo" L
lied the girl, in whose heart the demon rat
jealousy was already beginning to rage rea
swell. Thou hast had another model, ing
leo, milo" fati
None but the sweet image of thee which ing
r reigneth in my heart, beloved" said car
artist, taking his hand tenderly in both ney
own. Let me now place the in thy old sire
ltion, and in few more sittings shall MOI
e finished the figure" who
tut Lucia was restless and uneasy. The MAJ
is of jealousy once sOwn in the heart of L
Italian are not easily eradicated; and | veir
brOoded over the vision of the morning in
il her heart was full of distrust. CON
till the picture progressed more rapidly beef
day than it had at any previous sit Z"