The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-11-03

meantime, as ne pretcnueu 10 10, ne sat
listlessly before the great maeStroS works,
or listened to the malevolent counsels of
N1alvezzi who took fiendish delight in
picturing the proud Elisabctta as his.
And then when Elisabetta had finished
her copy, Marco shut himself up with the
original, and refused to admit any one,
even Mavczzi.
Carefully and securely packed, Elisa.
5eita's copy was sent to the pofeSta, to
be shown first 10 the committee chosen to
decide the question Of superiority. And
finally Marco announced that his copy
was also finished. and the day for their
) exhibition was fixed.
} 1t wns bright cheerful morning, and
all the good people of Bologna who took
any interest in the hrts wcnded their way
to the Palazzo Publico. where the com.
mittee was assembled. Elisabctta and
her father were of the number. The old
man was serious and thoughtful his
daughters face, on the contrary, were an
expression of serene joyousness.
You will see Saint Antonio's day is
n lucky day for me, father said she.
when | knelt before the picture Of the
saint iD San Leonardo that | myself paint
ed, it seemed to me as if he looked down
on me and smiled, as though he would
say he would be my advocate.
Sirani sighed and replied:
But the picture at the Paazzo Publi-
co is not that of saint, my daughter, but
the portrait of Beatrice Cenci, parri.
eide y
But who will assert positively that she
was guilty; and that if she was guilty,
who knows what there was to paliate her
great crime There is surely nothing of
the murder to be seen in her beautiful
features, or the sweet and innocent ex.
preston Of her lovely olnc eyes. And
then you know it is said, father. that
Guido Reni saw Beatrice only once, and
then in prison and that her lovely i'm.
age made such an impression on him that
he was able to paint it from memory /;
and you know it is said that he loved her,
at which he was so mortified that he
Stunned women ever afterward
Yes, know, know, replied Srani.
Guido Reni may have loved woman
who was condemned. but never one who
was guilty returned Elisabctta warmly,
and then they silently continued their
way.
Il triumph with you, said Malyezzi 10
Marco, as they went arm in arm to the
palazzo.
And if do not triumph ,. asked the
young man.
: Then | will help you to compass your
revenge =
A disdaiuful smile played around Mar.
cos lips as he shook his head and said
Il would not survive my shame
Bah ! Would you die and leave the
beautiful Eisabctta to be another's for
believe me, her heart is not Of stone. No
no, let her triumph rather be her ruin !
Marco stepped back Mortified and
then he fixed his eyes full npon Mavezzi
and cried
Am being tempted by the devil him.
sell?'
The next moment they entered the
great hall of the palazzo, when their ears
were greeted with three erriras The
, pictures had just been unveiled, and the
connisseurs approached them with slow
and measured steps For moment al
was silent, then resounded from u choru.
Of voices
T 'Errira Elisabetta errira Elisabet
3 ta errira Elsabctta !. which was The
, death sentence OF Marco Sessis work.
. Elisabettas copy could be distinguished
only by the ireshpcss of the color. from
the head painted by Guido Reni Here
, as in the original the same large, blue
. child.like eyes looked out ingeniously up
. on the world, the same winsome smil
4 wreathed pair Of iaultless lips, and tn
t same wealth Of golden trcsses clothed
5 clear and placid brow. Sessis copy wore
+. like the original, white under. carmen,
red vestment. aud blue and whit
d striped kcrchief around the head but un
s der this kerchief was the face of Elisa
e beta Sirani. rather than that of Beataic
Ccnci- Elisabetta's features. and her
Il only, lived in Marcos soul, aud uncon
It sciously he had painted them
An exclamation of surprise was hear
l on every hand, aud E,lisabetta's nam
@ was on the cud of every tongue, but be
d fore it could be spoken, Marco rushe
through the crowd, II dagger in his hant
=, and before hand could be raised to pre-
o vent, be destroyed his picture; then b
:. hastily lrit the hall. At the door Ma
's ye22l ovrrionk him.
IS And our revenge ,
n i AIN yours
That evening as Elisabctta was abor
10 to close the window OF her sleeping aparl
r ment, and the clear moonlight enticed he
d out on the balcony. from whence sh
IL gael toward heaven with heartfelt graf
y tude, she heard her name pronounced
le q low tone by some one near by. Startle,
&c she looked down to see who approached
y when dark figure appeared before he
u 1T is |, Elisabetta,' said Marco Sessi
do not be apgry with me have com
D. to take leave of you, which is my la,
" worldly act, | am going into moa
90 terry
Poor Marco " murmurcd Elisabctt
n. If you have any kindly feeling for m
o. and | will not believe you have not
ID promise to comply with my last rcqucs
y | once brought you bunch Of violet
ie which |. few minutes later, found car,
in less!y thrown aside; tonight, briu
ID you Il bunch of roses. Promise me tn;
t. you will keep them for three days, an
Sc that for three days will give me plat
c. in your memory. 1t is the request
r one who goes never to return; grant
ss as YOU would the request of the dying
10 You have my promise. Marco sai
~ Eisabetta, in tone scarcely audible.
III Then farewell " aud from under h
III cloak he reached her beautiful boqu
re OF white roses AMI went his way b'
t. when Eisabetta's y indow closed his daI
Vs. figure re.appeared. With Il deep grol
Isl