The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-11-03
daughter Of a simple painter

pcat my piupos"i w nci, " yOu uOu"V my
sincerity. have, indeed, brought the
bridal ornaments. Look at them and tell
me if they are not worthy Of the future
Signora Malvezzi.'
And he opened rich inlaid casket he
carried in his hand, and displayed to the
astonished old man n number of brooches
and bracelets, which served as the sctt.
ings for still greater number OF precious
stones. Then he offered the aged maestro
his arm, and led him into the house.
EIisabetia was in her studio, Mt work
on her great picture, The Baptism of
Christ
She looked up astonished at the uncx-
pected visit and at her fathers Joyous
manner
N mic treSorcr he cried pressing his
daughter to his bosom, though light and
solace of my old age The happiness o.
this day is too great for my small deserts.
EIsabctta raised her head and turned
her largo eyes with an inquiring glance
toward Signor Malvez2, as if she would
have an explanation from him, but Sirani
motioned him to remain silent.
Il myself will announce to ycu your
good fortune, fglia mia, yours and mine.
Signor Malvezzi, whom all Bologna cs-
teens and admires, ia suitor for your
hand which, give him with oil my
heart
Elisabetta became as pale as a marble
statue, which, however neither Of the men
seemed to notice, yet there was something
in her micn that robbed the suitor of the
power of speech he therefore, opened
quickly the caskct. as if he had more
confidence in the influence Of ornament
on her woman's heart than of his own
power of persuasion. The triumphant
smile the features Of Malvczzi wore was
destined to be stort.lived. 1t began to
disappear as the young girl began to re-
ply, and with il went Giovanni Siraoi's
exhaultation Eisabctta lost her self.
control but for moment, then she smiled
with grish modesty, yet more of wo.
manly resolve, she said
Have you not always told me, father,
that art alone makes us cntirely free =?
And, as have ever believed it, | have
resolved to be one Of the faithful. My
great maestro loved nothing on earth but
his art in his noble heart there was no
room for the love Of woman. And mine
will never know any love other than my
love For sublime art There is many n
rich and noble woman in Bologna, Signor
Malvezzi, who would be proud and happy
to become the mistress Of your stately
manson-a position in which the humble
daughter of poor painter would, | am
sure, ncquit herself but very Indifferent
ly,'
Neither Of the two men in their amaze
ment, made any immediate renly. Dur.
ing the momentary silence, handsome
young man burst into the studio, with a
bunch of vioilets in his hand.
'Sgnorina Eisabcttn, he cried, with.
ont noticing her father and their visitor,
look here here is greeting from smil.
ing Spring. who will not let you remain
forever within these four walls, for here
you will never know tho meaning Of the
llttlt NOiu 'lONt. NOllC uul lUt
broad heavens in the bright MONDAY sun
there and there only, you will under.
stand what my eyes say, in vain to yon
daily
Elsabetta took the bunch Of violcts,
inhaled their perfume for moment, and
then laid them down on the easement OF
the open window, as she pointed TO Il pie
ture just begun, and said
My Saint Antonio will not allow it
and there yonder is Cupid, who await:
the finishing touches, You must excuse
mo to-day, Marco
How can you paint Cupid--you
know nothing of his art = said the young
man, ill.humoredly, and turned away
On the threshold ne overlook Signoi
Malvezzi, who said to him:
so you, too, love the hcartless Elisa
beta? How can you be such !ool
Come with me. know, or, if do NOT
| can perhaps devise, some means to cur,
your ipletuaton, See there he contin
ned pointing TO the window of the studio
before which. on the ground, lay Marco
bouquet your flowers were accepte,
only to be thrown away. Her disdainfu
ladyship cares as little, it seems, for vic
let's as she docs for emcralds Let u
seek to control, or, what would, perhaps
be better, let US seek to be mutual,
avenged. She must learn that Malvez
ri is not to be rejected ike schoolboy
Signorina Elisabetta, you will, perhaps
pay dearly for the honor of once havin!
had it in your power to become Signor
Mavezzi = he added, but as he looke'
for his companion, whom he supposed II
be an attentive listener, he found hmsel
alone
Marco Sessi had turned back, and
creeping along the court-wall he pickle
up his disprized violcts.
They have been hallowcd by he
touch he whispered and, concealin
them in his bosom, he made his way t
the street unobscrvcd
The grand dining-room Of the Palazz
rasoni was filed with joyous Assem-
blagc, Shouts of almost boistcrou
laughter. the clinking of glasses, toast
and songes were heard on every han,
Signor Simone Tassoni gave a banque
and his guests were the merry disciple
of st. Lucas. poets and musicians. n
wonder, therefore, that there was MOI
m1rth and hilarity here than at the sti
, banqucts of the exclusive patrician
The few of this proud class who wer
: present were connoisseurs and patrons 9
the art
Oddly enough it looked to see, in II
i middle of the long, richly furnished tabl
/, single female figure Of Elsabet'
Siran. She appeared like a white do,
among the darker heads of the other Sc
a that surrounded her as she looked on
/, almost timidly from under the crown
white roses which her two neighbors, Il
i poet BlOnchni, aud the composer Maur
ito Cazzati, had placed upon her bon'
head aud vet she was the queen of Il