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

Elisabetta's cheeks glowed as all thes'
DONORS, one after the other. were conlcrre,
upon her. She left her scat only once
then, radient with delight a golden boble
in her hand, she approaceed her father
who sat at the end of the .ablc on tht
right Of the host, and said to him, in ;
tone full of Specification
'Errira the liberty OF art l. it mol
beautiful, father ?
And the old man embraced his daught
cr with fearful emotion.
There were only two Of all those pres
ent who did not seem to share the spiri
that animated the joyous assemblage
The face of Srnor Bcppo Malvezzi wor'
a dark, hostile expression, while Marc,
Scssi sat absorbed in apparently melan
choly reflections.
So beautiful as to day, with her flushed
cheeks that marrored her inward JOY
EIisabet,a had never appeared to them
and the thought Of the hopelcssness Of hi
love had never before driven him so neal
the verge of dcsprir. At each word tina
Malvczzi, prompted by his malice, whisp
cred in his ear, he bit his lip hard, al
though by physical pain he would lessor
his mental suffering
We ALL said the painter Matteo Bor
boni, in concluding little speech pre-
paratory to a toast, we all call ourselves
with pride. the pupils and followers of the
immortal Guido; the one possessing this
the other that quality of the great master
but none Of us, save Elisabetta, posses!
them all she alone is his worthy success
sor-she is our mistress and the greatest
of us all. To her comrades, let us empty
our cups
And all their cups were INSTANTLY
raised arms length, except Malvczzi's.
"lIold - he cried "allow me word
It will not be set down to jealousy, for
am not painter. if express doubt
with regard to tho truth of Borboni's as
scrton. Iu SigDorina Elisabetta's orig
inal pictures we find much that remind:
us Of Guido Reni-.that do not deny
but have you essayed contest with tht
maestro himself? | mean, have you cvcl
copied one Of his pictures with her, ant
seen whether she is capable Of reproduc
ing it successfully and whether the pen
ell Of some one of you would not perhaps
reproduce him with equal or possibly will
greater success. "
AT first there was general murmur
and for moment it seemed doubtful
whether there would be any one to sec
ond the proposition, then one or two voices
made themselves heard.
Quite right quite right that would
be contest" said one, and the faces o
the envious few wore malicious smile
"l.et us make the trial. said another
let us all enter enter the lists.
And now arose Giovanni Sirrani, ant
spoke with almost youthful fire.
Make the trial, all Of you,' he cried
that you may learn to bow to Elisabet
tas genius, whose mastery you question
only because S be is a woman. Follow
the suggestion of Signor Malvezzi, who it
filled with anger and hatred because my
child preferred her art to being Signori
Malvezz Make tho trial. and swea
to you that | will Civ" her hand to hin
who surpasses her.
For a moment all the blood appeare,
to leave Elisabetta's checks, and her larg
eyes filled with tears but as she raiset
them to heaven, and ner hand involun
tarilp grasped the cross upon her breast
she seemed suddenly to be comiorted
The cross was her taisman. the gift o
her dying master, and she felt that hi
spirit was lowering over her. With tn
pride and confidence of queen, she rose
and careless of all the eyes turned tow
ard her, she said, ia firm tone:
so be it and | promise to yield m
iathe? willing obedience Let the por,
rait Of Beatrice Cenci, which is account
ed one Of our masters best works an
very difficult to reproduce, serve to ties
our ability to copy him. To him who
adJudged more successful than l. prou
Use my hand if he sees fit TO demand it
Bravo. Signorina--well said = erie
Melvezzi, triumphantly; 'bnt now let /
see who OF your colleagues will compel
for the charming prize.
For moment there was no reply-a
was silent then single voice cried OIL
boldly
Il will " it was Marco Sessi's.
will and here's my guage = and
threw his glove down upon the table an
lett the hall.
Il shall be avenged, result ~ it will
whispered Malvezzi to friend. n
woman shall reject ne with impupit
know very well that all bologna Iausl
at my expense, and that Blanchini
amusing his friends with a <atirica poe
Of which my courtships are the theme.
Luigi Picinardi, said Elisabctia TO Il
friend upon whose arm she leaned on h
way homc-she was well nigh exhaust,
after the excitement of the cvcning-'yt
said Of the wreath of white roses tht
, placed upon my head that they i'll becan
, the living. Who knows what in this ca
they may forbode If lose the libcr
| so much prize, e,who knows how soon "
may have to write my epitaph :?
More than II year passed after the ba
; quet at Palazzo TasscDi before the di
5 came which was TO decide who should
. victor to the strange contest
, Eisabctta's copy had long been Fl
5 ished Marco Sessi's. however, had pr
D gressed very slowly. At first they work
0 together in the Sirani studio, where tn,
could both Sc the originil portrait at t
!. same time, while Signor Giovanni sat
, his arm chai: .nursed his gout, ard watch
the progress Of the contestants. Eisabt
ia drew and painted with her usual ca
e and freedom she seemed to have entil
4, ly forgotten what depended upon the &C
a rcctLess of her lines aud the trnihiulne
c of her colors. Not so with Marco
< would be hardly seated before his cas-
+, with the fixed determination TO wo
I steadily,when his eyes would wander fro
c Guido Renis work to the graceful ligu
+ of Eisahctla il was not Bcatrice's Low
e ly features that appeared on his canva
q bui ever md ever AGAIN thoSe ol tlisnh,