The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1874-06-04

should be victor in the strange comics
6lieebetta's copy had long been finisl
ca; Marco Seals. however, had Or,
gressed very slowly. At first they worl
"a together in the Sirani studio, whel
they could both use the original Dol
tfais at the same time, while Sieno
NovAnnI sat in his armchair, nurse
Ats govt, aud watched the progress {
the Contestants. Elisabetta drew An
painted with her usual ease and freedom
she seemed to have entirely forgotten
wnaI depended upon the correctness Q
nef hoes and the truthfulness of her col
ORE. Not 20 with Marco; he would b
hardly seated before his easel, with III,
nxed determination to work steadily
vnon his eyes would wander frou
0m0o Rents work to the graceful 6gur
OF Elisabetta; 1t VAS no { Beatrice's love
y features that appeared on his canvas
put ever and again those of Elisabetts'
Juno head. After spending hours thus
and maxim 6 no progress, Marco woule
throw aside his palette and brushes. an,
sex consolation In stroll beyond III,
limits Of the town.
Marco" said Signor Sirani, one dsy
you are not doing yourself justice-yo,
would do better in your own studio
Let Elisabetta finish her COPY, and Their
you take the original hone, where yor
can work undisturbed.
Marco scceded that 1t would, perhap.
% better, and came no more; but, in-
stead Of really studying Guido in the
meantime, as he pretended to do, he 81,
hstlessly before the great maestro works,
Or listened to the malevolent counse Is O.
Malvezzi. Who took q iendish delight 10
picturing the proud" Elisabet,a as his
And then, when Elisaberts had finishe d
her copy, Marco shut himself up with
the original, and refused to admit any
one, even Malvezzi.
Carefully and securely packed, Elisa
cests's copy was sent to the podesta, to be
shown first to the committee chosen to
decide the question of superiority. And
finally Marco announced that his CODY
Was also finished, and the day for their
exhibition was fixed.
1t was bright, cheerful morning, and
oil the good people Of Bologna who took
any interest In the arts wended their way
toward the Palazzo Publico, where the
committee WAS assembled. Elisabetta
and her father were of the number. The
old man was serious and thoughtful; his
daughters face, on the contrary, wore
a. expression Of serene joyousness.
"You will see. Saint Antonio's day
is Q lucky day for me. father" said she
"When l kneeled before the picture of
the saint in San Leonardo that myself
painted, il seemed to me - If he looked
down on me and smiled, as though he
would Say he would be my advocate. :"
Sirsni sighed and replied:
But the picture ct the Palezzo Pub
leo 10 not that of q saint, my daughter,
but the portrait Of Beatrice CeIci, u par
ricide ~
''Bus who will assert positively that
she WAS guilty; and then. if she was
guilty, who knows what there wac to
palliate her great crime? There is sur
oily nothing of the Eurderess to be seen
in her beautiful features, or the sweet
and innocent expression OF her lovely
blue eyes. And then you know it is said,
father, that Guido REM saw Beatrice
only once, and then in prison; and that
her lovely image made such an impress
sion on him that he was able to paint it
from memory; and you know it is also
said that he loved her, at which he was so
that he shuned women ever
afterward.'
Eyes, know, ! know, -" replied Sirsni.
'Guido REM may have loved q wO-
man who was condemned, but never
one who was guilty." returned Elisabetts
warmly. and then they silently cOntin-
ued their way.
~ triumph with 20 u" said Malvezz
10 Marco, a. they went arm-in-arm to
the pslazzO.
"Aad if l do not triumph ~ asked the
young man.
''Then ! will help you to compass your
revenge ~
A disdain:ul smile played around
Marcos lips as he shook his head, and
said:
81 would not survive my shame ~
bah Would you die, and leave the
beautiful Elisabetta to be anOther's a? for,
belive me, her heart is not of stone. No,
40, let her triumph rather be her ruin ~
Marco stepped back Mortified; and then
be fixed his eyes tut upon Malvezzi, and
cried:
Am being tempted BY the devil HIM
,elf?".
The next moment, they entered the
great hall of the psIaZzo, when their ears
we're Rreeted by three euiras. The pic
lures had just been unveiled, and the CON
aoisseurs approached them with slow
md measured steps. For Q moment all
vas silent-then resumed from q Choir
10 of voices:
''Erripd, Elisabetta erripa Elisabetta
,rriru Elisabetta :" which was the death
'entence Of Marco Sessi's work.
Elisabetta's copy could be d,sting uish-
ID only by the freshness of the color
rom the lovely head painted by Guido
Reni. Here, as in the original, the same
srge. blue childlike eyes looked on, in
,enuously upon the world, the same
ginsome smile wreathed . pair of fault
eos lips, and the same wealth of golden
resses clothed clear and placid brow.
'essi's copy were, like the original, a
vhitel under-gsrment, . red vestment,
md . blue-and-White striped kerchief q
ound her head; but under this kerchief
vas the face of Elisabetts Sirsni rather
han that of Beatrice Cenci-Elisabetta'
and hers only, lived in Marcos
oul and, unconsciously, he had painted
hem.
An exclamation of surprise was heard
u every hand; and Elisabetta's name |
Vas ON the end Of every tongue; but, be-
ore il could be spoken, Marco rushed
trough the crowd, dagger in his
and, and, before Q hand could be raised |
0 prevent him, he destroyed bis picture;
hen he hastily LETT the hall. At the door, |
overlook him.
"And our revenge
81 an yoursp'
That evening, when Elisabe;ta WAS q.
out % close the window Of her sleeping |
paFtment, and the clear moonlight en-
iced her out on the balcony. from where
latitude, she heard her name prOnounc
j in low tone BY some one near by.
tartled, she looked down to zee who
ppsoached, when dark figure appeared
eiore her.
ut 10 /, Elisabet.a," said Marco Sessi;
do not be angry with me; l have come
D take leave Of you, which 10 my last
1orldly act. l am going into monss-
nv"
"Poor Marco!" murmured Elisabetta.
''If you have any kindly feeling for
ae-snd I will not belive you have no.
promise to comply with my last re-
usa. / once brought you bunch of
toilets, which l, few moments later,
quad carelsssly thrown aside; tonight,
bring you Q bunch Of roses. Promise
10 that you will keep them for three
ays, and that for three days you will
i've me place in your memory. Its
be request of enc who goes never to re-