Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-12-13


ne or anything, he would repent of it
or the remainder of his life, and do all
hat he could in the way of reparation. !
Besides generosity, his face Indicates
perfect truthfulness, such as can never
'werve aside, nor suspect others OF
loing 50. Knowing himself worthy of
Ill trust, he would repose perfect conf
lence in others.
The picture upon which he is working
is representation of Helen of Troy at
The moment when she consents to flee
with Paris. Beautiful, wonderfully
beautiful, is Helen in the picture, and
her face is an exact copy OF the models.
Pure Grecian features, soft, delicate
contour, complexion clear and white,
rendered more striking by the
blackness of the eyes, lashes.
and hair. Look at her from every side,
place her in any position, and Gigia
will still be perfection in beauty and
grace. No wonder that Antonio de-
lights to paint SO fair creature; no
wonder that he fingers lovingly over his
work, endeavoring by touch here and
touch there to express even better
than before that wonderful symmetry
of form, that rich and exquisite color
ing; no wonder that his heart swells
with Joy and pride when he remembers
that GiPia has promised to be his wife.
[ shall not go back and give detailed
account of Antonio's love and courtship
or of Gigia's consent. She is the
daughter of his podroaaa or landlady;
he met her about three months before,
when he moved into his present
lodgings, and at first sight became fas-
cinated to him by her beauty; love soon
followed, and she consented to marry
him. But I have no time for further
depression. A step is heard on the
stairs, the studio door is opened. An
tonic, looking up, percelves young
man, tall, like himself, blonde, unlike
himself, and attired in way that pro-
claimed him to be one of those wealthy
young fellows who have nothing what
ever to do but the perfecting of their
own appearance and the ornamenting
of their persons. ss
"Ah is it thou, anaicor" says Anto-
MO, cheerfully. 1T is a long while
since we have seen thy face. There is
nothing wrong with thee, [ trust?"
"Nothing, Antonio na50. l have had
some little business matters to attend
to, that Is all. :"
Cesare Ricasoli was standing directly
behind Antonio. The artist did not
like the look which he gave to Gigia,
nor-so occupied was he at that moment
in trying to impart the desired tint to
a refractory lock Of hair that fell over
the fair neck of Helen of Troy-did he
perceive how his model Redeemed under
that gaze, how an eager look came into
her eyes, and bow for one moment she
leaned forward, her lips slightly parted,
to form the word "caro." Cesare
lifted a warning finger; she quickly sank
into her former position.
Chow dost thou like my picture,
Cesare?" asked Antonio. "Canst
thou not suggest some alteration %
cit needs nothing to make it more
beautiful than it is, answered Ricasoli.
"IhOu art a genius, Antonio. There
is no painter equal to thee in all Italy,
and that, thou knowest, the world will
soon discover. But tell me why the
face of Paris is still left a blank"
6 Because as yet 1 have been able to
find no model for it,"
81 will pose for thee" began Cesare;
but Antonio stopped him.
"Thou, AMIGO naios Never. Thy
face could never look like the face of
Paris.
"What am [ not handsome enough
to suit thee?" laughed the young man,
casting complacent glance at the place
where mirror should have been, but
was not
s'Thou art an Apollo" answered the
artist. what mean is, that the face
could never wear the expression of de-
ceit and treachery which Paris, man
who persuaded Helen to forsake the one
to whom she owed allegiance, must
have. Thou couldst never commit such
an unworthy action, Cesare.'
This time there was no reply. An
tonic did not notice the fact, for he was
again bending eagerly over his work;
but if his glance had CHANGED to rest
upon either his friend Or his betrothed,
he would have seen that heavy frown
had darkened the brow of the one, and
that every trace of color had left the
cheek of the other, while she dared not
lift her eyes from the ground. The I'M
conscious Antonio continued:
1t seems to me, Cesare, that there
are few men on this earth more favored
than [. Besides having dear old
mother, well and happy, living in Rome,
[ have a J5dang0ta (betrotheO who is
the most beautiful woman in the world,
and whom it shall be the one endeavor
of my life to render happy, and true
friend whom can always trust. It was
kind OF thee, Cesare, wealthy, gay, gal
liant that thou art, to swear eternal
friendship to the poor struggling
artist"
Again silence. Gigia felt that it
must be broken.
'sThere is yet another possession that
will soon be thine, Antonio MO, that
must be dearer to thee than either
friend or Jfdonzata, and that is tanae"
+" Nay" answered the artist, eagerly
dropping his palette and brushes, as he
approached his model; ''believe me,
Gigia, fame is dear to me, but it is
nothing to the love I feel for thee. T
would rather, aye, thousand times
rather have thee, and be forever