Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-10-18
NO. PAT
Gales and Sketfhes.
SEPARATION.
Translated for the Kennebec Journal, from the
German Of Elise Polko, ~r
By FANNIE III. BOWMAN. tsft

The light of clear spring-day was
filling the painters room. White and
blue hyacinths bloomed at the large win
dows; yellow crocuses and blue hepaticas
sparkled already out OF doors in the gar
den the children were seeking and findIng
violets, everywhere, in the sunshine, near
the pathways, and on the hillsides.
1t was an elegant studio. with chairs
carved in ancient style, large oaken ta-
bic, and bookcase of especially beauti-
fnl work. Gypsum brackets Of rarest
form, projected from the dark brown walls;
they held fine copies of Menus, by Mylo,
the dying gladiator, and statues by Rap
hael and Michael Angelo. There were
numberless large and small sketches, In
colors. some drawings, and q lovely land
scape ofthe Roman Campagna. A broad,
dark-green, velvet curtain, hanging in
rich folds, separated the studio from a
small reception-room. e3 ~t<
On the easel, which stood, Just then,
quite near the window. might have been
seen the life-size picture of child,
handsome. delicate girl Of about six years.
She was sitting in q gracefully indolent atti-
tude. in chair. her dark curly head pressed
against the back. her deer-like eyes smil-
ing at the beholder, as If perchance, she
was following butterfly, that was nut
tering over a sunny plat of flowers. In
her arms. closely embraced, she held a
large doll. with light yellow hair, whose
motionless waxen face and widely opened
eyes contrasted singularly with the soul
ful. living child's face of warmest hue.
The picture was almost finished, only q
little more light must be thrown upon the
white dress. and the browish. ruddy flesh
of the arms and hands, must be some " hat
toned down. The roses and orange bios
SONS. which lay in the ehild's lap, must
be more delicately depicted. But brush
and palette were resting then with slow,
heavy steps the painter was pacing. con-
tinually. up and down the room, his arms
folded and his brow furrowed. In his
restless wanderings, he came constantly
close to the form Of a woman, who sat in
chair. near the table, her head leaning ON
her hand.
Her appearance was foreign and re-
markable. The purely Roman head sat
in almost antique beauty on her neck :;
the contour of her features seemed some
what harsh. whereas the complexion was
unusually clear and fresh. The eyes, with
almost too heavy eyebrows and eyelashes,
were very dark. having paihetically
melancholy glance, and the hair, almost
blue-black. showed luxuriant abundance.
A dress of violet silk, fell In Alustrous
folds about her stately and full form a
shawl was folded around the fine bust, rs
il the charming woman, like a frozen be-
ing, was shrouded therein.
''Do stop. Valerio." she said, now with
the vibrating sound of deep mature
voice, and with foreign accent. at
must be so! You know. we can not en-
dure it longer. either of US. You predict
ed, yourself. that should not be able to
stay In your cold native country. Thus it
has happened! Everything vexes and
troubles me here, and so | vex and dis
turb you, also. Let me 60 back to Rome,
to my mother. 1t is not an arrangement,
only a separation Georgiana and can
not survive the Northern winter, a second
time." .a d,
"But Georgiana is healthy, certainly"
he murmured, and an expression of infinite
grief quivered around his mouth.
''If you think she would remain here,
then let her choose Our child was born
in Italy. She has been here only one
year; could she have really taken root al
ready in this cold land Truly, I know
how much she loves you from the very
first, you were her playmate and conf
dent, not l I! But in spite of all that, day
by day she talks of her torsaken country,
where it is so much brighter and warmer.
as she says. Let her choose Georgiana
has the soul OF daughter of the South;
she will never learn to live like an inhabi-
tant of Northern cline. who wishes to
live only for her love, and gives up every
cheerful enjoyment of her life. At pres
ent, her little heart clings fully and entire
ly to her doll but hope at future time,
she will learn to love ardently husband,
make him happy, and thereby be happy
herself, of which your wonderful German
women never Think aaW .ta8nl
"Call the child" he said, after pause,
almost imperious. ..f....t......
She arose and passed him slowly, as
she went out The hem of her long dress
touched his feet. His eyes followed her
movements with sad admiration. The
regal form, the proud bearing of her head
always entranced anew the perception Of
beauty In his artist nature. 20
"She Is right" he whispered. "she Is.
indeed, one of those children OF king,
who were born to wander in marble pal
aces, and to draw their breath In the world
of splendor and light. 1t was egotistical
and cruel, as only a man can be, to wrest
her from her sunny land, and Danish her
here in the frosty. narrow confines of
small Northern town. She can not love
as German women love; il is not enough
to be with me; she wishes to breathe
an atmosphere which exhilirates her
bodily as well as mentally. Half un-
consciously, she is spoiled on account of
her beauty; spoiled by the heaven and
earth of her father-land. was fool |
Even at the present time, she has never
known how to live within the limits 10
which our German women are ed
ucated. How differently she lived. And
why should not home-sick ness depress her
when the women have stared at her with
those most unmerciful of all eyes, the eyes
of prudent housewives and honsekeePers!
Do l dare blame my wife. if with the
mien of an injured princess, she sends
away the maid, who brings the house
keeping book and bids her reckon the
axnanses NV friends shake their haaas.