The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-12-22

had fifteen francs, and I--lost them"
TOO much money for child, signorna, y
admonished Marietta, gravely.
~ lost it in church.
"Ah, the devil also goes to church some
tmes,' said Marietta, dryly.
The click of key in the outer door caused
Elena to fly with her picture to the box in the
corner, raise the lid, and slip it into this hid
ing-place before her father entered.
The aspect of the card and the yellow por.
tai was like that Of the master. Edward
Runyon was a small, dry man, with hollow,
weary eyes, somewhat querulous smile, and
grizlled hair, Shrewd aud kindly Marietta
of the kitchen, the neighbors Of the narrow
street, with their nimble Tuscan wits, had
gauged him years ago far better than be knew
| himself The world had wounded Edward
Runyon by its first harsh criticisms on his
work, CALLED his nature, and left him TO bear
the burden Of its subsequent neglect, for he,
having broken his lance in the lists, retired in
modification. To the stroke of one mans
| pen he attributed the blight of mildew on his
| life. An art critic had singled out the early
| picture Of a new painter for merciless sarcasm,
| for the display of his own wit, in willfully
turning pathos and tragedy into absurdity,
and the public had laughed This critic, now
dead or forgotten, had driven Edward Run.
yon across the Atlantic, to bury himself from
ence; and he could at any moment place his
| finger on the printed columns, pasted in a
scrap book, which had blown away his fame
like the down of dandelon globe, absorb
| ing airesh the venom of their poison with q
flashing light in his hollow eyes. The man
could brood over his wrongs rather than fight
for his own. Instead of seeking London, as
Benjamin West, Leslie, and Washington
Alston had done, he shrank out of sight in
Italy. Even the fair young wife who had
quilted her school desk TO share his fortunes
had passed beneath the cloud of his gloomy
preoccupation without lessening it, and died,
leaving the child Elena to share her fathers
sombre home, and learn early the stern econ.
omy necessary to subsist on their slender n-
come.
''You should go out, my dear" said Ed
ward Runyon, lighting his meerschaum with
more animation than usual. "rhe weather
is perfect, and it is Christmas.day."
Elena was an Italian in more than birth;
she loved the streets. Marietta pulled her
sleeve, and whispered,
"Return to the church, signorina where
you lost the money, and pray the Madonna
for its recovery. Chel may an apoplexy
seize the thief Fifteen francs ~
The girl had already reached for shabby
little hat on 4 peg, given her name Of hair a
careless toss, and assumed long coat smi-
nently characteristic of the household for.
tunes in the frayed buttons and seams.
"Who knows what ! may find at the
church ~ she said, blithely.
Then she went out into the sunshine un.
conscious of the part fate had assigned her to
perform in q Christmas drama.
IVA CHRISTMAS VISITOR.
The child Elena had scarcely departed when
the nervous excitement Of Edward Runyon's
manner became very apparent. He was re.
lieved by the absence OF his daughter, since
he was thus free to enjoy expectation without
lessening his own dignity, or arousiug her
precocious curiosity. Destiny had played him
n very strange prank that morning, and il the
result proved disappointment, Elena should
be left in ignorance
He had paused at shop window to look at
the display of holiday books fresh from Lon
don; Edward Runyon loved books, and in.
dulgod in none A gronp Of travellers stood
in the shop door, and womans voice in.
quired,
"Can you inform me if there are either
English or american artists resident here at
present.
In response the shopkeeper had actually
mentioned him. Edward Runyon, shabby
little man in a rusty cloak, had colored merry.
ously, and hastened on. The careless word
Of a tourist, the half.formed wish of a stran.
ger merging into so many fresh channels dur.
ing day OF Sightseeing meant so much to
him. Would she Gomez Would she forget
in an hour2 He was able to torment himself
with sinking misgivings as to possible objec.
tons on the part of the stationer, who might
have iayorlte artist to advance.
Marietta was watching him with scarcely
repressed dislaYor as he gazed about his studio
and made some feeble attempt TO regulate its
disorder, with no greater result attained than
to blow the dust from the precious Venetian
standard.
''Signore, the signorna should have new
toilet for the fiesta, and | am sure hope that
the Befana may bring her gift at the
Epiphany, she said, with the privileged fa-
miliarity Of an Italian servant.
''My good Marietta, we shall see. / am not
one OF the rich, returned her master, with an
impatient sigh.
"The child can be robbed of fifteen francs,
and you be none the wiser thought Marietta,
with some contempt.
Her words pricked his conscience. He
was an aifectionate, if not an attentive, father.
Elena's life was more like that of boy than
girl: she went and came as she pleased.
Only on faithful Marietta had devoived the
duties of mistress Of the wardrobe, and such
raiment as the girl had worn hitherto had
been adapted by neghboring mantua maker
of eccentric taste from the dresses of her dead
mother. Edward Runyon had forgotten all
about Christmas, had given his daughter no
gift, had not even kissed her in honor of the
day. The memories Of such festivals, kent
by large portion Of the world, are peculiarly
painful to those isolated like this neglected
artist; still he might have walked with his
daughter, instead of sending her out al one.
He detested Christmas
The door.bell rang sharply, with harsh
and lingering vibration, as ifit were so seldom
heard that it was disposed to make the most
Of the circumstance. Edward Runyon's whole
frame qulyered in response. Could the stran.
ger have taken the trouble to find him? If
so, would she prove that long expected angel
OF delverance--a customer? These thoughts
confused his brain; he was so unaccustomed
TO visitors that even mere polteness seemed
to desert him. A lady and a gentleman en-.
tered the studio, the former energetic, the
latter passive. Edward Runyon returned
their saldtation helplessly; no actually prof.
iered a chair to the lady already occupied by
an open paint-box and palette-an error rem.
edied adrotly by Marietta. Excessive shy-
ness and embarrassment made the artist
dumb, while the lady snapped an eyeglass on
her nose, and the gentleman stroked his
blonde beard, staring at the Venetian vase.
tars hau elapshu since q customer crossed
this threshold. Edward Rnnyon did not
know who these people were or whence they
came, but their advent dazzled and agitated
him. lie ventured some confused remarks
on the weather, his hands fluttering nervously
about his watch chainj the lady regarded him
coolly through her eyeglass, and assented.
Neither Of the visitors was especially consid
crate of the feelings Of that sensitive plant,
the artist, who shrank or expanded at the
llghtest touch Of their careless fingers.
rs that for saleg'' inquired the gentleman,
pointing with his cane to the Venetian vase.
yon.
The gentleman ceased TO stare at the vase.
and transferred his scrutiny to a copy Of
Titian's Ve0us.
- detest copies, said the lady, severely
Edward Runyon experienced sensation
akin 10 the application Of a galvanic battery 10
hls spine. All, how eloquent we're those
sketches on his wallsl Heads Of old men half
finished, bits of architectural beauty, interiors
Of churches, clusters Of flowers, and several
pictures framed, Of the type known as adapted
70 the popular taste-a boy fishing in a muddy
stream, neat little girl sewing, with the cat
beside her, an oyerdressed mother watching
the cradle Of pink baby.
Mariatfa hod xutfk1