The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-12-27


we're these, spoken by the rough voice of
some low rascal of the Roman popalace:
"fn ire S6tt5EcGpe Ia bGmbind sara''-
lin three weeks tie little girl shall be
The rest of the sentence | could not hear;
but The words were enough to excite a
strong suspiciUn-in my mind, when l con-
nected them with Blanca s~disa appeargnce.
Could the man have really been the Count
Luigi ] dared uot reveal to any one what
my mind suggested-namely, that Blanca
had actually been made away with lJy her
uncle, bargained into the hands of parcel
of scoun6rels. How could l prove it?-
What reason could / give for his commit
ting such a crime? Moreover, lie was a
powerful man at Rome, and could make
the place exceedingly uncomfortable for
me if his anger were once raised against
me. Confident that our Divine Father
would in the end unravelthe terrible mys-
terry | betook myself to my painting again.
The generous -Coutessa had not only paid
me far beyond what my toll deserved, but
had recommended me to the great families
at Rome. ] suppose / could paint tolerably
well then, and my patronage increased daily.
Seven years passed on, my Amy, and
yoSr uncle had in that time become such
grand artist ana earned So mrch money
that he thought he would come over the
water to his old home in New York. Ac-
L
town and commenced business at once. /
did not have very long to wait for patrons.
4 gentleman called in oneOctober day and
conversed with me about picture he want
ed painted to order for his art gallery.
81 hear you are from Rome" said he.
"You must be great painter. | want you
to make me pictrre of a child who has
woke up on Christmas morning and found
her stockings crammed with good things.
And mind you, the child must be very
bea iftIl"
.'AH right" said I. ''Call on Monday
and [ shall have my sketch ready for you"
You know artists most generally have
modelsfor sech pictures. Hence / set my
self to work TO secure one; but | found
this was difficult Job. Now, if you had
been young lady then, should have Ger
tainly have you sit for my painting. But
my model -car,e frem an entirely unexpect-
ed qtarter. / had left my studio one even
ing, and was walking up town through an
out-of-the-w way street, when | heard the
music of harp and violin, just as they
sound when the Italian players come under
your window TO drive you crazy with their
awful performance. On drawing nearer,
| discovered p dz.7.&coir pPxioned and
handsome Italian boy twanging an accom-
paniment on his harp to an outlandish song,
and near him young girl airily and DELI
fiddle. Seeing me, she stopped, approach
ed, aud, holding oUt her 'hend piteddsly,
said
"Oh mister, gif poor girl few pen
nies. The padroHe will be beat us if we GO
! back without money; and we have had
nothing to eat. Oh mister, do please -
was touched, and tlfepenmiesHo dearly
| needed Ga;ckiy came forth. The girl was
uncommoniy beautiful, Thought, for a
street-waif She bad yellow hair, partly
hidden in an old pink muffler, and sweet
wide blue eyes, and such nose, mouth and
| dimpied 'chin-all like yours, my love,
| Her face was tanned little by the sun OI
! many days in the pitiiess streets. Her at
| tire was a many patched cotton dress, o
| no particular color; and her feet were cover
! ed by great clumsy shoes, such as our gro
'cery boy wears. How old was she? / shottiC
/ say aSont ten or eleven, and her male es
| cort was certainly not much older. AS
stood looking at her, the thought strucl
me that ougIit to take her as my model
''Come here" said I to her. "Why d,
/ you live with the padrone don't interrup
| me again, t.Yfss. | ell tell you shortly
| what padrone Isl, when he beats you ?
Il have no other home - the poor gin
! replied. ''The police would take me if
| slept in .he streets, and maybe Shut me vi
| forever" "
"Wouldn't you like TO go TO n nice
| home, and have plenty to eat and decen
clothes, and get paid for easy work ?'
F'Ohi sir" she almost sobbed, as Il til
happiness spoke of were too great I
I think OF.
Listen" / continued. ''If you wi
leave the paarene, | will get you com
Portable place to live IN, with nice oil
lady to take care of yot."
''But won't leave JiacomO. He is GOO
to me: He gives me half his bread whe
| am very hungry"
'.Wm YOU Come with me if Jiacom
comes ?" | asked.
"Yes, sir"
"Then step this way, Jiacomo," sal
to him. '+How w6t ld Won like to leave th
padrone, and to live with people who wi
take care of you? You viii have work t
do aud be well paid
Jiacomo took off his hat, and, smilingl
looking me in the face with good natured
Quest eyes, replied ''You are too good
sir. | would like TO go, if she may com
with me- but If the padrone ever catche
IL Re will kill ns both"
"Iiave no fear of tire padrone,' | said
"tf he makes any trouble, we will hav
him arrested and put into prison"
| This bold declaration of mine settle
the matter and I had little further trOubl
in PeIsuadiHg them to accompany me t
| H1H SiGOlO, HDeI0 L lliltUucu W udNC AuCi
stay for tke time being. They must hav
thought that I was the city governor, or 8
least police captain. Fancy your grav
and decor0us Uncle Coventry marchin
down Broadway at nigIitfall, followed by
couple of delighted hountebanks. Th
janitor 6f the building in which my studr
was located must bave thought had gou
raving mad, and be greeted me with loo
of blank surprise when | appeared at b
doorway, with my extraordinary cOmpaI
ions. "Now, then, sir, said ] to hin
''be spry, aud run mp stains and build
roaring fire in my CRATE, and then, Sit, pr
pare hearty supper for the famishe
children The musical instruments OF n
two friends were deposited in one corn,
of my studio and in very sheIt time Il
r children were seated before stSch a supp
as they had conceived OF only in blissf
dreams I next bade the janiior's wife pr
vide them with comfortable beds. VIII,
: was preparing To leave, :he happy ch
: dren wished to kiss me aid | gracious
A agreed, promising them they should see 4
!. early in the morning.
4 Now, while they are supposed To
! asleep shall tell you what you seem dyi'