Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-07-20
wretches loved the excitement of such a

wretches loved the excitement of such a
scene.
Have yon said your pater-noster,
painter ?' asked one.
Have you confessed Your sins P' asked
another.
Have you told your beads? p demand
ed third.
For the love OF the Madonna. friends,
do not put me to this cruel death !"
"You are late in your application" said
Leonardo; when the brigand's thirst for
blood is up he must have draught cost
what it may"
They drew him to the edge and Lconar-
do deliberately motioned the strongest Of
the party TO assist him. The two seized
him by the feet and shoulders, the former
of which as well as his hands were close
| " bound. and lifted him over the brink.
| lie closed his eyes with a convusive shud-
der-one or two entreaties were choked
| in his throat.
Farewell painter" cried the ferocious
Leonardo. pleasant journey to you; it is
long one but you will not be long on
the way"
Another moment and the world had lost
some of the best paintings which ever
graced the walls of its galleries and pal
aces. when the shout of Madalena from
below arrested the brutal arm of Leonar-
| do
per do" he said "Madalena there
will be breakers ahead
"Davolo :" cried the rest ''it the old
beldame had stayed away minute more ~
But they could not decenrly finish their
atrocious deed without paying her the re-
spect of waiting for her first to come up,
although the temptation of flinging man
three thousand feet off precipce was al
most too powerful to be resisted
Madalena mounted the hill she knew
their natures well, and though her horror
and impotence had the moment before
found vent in threats and revelng, she
had Gained herself to steadier mood
"Scoundrelsr' she said. "do YOU these
things aloneP Should We not in the alb
sence of your chiettain do me the poor
honor to invite me to your amusements?'
"You are welcome" growled Leonardo
iiercely, with the air of hungry dog
whose bone has been wrenched from be-
tween his teeth by superior force al
though uninvited, you are welcome"
"But who is this wretch, the doomed
victim of your displeasure-w what" She
placed her finger on his forehead 10 steady
his palsed and ghastly features. while his
anguid limbs hung nerveless in Their tight
bands.
"Why. by the Virgin. this is boy
young. unarined, hi lpless. bound" and
she took between her thumb and finger
fold OF his worn garment "poor, too, and
perhaps an outcast and victim like your
selves
"Ay, and the first word he spoke" ex-
claimed one OF the band. was Il hatred
and defiance to priests and tyrants."
why, Leonardo, this is All Insignii
cant prey; this is victim rather for "a vic
tins arm or eyes"
IL understand no jest, lady. This man
is, in all our belief, IA spy-some Austrian
renegade-some SIP inish traitor, sent here
perhaps with promises of reward for your
head and mine"
at is but fair" cried another, ito let
him leave his own as a pledge of his good
faith"
mot his head, good Rinaldo, but his
heart"
"lf we have women to lead us. and the
talk is of hearts to be pierced with Cupid's
arrows rather than good Spanish steel,
we better lay down our weapons at once :"
You, poor youth, cease your fears. If
you are not sent here to do US harm, what
wild fancy has led you among the heights
OF the Abruzzi ?'
81 am by profession a poor painter,
without a carline or friend. | wandered
here to stu v nature that | might transfer
her features TO my canvass"
at is false" cried one of the men
"painters love their nature. Spangnolette
sIe' ps in the gorgeous hall OF the Spanish
Viceroy. Neither he nor his gang haunt
the peaks OF The Abruzzi. do not see
why his life shold be spared"
"He is no painter" cried several voices.
che is spy, perhaps a cardinal, perhaps
Spanish noble. say give him sound
sleep in the rock bed of the stream"
Young man." cried Madalena, 81
would save your life; tell me truly. are
you what you profess to be P''
by the Blessed Redeemer, by the holy
mother. dear lady, am"
"Can you paint wellP'
81 may not say such thing of myself.
but my hand is familiar with the pencil"
Soldiers" said Madeleine. in n good
natured voice, "come, will wager with
you for this boys life. You have fair set
of goodly faces though rather rough and
uncourtly; but we will put this strangers
skill to the test: We can find whether he
is painter or not. | see pencils and pa
per in his portfolio, through which your
bullet has made a pertoration. Now, Law
down here and let him draw one of YOU.
to prove his profession and as a speci
men of his ability"
agreed. agreed" cried the rude
group; and flinging themselves down in
TO careless attitudes, they unbound their
prisoner and placed before him the uten
sis of his AIT.
The boy seized his poncil. 1t was al
ways his joy; now it was his inspiration
and life.
II think, Leonardo, he is painter In
deed" cried one, "for he grasps his pen
Gil as YOU do your dagger-as if he were
used to 1t"
''He is well rid of his paleness, too.r
said Antonio. 81 think the voungster has
touched his skin with the color fair wo-
men paint their cheeks with. only the
eyes are as fiery as our lady's when Leo.
poldo brought in his last plunder."
'lf the boy is really poor moon
struck artist cried Leonardo, 81 thank