The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-04-01

of such cruel death, inspired him with
an impulse of resistance.
"For the sake of grace" he supplicat-
ed, stab me; but save me useless suffer
ing"
Already arrived at the edge of the
rocky lcd!e which overlooked the preci-
pice, the victim felt himself on the point
of falling, when several dazzling and un-
interrupted strokes of lightning tore sud
denly apart the black vault of heaven.
"Hold!" cried the painter, with such
an accent of authority that his eXecu-
TONERS Immediately suspended their OPP
low him to approach, believing him on
the point of making an interesting reve-
latiOn.
The scene, until then plunged in dark
ness, was now illuminated by fantastic
slreaks of celestial fire. In the profound
security of the woods thirty ferocious
bandits appeared singularly accoutcred
and armed to the teeth. In their center
stood their chief, young, proud, superb,
one hand resting on his hip, and draped
in long mantle; his eye sparkling with
dominating power; his authoritative ges-
ture indicating both moral and muscular
force. Leaning on his shoulder, in a
voluptuous and caressing pose, was q
woman, surprisingly beautiful, and
dressed i'll bizarre costume, half Bohe-
mian, half Neapolitan. Her hand was
small and frail, but it well understood
conducting the giants arm who tanned
this sanguinary and ferocious troupe.
From whence came she? How was she
there? Had she heard the victims short
condemnation? However that might be,
her cruel features reflected no pity; pas
sionless, she assisted at the sacrifice of a
human being as to spectacle offered to
her beauty.
The painter said nothing. His gaze,
which at first embraced the ensemble
of the scene, had become fixed on the
group formed by the strange creature
aud her lover.
"Well, what wouldst thou sayT' ex-
claimed impatiently the latter, who had
been waiting all this time. The con-
demned man did not appear to hear.
"Say, wilt thou answerT he reiterated,
stamping his foot.
GLOW sad not to be able to live to paint
such picture" murmured the artist, in
complete ecstasy, and forgetting in his
powerful interest the critical position in
which he was placed.
The chief, for Il moment amazed at this
remark made gesture of disdain and
ordered the eXecutioners to continue
| their work.
But the woman, until then immobile
and mute, allowed vain smile to CREEP
over her lips. Without moving from the
attitude which had won for her the SUI
preme homage of the painter; without
changing her regard, which, however
softened under the influence of satisfied
pride She laid her hand on the bandits
and said:
"Agapito, l wish his pardon"
"Thou art dreaming, Barbara! he
cried.
"No, I wish him to live"
A dark frown indicated jealous sus.
picion in the soul of the condottierri.
"Pity! from thee, Barbara! What sig.
nifes thisT'
"What does it matter? A caprice.
wish his pardon; l wish it, dost thou un
derstand?"
"But he will betray us"
"Have no fear" continued she, address
ing the young man, still lost in con.
temptation; "swear to me that you will
forget this adventure; let not word
pass your lips, even to the person dearest
to you on earth; remember that il
Agapito were taken ! Iwculd allow my
self to be hung with him; that in deliv
ering him up you deliver me up. But
have confidence in you. Give me YOU
word; it will be sufficient You are free.
Some months later Rome abandoned
itself to all the follies of the carnival
Among the young people whose extrava
gances attracted the most attention,
man masked made himself remarked by
pacing up and down the streets and pub
lie places, muttering satirical improvisa
tions on the corners of squares, anc
throwing to the winds the inexhaustibl'
, gold of lively and brilliant mind. Th'
, whole city sought to inform itself abou
the author of these astonishing passages
and it soon learned that the spiritue
fanioche was also talented artist. Blu
t modest, unknown, hurt perhaps by som
7 deception or Indifference on the part O
the public, against whom he expresses
t his bitter disdain, he lived retired, con
t cealing his works and his name. TIL
a lovers of art, having at last succeeded il
S penetrating into his atelier, found it oven
; loaded with charming things, rough ant
1 unfinished paintings and sketches full O
J. merit.
And among his various works, one car
: vas captlvated all beholders by the orig
naIity of it's subj ct and the maestri
with which it was treated. An abruJ
:, country, stamped with savage poetry,
IS picturesque and handsome couple, d.
fenseless prisoner, formed the subject {
I. the picture. Every one was unanimol
If in praising it with the exception of or
e slight criticism. The artist, out of caI
lie rice or negligence, had concealed the vi
'e TINS face under his disordered hair, all
had thus omitted to paint the features.
le But the painter, smiling at reproat
n which he without doubt expected, und
ID the influence Of such general admiratio
did not hesitate to take pencil al
lie trace beneath his work (of which
I'd good rights he was proud) his name, sin
IN then immortal to posterity-Salvat
G. Rosa.
lis B.H. Dorsey, agent B. & 0. r. R., col
,,,;oiJa at MnrtinShurp w Va.