The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-28
-DESMOND'S MODEL.

\ eolefieu tlleir TugSeu 0utilneS, IN Tile
Valley of the Secchia the river rippled
languidly over its stony bed, bereaved
OF its myriad tributary streams. The
grass was burned brown, the vines were
white with dust; only the olive-trees
looked cool, with their soft gray-green
foliage, vaguely suggesting mist and
moonlight
Dust, draught, and sultry silence, bro
ken only by the cigala's chirp, prevailed
over all the landscape.
AT the end of the valley furthest from
Luccarough, a zig-zag roadlwinds upward
into the solitude of the hills. Two fig
ufes were just now toiling up the steep
ascent; not Tuscan peasants, but a
couple of Englishmen, in dusty tweed
suits, each having q bundle of artists
traps strapped above his well-worn
knapsack. The taller Of the two stepped
out at good pace some yards in ad-
vance of his companion, singing "Man-
dolinata" in q musical baritone; the
other, who was some years older, and Of
a stouter build, plodded on stolidly be-
hind him, pausing now and then to wipe
his forehead and grumble at the heat.
His pauses grew more frequent as they
proceeded, for the road got sleeper at
every yard. At length, when sudden
turn revealed another long ascent before
them, he uttered smothered groan,
and, stopping abruptly, hailed his COM
panion:
/ "Hallo--Desmondw s-
The latter turned.
"What is itY'
His friend only beckoned in reply,
and, sitting down on the sun-burnt turf
/ by the roadside, unstrapped his KNAPP
! sack and leaned back with long sigh Of
relief. Desmond paused moment, then
came leisurely back, humming the con-
clusion Of his song. He was as hand
some young fellow as you will meet in
summer day. Fair, but sun-burned,
with curly brown hair, frank, happy
blue eyes, and smile whose caressing
sweetness few men, and still fewer
women, could resist. He was dressed
with an odd mixture Of danditied nicely
and Bohemian carelessness. A paint
stained coat and battered brigand hat
seemed little in harmony with bis super
fine linen, to say nothing Of the diamond
ring on his little finger, which showed
to advantage at this moment, as he stood
twirling the ends of his mustacheand
looking down at his friend on the bank.
"Well, old fellow, what the matterY'
'The matter is that l am dead-beat
Not another step can 60 up this heart
breaking hill"
"Is it, then, your intention to spend
the night Oh that bankr'
at is my intention to rest here until
after sunset, at all events, unless some
good Samaritan with a cart happens to
pass by and will give me lift"
"Well, my good fellow, you must be
shockingiy out of condition to be 50 cas-
lily knocked up. The fact is, Thorburn
don't be offended-you are getting
fat" -f3. 8-.-
"Fatp .
Thorburn sat upright to give emphasis
to his indignant protest.
"Fat! lisa libel l was never in
better training. But on road like this,
with the thermometer at heaven knows
how much in the shade" 'f
"Stop, stop" interrupted Desmond,
laughing. IL retract. apologize. 1t
is,the heat, Of course. You see we left
Lucca an hour too late this morning"
'"Yes, you were flirting with that pret-
ty American widow at. the Hotel del
TTniyerso. otherWisa-D
"How could better employ myself
while you were snoring, you lazy hum
bug. Ii YOU had got up when / called
you, instead OF pitching a boot at ne,
and going to sleep again, we should have
been at San Gievanni-della-Rocca by
this time" E
swell if You are in hurry to reach
San-whatcits-name, 60 on, and leave me
to follow at my leisure"
"In a harryY Not l." Desmond re.
turned, throwing himself on the grass at
his friena's side, and lighting cigar, VI
am quite content to sit in the sun, and
let things.take their course"
A pause Of meditative putting.
"How still it is; how lonely, how
grand! What noble purple on those
distant hills! One might be content to |
stay here forever-'the world forgetting.
by the world forgot rea
"The world would forget us soon
enough, You may be sure" muttered
Thorburn. "a short memory is one of |
its many pleasing"
4Shut up, You cid cynic, and don't
abuse the world" interrupted Desmond. |
"It has faults, no doubt, but
Until you can show me happier planet
More genial and bright I'll content me with |
this" r
He sang the lines, and then clasping
mis- hands under his head, watched the |
smoke curling up from his cigar.
Thorburn gave him q glance, half en-
vious, half adiniTing, and wholly affec-
tienate. In spite--or, perhaps, because
of the difference in their characters |
were fast friends. They had been chums
ut school, fe1lowStudents at tho same
drawing academy, and started abreast on
the race of life. Desmond had already
distanced bis companion, but that fact
had in no degree affected their friend.
ship.
"Yes, you will find 1t Q jolly place, no
4 T1horb,,r,, tfC, &c