The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-11-03
ACROSS THE RIVER.

She was buying lilies when Ralph
Alverton first saw her in Italy. 1t was
under a dust begrimed old palace
wall, at the corner Of one of the streets
in Florence. Ralph Alyerton was out
early in search of a breath of fresh
morning air, before the glare Of the
June day began. A few Florentine
women in lace wells, holding fans be-
tween their faces and the suns rays,
had passed and repassed him OH their
way to church or market; but it was
an English face which arrested his at
tention.
"Vuole, Signorina, r,tole?" clamored
all the flower venders together, while
each thrust handfuls Of dewy roses or
Virgin lilies toward the face of Il girl
with hair Of the same golden color az
Carlo Dolce painted for his Angel of
the Annunciation.' Ralph Alvert0n,
the artist could not help thinking of the
picture as he watched her, lilies in hand,
turn away from the long stone ledge of
the PalaZZo StroZZ, which serves as a
flower stall in the Via Tornabuoni.
The tall, slight figure, in her quaint
costume Of sage green. went over one
OF the bridges to the other side of the
Arno. And Ralph went home to his
studio Oh this side of the river.
He hadF taken a fancy to the angel
painted by Carlo Dolce, and a few days
later found him seated with canvas aud
easel before it in the gallery of the
Pitt. Some copyist had already been
at work there; another easel, with i.
half finished sketch stood by the PIC
ture, and there was a high stool left
vacant. 1t was not long before it was
taken possession of by it's owner-the
girl with the hair and face like the an
gel of the picture, resemblance showing
stronger with the removal of her hat.
Side by side worked the two English
artists all the morning with no exchange
Of words.
The next day he came with the fixed
purpose Of winning a word from her
grave lips. An opportunity was easily
found in some appeal about their COM
mon work; it was followed by mutual
contemplation of each others painting.
Ralph considered his own immeasura-
bly, the superior Of the two, but he did
not so. and talked because he liked his
listener. But the conversation was
brief; the artists were discreet, and 81
lenCe resulted.
''Ah, Lilias, so we have found you at
last % cried II grand looking matronly
lady, who, with double eye glasses and
Baedekcr's guide book, entered the
Sale shortly before the hour for closing.
She was followed by party of her own
people, who came up and shook
hands with the girl artist. "Why, Mr..
Alverton, are you here2' exclaimed Il
chorus OF surprised voices, and then
there was repetition of greetings.
"Really, III travelling, Ole comes across
friends in the most surprising wayl"
said the leader of the party, whom they
called "Mrs. Calvor IL thought You
were still living ..on'on. DO you
know my frieN ''. Vane? No
Lilias, may int ce NJ Alverton to
you? What a str. "....cident, that
| should find my two friends at work
on the same picture, yet unknown to
one anotherl'
Then the whole group of English Wis.
itors suddenly grew Interested in the
"Angel Of the Annunciation," and i'll
another. Mrs. Calvon put up her glasses
and gave her criticisms with all the
freedom Of an amateur who knows moth
ing about art. "Will you come and
see us this evening at the Hotel dc l'tGu-
rope, Mr.. Alverton?" she asked, as they
left the gallery.
hdlpl dCCcpLcu anu came. LII MIS-.
Calvon's saloon he learned little about
Lilias Vane. Her falni y, who were
very poor, had consented to her wish to
come to Florence to paint. She lived
at the pension--the Casa Chiara-
which happend exactly to face the
studio occupied by Ralph on the oppo-
site Of the Arno. While they were talk-
ing of her Liljas herself arrived with
some other people, who had been invit-
ed.
Ralph Alverton made up his mind
that evening that he liked her very
much. Lilias did not make up her
mind so quickly. She was quiet and
silent, with q grave, sweet look which
somehow connected itself with the An
gel and the Lily. But when it was
time to go home Ralph offered to es-
cort the ladies back to the Case Chiara
This was the first but by no means the
last, time that he walked with I.ilias
along the river side where the lights
shOne, and across the bridge Of the Car.
raja to her home on the other side.
They often met in the rooms Of m,l-
tual friends, where the evening would
be spent, and when, whatever else hap
pened, or did not happen. the end was
the same always; Ralph Alverton took
care Of Lllias across the river, and left
her safely at the Casa Chiara.
One day, by special arrangement the
CalYons and Lilias paid visit to