The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-02-17
CHAPTER I.
Witt TIN II
TILE pAINTER Ann HIS MODEL.

what QlScOlOreu Dy Tue IVuCh VI 'i"iN' W."
the studio of painter. His rooms were on
the second floor, the windows in front COM
handing view that might have inspired
anyone whose soul was susceptible to the In
auence of the grand aud the beautiful.
Our painter occupied two apartments, both
of goodly size, we'll lighted and handsomely
and artistically furnished. That in the rear,
the windows of which overlooked small
garden belonging to the estate, was used as a
reception and waiting room; the other, in
front, being the artists studio proper-his
sanctum sanctorum.
1t was late in the afternoon of pleasant
day Of June. In the rear apartment of the
painters quarters sat woman, advanced in
years-a duenna in attendance upon mis-
tress who occasionally tried her patience as
il was certainly being tried now.
She had waited in that room, solitary and
alone. she could not tell how long, but II
seemed to her an age.
Anon she tapped the rich mosaic of the
floor with her foot winked and blinked her
sharp gray eyes. pursued Ter thin lips, and
nodded mysteriously.
The apartment beyond the arch-the stu
do proper-was a different place from the
waiting room, and differently occupied.
Near the centre of the studio stood an easel,
supporting canvas, on which was peihs
created life-size picture of st. Cecilia, the
young and beautiful Christian martyr OF
Rome. The body of the picture was well on
the way toward completion. The figure was
represented as leaning on a harp; the mood
one of sublime contemplation. The harp was
finished save only touch here and there In
shading; the background was wen nlgn COM
plete, and the drapery required out little
more work. The face was scarcely more
than outlined. but sufficient had been done
to reveal the surprising possibilities of the
conception.
By the side of his work stood the painter,
Juan Zanoni The beauty of his face was
startling. The skin In Its purity and white
ness was like unspotted marble. His age
since we know it we may as well be exact
was nine and twenty. One month previous
ly he had entered upon his thirtieth year.
Near by, reclining upon luxurious velvet
covered ottoman, was the painters model
for his saint. If she had not been beautiful
she would not have been there Neither
would she have been there had her beauty
been of the VoluptuOuS cast, or even verging
upon H. Hers was most emphatically a
beauty Of purity and truth-a beauty of soul
and intellect. She was 20 years of age, with
~
and =. She was the Princess Isabel di Va
roma, an orphan, and a relative and ward of
the Duke of Parma. She had lost her pa
rents when quite young, her father having
been killed on the battlefield, her mother dy-
ing shortly thereafter. Though Prince di
Varona had been only cousin, twice re-
moved, Of the duke on the maternal side,
they had been mated together in youth, and
had loved one another deeply and truly to
the end; hence the mother when dying
III. 4rsA Of har htacl aaY a
to be a father to her child. He had prom
Used, and most faithfully had his promise
been kept. The orphan girl, inheritng the
title with the large estate, had come to him a
wealthy ward, her possessions, in fact, rival
ling his own in value.
If YOU ask how the princess CHANGED to be
here, serving Zanoni as model, we an
swer The st. Cecilia was being painted for
the duke. The subject had originated with
him. He had read the touching story OF the
young and beautiful Roman wife, who had
offered her life upon the altar OF her re-
ligion-preferring death to remuneration
of her blessed faith in her Lord end Saviour
Jesus Christine had read, and 1t became
with him a sort of infatuation that he should
not only possess picture OF the SAINT, put
that his beautiful ward should sit for the
once, when the Count Giuseppe Deparo,
an only son of one of the weathiest, Oldest
and most notable families in the duchy, who
had sought Isabel's hand in marriage-when
he, with sadly drawn and lugubri0us vlsage,
offered objections to the arrangement, the
duke had laughed at him outright
'In mercy's name, of what are yon
afraid?' the latter had exclaimed. do you
fancy thepopulace would dare to breathe the
breath of scandal against that pure being ?
Surely you cannot doubt that her dignity and
self-respect will bear her safely through the
ordeal And, my boy, you cannot know
Juan Zanoni If you fear on his account"
You mistake me, sire. My thoughts lay
not in that direction"
Before the young man could speak further
the duke started under the touch OF quick
"Count Denarol Dare you hint at sach a
thing? By San Marco! the man who has
not confidence in the immaculate purity
Of"
sob, sire sire" the count had implored,
grasping the dukes hand as he spoke. How
could you give such turn to my speech
Good heavensl / would cut my tongue out
at its roots if thought it could frame utter
ance in that direction. No, no, meant
nothing like that"
what then, Guiseppe9 You must have
had meanlngY"
Dear master" the youth had replied,
for what | am about to say. True, Isabel
has not yet given assent to my ga rnest suit
not yet has she promised me her hand; still
/ am sure she likes me, and have hoped
that she might, ere long, speak the wore
that would make me the happiest of men
And now, my dear duke. will tell you the
thought that has given me trouble, and
shame not to confess it," He paused here a
few moments, with his head bent and his
hand pressed on his brow. Presently he re-
aSire. the painter, Zanoni, is, without ex.
ception, the handsomest man l ever saw,
and in his beauty there Is weird, spiritual
quality-a quality have at times thought
not of earth-which gives it depth and
power to charm, which no one can escape
who is brought within its influence. Then,
again, never met another so brilliant and
entertaining in conversation. In short, his
very presence has in i charm which Il
utterly irresistible. Now, sir, i know thai
deep touch of romance in her thoughts
and feelings. Can you not see what
dread?"
For the space of perhaps three seconds
the duke had regarded the young man seri
ously. and then he burst into merry laugh
and laughed heartily.
"Ohl boy, boy What a bugbear you have
conjured up in that poor fellows. studio
You must be crazy. The Princess al Naroni
falling in love, like a milkmaid, with pie
bian picture-makerl POUNDS! Don't let ne
mistrust that you think so lightly OF her
Hush say no more. | forgive you, my boy
but doubt much if she would should sht
come to know it. And now, Giuseppe, as an
end to this matter | will say this: You car
only look at one side of Zanonfs character
i admit all that you have said concerning
him-eyery word-but wish to adobe Is
welded to his art. Since he has been In
Parma, little more than five years, he has
painted the portraits of the most beautiful
maidens we have among us. AT least score
of young and lovely damsels, manageable.
yet unmarried-I may say of them that they
were the loyeliest Of our lovely women-haye
sat to him, have spent hours with him alone
while he caught their features and transfer
red them to canvas.
giuseppe, most of these young ladies
have conyersed with on the subject of their
experience in the artists studio, and | have
found them unanimous in one direction Of
disappointment, and, think may say, dis
gust. And you will remember old Medelon
always accompanied her No! / wouldn't
forego the pleasure / anticipate in the DOS.
session of that picture for my ducal crown
There! away you go. Don't let any more
such COLLINS arise to frighten you"
The young count had it on his tongue
when the duke spoke of Madelon, to tel
him that the good old woman was neye
suffered to sit in the studio while the arts
was painting, but perhaps his grace alread,
irnew IT, and had ready excuse for it. At al
avants he had, at that dismissal turne,
sway without saying more.
Zanoni had laid his palette and brusl
down on a small table that stood near by an,
for full minute had stood in silence, hi
owes fixed upon the outlined face on his can
vas At length the sitter interrupted him.
'"Come, signor, you are not improving til
time give you"
With start almost like one detected in