The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-13
THE PAINTER OF PARMA
OR,
The Magic Of a Masterpiece
An italian Story OF Love, Mys-
terry and Adventure.
BY sYLvANUS COBB, JR.
Copyright 1888 by MaryJ Cobbl
BY SYLvANUS COBB, JR.
Copyright 1888 by Mary J. Cobb.l
CHAPTER V,
THE LOVERS THRILLING STORY.

wish to use, and was standing before the
picture, his eyes seemingly fixed upon it,
but without seeing it. 1t was not the face
there outlined that he saw; nor yet the face
that had been its model; but another, and a
different-a face to him with an apotheosis;
and, think and struggle as he would, he
could not drive it from his thoughts, from
his inner consciousness 1t was fixed there,
and it would not be eliminated
Something told him that he would not
much longer be permitted to copy from the
dear face of the Princess Isabel His deep
and all-absorbing love--ths love that had
become a part of his life--this had first led
him to the belief, and the adventure of the
previous evening had confirmed it. If the
Count Denaro had serious objection to her
visiting his stndio-of course the subject
had been mooted, and others had spoken of.
it. The influence OF Steffano Farnese could
not be great, yet as brother of the girls
guardian-also as relative of the loved
one herself, his opposition would have its
weight.
Naturally, the conflict with the Marquis
would be talked about and would reach the
ears of the Duke. A seeming fight with
deadly weapons, and one of the parties a
brother of the reigning Prince, would be
sure to take wings and to assume startling
proportions. Zanonis fear was that, in
whatever shape the story might reach the
ears of the Duke, the name of his beautiful
ward would be mixed up with it, That
alone would be sufficient to put stop to the
lady's visits, and, perhaps, to her sittings;
though his grace might ask him-the artist
Ito take his work to the palace
The painters thoughts were wandering
now upon the fray on the rivers bank, and,
anon, TO the apotheosized face, when the
Princess and her duenna arrived.
Zanoni was master of himself in the old
Bervitor's presence; and Isabel, meeting his
calm, friendly look, was equally calm and
tranquil.
And here the artist received a lesson. He
caught the quick, sharp look of the duenna
caught her eyes, with tell-tale light in
them, fixed on himself; then they shot to-
ward the Princess, with penetrating gaze;
again, upon himself, after which she
seemed to be trying to see both at one and
the same time Had she said to him: II
must watch you, because have been bid
den," she would not have betrayed her pur-
pose more plainly.
However, the Princess got rid of her after
time-sent her off into the waiting room,
and the door was closed between them, with
heavy curtain hung against it.
81 suppose | can Sit" the fair model said,
trying to smile as she spoke.
Yes, certainly. We have nothing to do
now with the position"
Thus speaking, Zanoni took up the palette
and two or three brushes; but he did not
offer to touch the color he had so carefully
prepared. A little while he stood, with the
implements of his calling in his hands; then
a perceptible tremor shook his frame:
his lips quivered and his eyes grew
strangely bright with a warm and LIQUID
light. Tears were gathering in spite of his
utmost endeavOr to keep them back. At
length the spell was broken. He laid the
palette and pencils back ON the table and
turned toward the sitter
Princess! 1 cannot! l cannot! NY
hand will not obey my will to paint Par
don mel O!pardon but must speak,
He stood before her with his hands clasped,
gazing at her through tears that were we'll
nigh ready fall.
Dear Princess! Wildly, passionately.
madly-yet, o! how deeply and truly
loved With this, perhaps, last avowal
from my lips, shall we regard the words
spoken yesterday as having never found ut
terancel Shall we be as we were before?
Reflect, think of it ALL look at the situation
calmly and Understandings, at your ex-
allied station; at my lowly, humble lot, my
poverty and my garb of toll. Remember,
too, were we to think Of marriage we must
leave the land that gave you birth. To me
1t would be nothing, the wandering to an
other cline, but o! think of what It would
mean for you'll Isabel, / must not; dare
not. l will leave Parma 1 cannot live here
when-when-n
his face in his hands. A few moments so,
and then he felt those two loving arms once
more over his shoulders, and this time
around his neck; and sweet, fearful voice
sounded in his ear:
Juan, you love me with all your hearth
With all my heart, with all my soul, and
with all my strength-my first love of
woman since my mother died!"
And | love you the samel / am yours,
now and evermore If you leave it to me,
j say-and say it once and forever-only
death shall part us! My love is no feeting
fancy, no sudden, aimless passion; but a
calm, trusting, enduring love, that has be-
come part OF my life, part of my very
self. love you because you are, to me.
the ideal of all my thoughts and dreams of
my hero, my champion, my one man above
all other men. | am glad you are beauti-
full, but far more glad am l that you are
good and noble and true and loyal-a truly
Christian gentleman. Juan, / am yours,
yours, and yours alone while life and sense
are mine; and Ipray-thatou our love
may live glorified and eternall"
Amen. and amenI" and he took her to
his bosom, held her close, and their lips met
IN the first warm, ecstactic kiss of pure and
lofty love.
A little time--or longer-of silent rap
ture, heart speaking to heart with the old,
old story as old as creation--the story that
found birth when the glad stars of morn
ing first sang together-the story that must
enlist the deepest and hottest sympathies Of
the human heart until humanity shall have
vanished from off the earthl
Then, when the first wild, delirious and
all absorbing emotion of passionate bliss
had passed the painter led the Princess back
TO her seat, and was soon able to speak
coherently and calmly.
isabel My lovel my lifel We have
much to say to each other. Shall |, while
we speak, go on with my workP'
You might take your palette and
brushes" she said, flushing slightly in view
OF the implied deceit; for neither Of them
believed that the work could go on success
fully.
Certainly" returned Zanoni, with an
answering smile.
Simple as was the passage, perhaps moth
Ing else could have occurred SO well calcu-
lated toput them at their ease and open the
way to calm and dispassionate converse
ton.
The first thing the lover did was to give
10 the Princess an account of his meeting
with the Count and Marquis on theprevious
evening. He knew she must hear Of IL, and
ne preferred that it should first come from