The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-04-26


in the clear bright air, and the rich full mel.
ody Of that glorious chant rolling in sonorous
echoes over the hills around.
"Sure to-" he continued, following up his
thought. "She lives about here, oubtless.
must sketch her from life. Her face is
perfect. 1t is just the face want. too"
Then he rose, put away paper and pencils
and slowly sauntered down the hot stony.
road,and keeping the procession still in view,
entered the town whittier it was going to
finish the celebration in the little church OF
the Misericordia.
A little dusky, old-world, half-forgotten
own it was, with nothing of note save its few
churches and an arched bridge or two, and
an ancient carved gateway some hundred
years old, and narrow ill-paved streets, and
quaint tur.ble-down houses. picturesque
enough 10 painters and artists, but models o.
dirt and discomfort in themselves.
The man was painter. and had come from
Rome. He was not Il worry great or cele-
brated artist, being poor and of humble birth,
but full of a great ambition, and with an i'm
patience Of tongue and manner that had
often marred his success. He had come
here to gather subjects for picture on which
hc was then occupied, and the intense quiet,
the dreamy hush of the quaint old town, and
the beauty of tho country around had
charmed him SO that he stayed ON from week
to week, much longer than he had intended.
AS he strolled along his thoughts were still
busy with that scene. "It would make a
good subject" be pondered. "Those beauti-
full cypress.crowned hills, that long, winding.
snowy line, with the colors OF the priests
vestments, and the gold fringe of the waving
banners. and, above all, that intense blue
sky; and then the pure saint-like face of tho
one girl and the lovely glowing beauty and
great astonished eyes of the other as she
looked up from her book. Oh, yes, 1t would
do well and nothing pleases people so much
as to see in picture or stage representa-
ton the very scenes which, if they did but
open their eyes, they would ses a thousand
times over in every day lfe-set in their very
midst. 1t is strange age-truly."
Later on, he entered the old gray church
where the people were thronging in crowds,
and the sound of the chanting, and smoke of
the incense, and tinkling of the tiny bell came
out over the bowed heads and kneeling fig
ures on the steps and in the streets.
He did not quite know why he entered
some impulse, for which he could not ac-
count, prompted him-but as he pushed his
way through the throng he saw close beside
him the maiden VINO had attracted his no.
tice in the procession. His eager eyes
fastened on her, almost compelling her own
own to meet them by that magnetic force
which lies in long fixed gaze. She blushed
even more rosily than before, but round the
soft scarlet mouth faint smile played.
Nita was too used to admiration to resent it.
The painter Anio stood aside and watched
the Tuscan maidens pass out. He saw they
were unaccompanied, and resolved to keep
them in view. Walking in their rear, he
heard the elder say: "Will you go home
now, Nita, or not?"
"Home2" was the imp etuous rejoinder
"No, lam going to Cecco, the coppersmith,
now. His daughter, Teresina, has asked me-
Will you not ccme too?"
"Nay, you know am no friend of Tere-
sina's, Nita. She has bold ways, and is sly
Of speech. do not like her. I am sorry
you should go there; nor do I think Maso
would like it,"
The brown eyes, so patient and sad, looked
wistfully at the lovely, willful face, but met
no answer to their entreaty save shake
of the head. "You and Maso would let me
do nothing, and go nowhere, if you could
have your way" said pretty Nita. pouting.
'Nay, dear, we only wish to keep you from
aviI oopopo 10 ho for n nv ,,,n;do,, +o ~
talked about as Teresina is talked of here"
"Well, l am going there, so it is no use to
say anything more" was the willful rejoin.
der; and, satisfied with what he had heard,
Anio slackened his pace, and turned away,
an amused smile on his lips. "Teresina's
FRIEND" he said to himself. 'Tis easily
managed then. Teresina is my model. She
must bring this girl to me-"
He walked swiftly up the narrow, ll-paved
streets, and stopped at house close to the
market-place. girl was leaning out of
window overhead--a dark -browed, handsome
girl, with discontented face and eyes
clouded now with anger. The painter looked
up. mot out? How comes that, pretty
one?" he said.
She glanced at him, and her faced flushed.
''They would not let me-" abe said sulkily.
sit was Lippa's turn, and one OF US must
stay and do the housework."
'What, on Feast Day2"
81 was at early mass but go out again
this evening""
"You will come down to me at the old
place, will you not?"
II don't know. I have a friend with mo
today. She comes from the hillside. 1t is a
good distance, and must walk home with
her ere dark"
(which road do you take? I will meet
you."
The girl looked little surprised at his
eagerness, then pointed in the direction, and
hastily withdrew. Looking round to dis
cover the cause of her disappearance, he saw
approaching group of girls and youths,
among them Nita.
Once again as they passed each other his
eyes caught hers, and once again her own
answered their appeal. "Three times" he
murmured. passing on, while the laughing
group swept by "my fatal number"
CHAPTER II.
MODEL.