The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1889-11-24

/ sSs
VT
MADAME LA PRINCESS MADE A CHARMING
SITTER
much better, and tho friendship between her.
SELF and Emily very frfaly fixed To what
state Ccsare and the latter had arrived it was
difficult TO say-it looked to outsiders very
ike an engagement
Miss Sinclair, meantime, seemed to have
fixed Polenta. Sho came to mo one day.
Agitating her faxen wig, and giving an
elderly and matured SILVER, which sho In
tended for maiden coyness, sho told me that
she should soon have to ask my assistance in
a very delicate niatter-that Of inauiring
into the finances and tho past of certain
gentleman, ETC.; but respectfully and firmly
declined, telling her that she had better refer
that matter to some of che numerous En-
glish who were just then in Venice, and
whom she and the colonel knew For they
had apparently an immense acquaintance.
Never did sea them meet party of their
own country people of tho higher rank, but
they seemed to know them. Ihcar(l that they
were well born people; in fact, i'll spite Of
tho colonel's habits, ho had all the air and
manner Of gentleman born; his sister, in
spite of her folly, was a gentlewornan; and
his daughter WINS worthy OF any distinction.
The colonel had been seen ever since we came
to Venice with very hard looking set of his
own countlymen, some Of whom had titles;
some, like himself, with military handles to
their names; oil of whom played high, drank
deeply, and lee what may be called irregular
lives Indeed, the word regular would
hardly have been found in any Of their die
tionarics DR.. Sebastian, a cunning old
Italian, who knew everything, seemed to
have q pleasure in watching and tracking
these gentlemen
STRANGE people, these phlegmatic Eng
lishI' said he. They talk about tho hot
headed children of the SUM PAIL do you
suppose We have any such insanity in our
blooda Do wo get drunk every night9 Do
we squnnder our fortunes? Mol We arc
great gamblers, 1t is true, but we play, by
throwing our fingers in tho dir, for few
pence OF zig. We do not gamble away
house and vineyard as you sober, cold
blooded Englishmen do-ah, nor
1t was to him that owed tho disagreeable
knowledge, which he brought me ono even
ing, that tho colonel had been caught cheat
ing at cardsl yes, and expelled tho tempo
rary club which had been formed at Venice
among tho travelling English.
full eyes to join the group in my studio She
did not know the extent Of her fathers dis
grace, but she did know that something
, dreadful had happened. It was the day that
/ tho princess was TO give inc her last sitting;
and she came, radiant in beauty and accom-
panied by her daughter. Whether it was
that Blanca, with her intensely excited ner-
vous organization, felt the agitation of her
friend and sympathiEed with it, l know not,
but she became very much excited, and be-
gan to talk wildly.
Miss Sinclair and Polenta came in during
the sitting, the former to tell Emily that
+ they had decided to leave Venice on the
J morrow, and to bid her pack her things for
: departure; Polenta, as usual, merely looking
/ about him.
| Unfortunately, as he stood near Emily, his
! eyes fell Oh her sketch book. He opened it,
turned over its leaves and came upon the
caricature of himself, tho ono she had made
on the Grand Canal | saw him grow pale
and red and clench bis teeth; he cost ono
look at tho young head, which was at the
moment bonding over her work, and it was
1 look which promised evil things.
Z AS if a baleful cloud had suddenly entered
Z my peaceful domain, poor Blanca became
wildly, hopelessly raving. Her brother and
Emily rushed to her and tried to soothe her.
while her mother sprang to her side. The
paroxysrn passed over soon, and sho fell into
fit Of weeping, which enabled the princess
I to leave her moment and prepare herself
I for departure. Hastily taking OFF her jewels
and such external decorations as her picture
demanded, she left them to Maddnlena to
pack up and bring home, while she wrapped
herself in her dark cloak, and with Cesare
took Blanca to the gondola, | accompanying
them down the marble steps and waiting
until l say them embarked.
As came back saw Maddalena descend
ing and Pelenta accompanying her carrying
some of her many bundles. was somewhat
astonished at this act of courtesy on his part,
but learned that she had asked him to call
her a gondola Immediately following her
were Emily and Miss Sinclair, also bearing
Russia leather bags and impedimenta.
$50 this ends my blissful summer, does its'
Whispered to Emily, as turned to accom-
pany her. She could not answer me: she had
drawn her thick veil over her face, and was
no doubt in tears behind it.
We had some difficulty about gondola, as
it was an hour before their own was ordered,
and the princess had departed In hers. FL
nally Polenta succeeded in getting one
which took the two ladies and the
maid and into which he got himself,
returning to the now deserted studio. My
pictures were both sufficiently advanced. /
could finish them without another sitting;
but l felt q sense of desolation, Of desertion-
! knew not what--as looked around the
suddenly emptied room, and thought how
queerly, how suddenly trouble and sorrow
had succeeded to contentment and joy. And
had mixed sensation as / looked at the
two pictures. Which of those two women
did admire the mostf l could have butan
artistic interest in either. The great black
eyes of the princess looked at me full; those
Of Euphrcsyne were turned away. They
were both adorable, both in great trouble
Rank, fortune and beauty had not protected
tho princess from tho saddest OF cnlnmities
Beauty and innocence had not protected and
would not protect Emily.
went out aud locked the studio There
are some moments when the problems OF hui
man destiny are too Intensely puE1ling for
uS took Rondola. and rowsd over to the