The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-04-26
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Before him Che felt how coarse and common
and ignorant she must appear, and strange
shame held her speechless.
"Will you come again?" he asked presently.
"I have the face, but want the figure"
"You can come to the house, then, and ask
Genna yourself" said the girl, petulantly.
II did but promise for once"
But ho noticed the quick beating of her
heart under her bodice, the rich color flush
ing and waning in her cheek. "Very well,"
he said, calmly; "she looks too good and
kind to refuse. 1 will ask her."
The surprise in her face as she turned IL
toward him sent thrill of amusement
through his heart
"Shall go with you home now ~ he con.
tinued.
''If you will, ;" she answered, alittle sulkily.
This GOODNESS and self-possession asserted it,
self over her willful nature too utterly for
rebellion.
''Supposing she refuses?" he asked, smil.
ing.
"Then you must do without me, she re-
piled. you can take Cecco's daughter for
your model, as you did before"
"Her figure would not correspond with
your face" he answered, coolly. "Genna
herself would be BETTER"
The girl laughed aloud. "Gennal She in
picture The saints be gracious what
next2"
"She is going to be in this very picture"
said the young painter. II want her face
beside yours. I like the calm, devotional
look she bore at the Corpus-Christ festival.
am going to ask her 10 sit to me-"
The girl was too astonished to reply "a little
jealous, too, that this handsome young stran-
ger should be less susceptible than she fam
cied he would have proved. To talk of Genna
and herself i'll tho same breath; why, it was
absurd
They walked on for some moments in
silence. "Why, there is Gennar cried the
girl suddenly, as she pointed with her finger
to solitary figure standing in the narrow
stony path beyond, and shading her eyes
from the suns rays, as she swept the land.
scape with an eager glance.
She caught sight of the two figures, and
came rapidly toward them. "Nita, whore
have you been?" she began reproachfully.
The painter took off his wide-brimmed hat
and bowed low. 81 am the culprlt," he said.
81 met your sister and have been painting
her."
"And he wants to paint you, Gonna" said
her sister maliciously.
The brown. homeiy face flushed with sur.
prise. She was too much used to seeing art,
lists wandering here and there through the
fair Tuscan country to be surprised at his
appearance, but that he should desire to
paint her seemed utterly impossible.
'It is quite true" said tho young man
meeting her astonished gaze with one of deer
respect. 81 am engaged on picture of No
Corpus-Christi procession. I saw you and
your sister taking part in it. 1t would be an
inestimable favor if might paint you from
life. Will you grant it2"
81 am so busy always" she murmured.
"It will not detain YOU long, he pleaded
earnestly, "and any leisure time you can
spare would suit me-"
Genna looked at Nita's flushed face and
grew more confused.
'''Don't be SO silly, Genna," said her sister.
'It's nothing SO dreadful. Surelyyou can for
once spare an your from that eternal wash.
ing and hoeing and straw plating, to please
some one else"
And Genna, coloring and hesitating, an.
swered bashfully that he might come at noon
the following day, and she would give him
sitting.
"That plain sister is worth hundred such
vain little fools as the other" thought RuIo,
as, after many courteous thanks, lie left
them, and was walking rapidly homeward.
"But 1t Is the other men will love-"
And he was right, for Genna had not one
lover, and Nta-Nita had the whole country.
side at her feet, and already claimed the
young painter as her last conquest.
ITO be continued.)
-t%ob$-