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

own pleasures, and taking them, when pos
sible, with total disregard as to who might
suffer in consequence.
He had set his mind upon obtaining Nita
az model, and that idea absorbed him for
the present. Throughout the day he saun-
tered idly here and there-now stopping to
gaze at a marionette show in the square, or
dream;under some old broken gateway where
thewalls had onco been frescoed, but had now
only the dim soft green's and grays of age.
There was plenty of beauty in tho old time
worn town-but the kind of beauty that
would only charm the eyes of painter or
poet, and by most other people bo disre-
garded.
Itcharmed Rufo, and gave him subjects
for many a sketch, to be afterward enlarged
and finished; and not till the dusk began to
fall. and the dark streets look darker, and
the shadowy houses more shadowy, did he
turn away and walk slowly over the bridge,
and out into the steep stony road, where he
knew Nita must soon be, if her friend kept
her word.
That she did keep 1t was soon evident. Gay
voices and girlish laughter fell upon his ear,
and glancing back he saw tho tall handsome
figure ofthe coppersmith's daughter, but not
as he had anticipated--as Nita's sole COM
panion.
However, there was no help for it, so, re-
solving to make the best of circumstances,
he gave gay greeting to Teresina, and
walked by her side until an opportunity
came of speaking to Nita. 1t soon offered
itself-the little coquette knowing perfectly
well that this meeting owed nothing to
chance, and being as desirous Of exercising
her destinations on the handsome stranger
as he was to succumb to their witcheries.
From time to time, as some farm or home,
stead was reached, the escort diminished
for Nita lived further from the town than
any of her companions, and the young mon
who would gladly have accompanied her to
her own dwellinggrew sulky and angered at
her saucy rebuffs and pretty. impertinences,
and left her finally to the care of Rufo and
Teresina. Then it was that, selling the op-
portunity for which he had longed all day,
the young painter pleaded for the privilege
of painting her from life.
Nita pretended surprise at his request. "I
cannot tell" she said obviously. "If Genna
permits"
'And who is Genna?" he asked.
"My sister,
"Why should she not permit? There is no
harm in it. Your friend here has often sat
to me-"
eyes, but Nita is watched like car-tor-
tured mouse" laughed the coppersmith's
81 it, 70
me as right will not be granted her as q
privilege
Indeed you are wrong" sail Nita ear
nestly. "Genna is very, very good"
''Then try and persuade her-will you not?''
said Rufo, in his most caressins tones. eff
she loves you she will do whatever you wish
Who could help it?" he added in lower
voice, and with glance that brought the
hot bright olor to the girls lovely face.
''You are foolish to ask her about it at all, ,
Nita," said her friend, contemptuously. do
what do. Invent an errand or excuse to
the town or roam over to the ruined monas-
terry yonder. No one need know"
Nita looked doubtful. "It would not be
right. Besides, might be seen."
The painter smiled under his thick, dark
mustache. "How the sex repeats ITSELF" he
not the fear of wrong-doing, that keeps nine
out of ten women straight"
But he spoke moro softly and persuasively
than ever. 81 will meet you wherever you
wish," he said. 81 would take any trouble,
only to have that beautiful face of yours on
my canvas"
And the subtle tlattery stole into the girls
heart. She hesitated. "Will the world see it
tho picture, mean2" she asked.
"Assuredly," he answered her. at will be
seen and talked of and admired everywhere
Throughout the great cities"
She flushed with pleasure and ygratifled
vanity. "Then will come"
He thanked her simply and cordially, and
as if it were mere act of courtesy which he
assisted to cloak. Then with few more
words he left them, as her home was in sight.
Genna greeted her sisters friend more COR
daily even than her wont, she was SO pleased
10 see Nita with no other company, for she
had dreaded to find her escorted by the gay
youths and idle, careless maidens who were
Teresina's most favored associates.
''And have you enjoyed your holiday, dear
NitaT asked Genna tenderly, as she set
draught Of milk and some bread and toma.
toes before her sister, waiting on her with
tenderness and pride at once motherly and
anselash.
The girl sighed and moved restlessly away
from her caressing touch. SIT was well
enough" she said. ''The puppet show was
beautiful. There was king and queen, and
the queen had a lover. and then they were
discovered and he was murdered-just like
lifew
ooh, Nitar'
"You arc so foolish, Genna," pouted the
pretty child. "Why, there was nothing wrong
in that-was there2 The very mention OF
lovers seems 10 frighten you. suppose be-
cause you never had one2"
"No, dear. tits not that mind your talking
about them, but you treat them SO unkindly
and you make them so jealous. Only last
week Bruno and Tista fought about you with
knives, and Tista is i'll, dying they say now;
and it is not right, Nita, to make sport OF
such things"
But Nita only laughed. "Why Motif they
are so foolish2 I did not want them to
fight"
.'But YOU were the cause, Nitu. and Tista