Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-06-18
BY A WOMAN'S HAND.
CHAPTER I.


 Before him she felt how coarse and common and ignorant she must appear. and strange | shame held her speeches.. . "Will you come again2" he asked presently. 'T have the face. but want the figure" "You can come to the house. thon, and ask | Gonna yourself" said the girl, petuantly. 'I did but promise for once." But he 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. will ask her." The surprise in her face as she turned 1t toward him sent thrill of amusement | through his heart "Shall so with you home now ?" he con. tinued.
 of you will," she answered, n little sulkily.
 This coolness and self possession asserted It. | self over her willful nature too utterly for | rebellion.
 "Supposing she refuses2' he asked, smil- ing.
 "Then you must do without me-" she re- piled. You can tako 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. "I want her face
 beside yours. I like the calm, devotional look she bore at the Corpus-Christi festival. am going to ask her to sit to me- The girl was too astonished to reply 8 little jealous, too, that this handsome young stran-
 ger should be less susceptible than she fam
 cied he would have proved. To talk of Gonna
 and herself in the sa no breath why, 1t was absurdI
 They walked on for some moments in silence. "Why, there is Gennap 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, where have you beenY" she began reproachfully. The painter took off his wide-brimmed hat and bowed low. "I am the culprit," he said. II met your sister and have been painting | her."
 And he wants to paint you. Genna," said her sister maliciously. The brown. homoly face flushed with sur prise. She was too much used to seeing art, ists 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. Ut is quite true," said tho young man meeting her astonished gaze with one of deep
 respect. II am engaged on picture of the Corpus-Christi procession. saw you and your sister taking part in it. It would be an
 inestimable favor if l might paint you from
 life. Will you grant it2" "T am so busy always" she murmured. Ut will not detain you long," he pleaded
 earnestly, "and any leisure time you can spare would suit me-" Gonna looked at Nita's flushed face and grow moro confused.
 Don't be so silly, Genna," said her sister.
 .'Its nothing so dreadful. Surely you can for
 once spare an your from that eternal wash ing and hoeing and straw plating, to please some one else." And Gonna, coloring and hesitating, an-
 swered bashfully that he might come at noon | the following day, and she would give him l sitting.
 "That plain sister is worth hundred such
 vain little fools as the other." thought Rufo, | as, after many courteous thanks. he left
 them, and was walking rapidly homeward.
 "But 1t is the other mon will love-" And he was right, for Gonna had not one
 lover, and Nita-Nita had the whole country
 side at her feet, and already claimed the young painter as her last conquest.