The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-05-18
THR SUNDAY MORNING News Nay &. 1886

''You hope so, and you are going to
tell me that you lack neither force, nor
courage, nor dignity? Who knows it
better than II Only, on the other hand,
no one knows better than how numer-
Gus, admirable and superficial are the
gifts thatnature has lavishedupon you. !"
Orlando smiled sadly and with a little
constraint.
DO you wish me TO continue, my
dearest 5oy?" asked Ferucci. 'sOur
friendship, which is SO precious to me,
will not be impaired by my frankness?p
mo, my old friend" answered Or
lando, gently. Draw up my indict-
ment; take kindly your affectionate in
terest.
You will never get to the point Of
persistent toll. You see. Monteforte, you
are the most agreeable instrument of art
that / have ever met. Your cords are
set in vibration by every generous breath,
but, fugitive as the passing song, your
impressions you cannot fix. You are
not an artist yourself; and. when it
comes to a question Of realization, you
win always produce something like the
picture of, today-that is, nothingE
His solitude in the midst Of the world
had given the old painter a mania for
soliloquizing. He had forgotten Tcresa's
interests, and now was talking rather to
himself
NO" he resumed, 'syou will not live
by your art. You will not undertake a
trade. Under our skies it is too difficult.
you see-this energy in toll. In fact, =
he continued, with bitterness which
was no longer hidden, ''you are even less
capable of it than I. In presence Of nat
ure have vision of the beyond-and
then-and then-when wish to execute
II can do nothing at ALL Utter power
lessnessr
He held up his two rough hands; his
eyes became animated; a sort of anger
distorted his face.
"Ohi stupid naturers he exclaimed;
producer of so many incomplete and
unfortunate beings! See, l have an art
lists vision and a mason's handt''
But then he remembered the Cardellis.
Becoming suddenly calm, Ferucci turned
to Orlando.
you, who have not even that, my boy,
look about you, and arrange your life
otherwise. If you cannot be an artist in
the full sense of the term, at least you can
become good father, good husband
make the woman who loves you happy at
the same time that you make yourself
happy. l had forgotten the principal
purpose of my remarks"
''Yes," said Orlando, in melancholy
tone, .slet us come to the purpose
''Tn a few Words" resumed Fernccl.
~ met NJ. Cardelli, who was looking for
me. His daughter loves you. Since Ri
enzi's departure she sees no more of you;
you do not visit her parents
why, naturally interrupted Monte
forte. s'They say that this young girl
may love me; donet wish to beimpolite,
cannot arouse hopes that I feel myself
incapable of realizing. That is why do
not go there. And then. her worthy pa
rents bore me; we can find nothing to say
to each other"
"Monteforte, this child loves you, and
she is dying of this Lowell The doctor
advises your presence; they all ask it;
she desires your
"Ohl ohf' growled the young man.
.'If / go there, perhaps shall make a
blunder. j don't know how to resist
And later how should repentls
my dear boy, I have promised to
bring you. | have no eloQuence; but
this father has moved me deeply. Be
sides, what does this little creature lack?
She is not very pretty, it is true But
after six ponths of marriage you will
not notice that"
"And thinlp interrupted Monteforte
with grimace. "And black! Not even
voicel Nothing!"
"Out upon you, egoist! She loves
you. Is woman's love, then, such an
ordinary thing?"
"Oh! for that matter said Orlando,
Glove as it is described in books and in
songs, I have never felt or met. con-
slider it a very wearisome disease. Fur
thermore, do not care to be adored. I
PREFER
''What do you prefer, imbecile?" cried
the old painter, his arguments exhausted.
"Well. I prefer to love myself-as far
as possible, Of counsel"
But in talking they had reached the
Salita Concezione, and even the house of
the Cardellis.
Willy-nilly. Monteforte had to go up
the steps; his companion left him, but
not till he had pulled the bell.