Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-01-29
A SHATTERED STATUE.

On the steps Of the cathedral sat zenobia,
the empty basket at her feet. 1t was not
alone the beauty Of the blossoms that
caused passers by to purchase her bouton.
nieres. but the lovely eyes Of the little
flower vender and the smile Of her pretty
scarlet lips.
Stina, whose stand was on the other side
Of the steps, her wares not yet half sold,
watched with envy the good fortune of her
neighbor
The soft wind RULED the loose curls
about Zenobia's face and shoulders, toyed
audacously with the kerchief upon her
bosom, and blew the scanty folds Of her
scarlet wooden skirt around the 1.-THE,
young limbs, revealing exquisite contours.
| Zenobia had for her customers a smile,
sweet ana bright as the summer sunshine,
and as fitting But her answers to their
compliments were so drcamily abstracted
that the handsome youths who hocked
every morning TO the plaza, eager to plum
/ der her basket Of its blossoms, went away
disappointed, leaving tho girl to her
dreams,
The doves staid longest with her They
! lighted on her head and shoulders and
upon the edge Of the basket, pecking con
/ fidently mt her hair and the straws OF the
flower tray. And when, with soft rust
\ ling and whrring of wings, they scared
upward ana flew away toward the wVst
/ lenobia thought that they were going to
4 her own beloved Andalusia--to her birth
/ place, Neres-and sent a greeting with
I them The doves aud the zephyr carried
/ to Spain the same message Henobin loved
+ and was beloved
d IufftF fr fsf "A vi oh MI La
mobiles whrrcd past her, GAVIN by spirited
horses, driven by coachGien Ia gorgeous
/ liveries, and in them, leaning upon the
satin cushions, were great ladies' dressed
IN silks and laces and wearing beautiful
jewels. Bnt the girl envied none OF them
Did she not possess the great treasures Of
life-youth, beauty, love, hope?
I One morning, when she had been but a
few months in Rome, a young man, care
lessly. almost shabbily, dressed, with a face
like that which artists are wont to give 60
Romeo, paused mt her stand begging for a
flower And Zenobia with "A friendly smile,
offered him her choicest bunch Of Parma
violets telling him with innocent coquetry
to keep them rs souvenir.
Thanks, signorina | shall keep them
always" he answered, pressing the flowers
TO his lips with a fervor that brought a
crimson flush 20 the girls cheeks aud
throat
Into her virgin heart the first drop OF
sweet, insidious poison had entered. All
day her thoughts were OF the young stran-
ger, whose very name was unknown TO her
After that day he came often.
Acquaintance drifted into friendship
friendship to love-
And Zenoba's dream became a reality.
Antonio told her that he was pool
sculptor and had come TO Rome Go com
plete his art studies. In the first days oil
their friendship he made little bust q
Zenobia, which oiled the girls heart witt
innocent pride She knew that she wa
beautiful; she had been told 80 many thou
sands Of times. But that her features wer
SO perfect as those OF the marble portrait
she had not dreamed before. Ii
"Ah, Carina, il you wouldybnly come 4
my studio" her lover pleaded, II woult
make of you portrait, life size, in marble
so perfect that oil Europe would talk o
your beauty Yes. even in Here's the
would speak OF IL. 1t would bring TO Il
? both fame and fortune
40 first she resisted, but against tn
pleading Of the loved ones voice a girl
frail heart battles but feebly
There came day when Stina sat alon
z upon the steps OF the church.
Where is Zenobia? the people asked.
Stina shrugged her brown shoulders IN
q answered that she did not know. Exp
rence of life is hard school.
Stina guessed the truth and smiled {
, herself maliciousy
The doves came looking for their frient
!, the zcphyrs brought greetings from Xere
4 the light, feecy clouds on which the ri
had gazed so often, tracing fantastic.in
=, ages in their feathery outlines, 1oats
+ softly across the azure sky, and, as thong
grieved at her absence, shed soft tears
/, summer rain, splattering the old stoI
!. steps where she was wont TO sit and fal
4 ing upon Stina's black hair and gay dres
!, And upon the threshold Of a studio
g one Of the old houses in the Via Margut
stood Ienobia, with soft, shame flushs
checks. her little hands tightly clasp,
over her beating heart, gazing ut q
splendors around her with startled eye
which frightened, then fell, beneath Il
Y ardent gaze Of her lover rs he came 70
4 ward with outstretched arms to meet be
But you said you were poor, signor
she stammered, bewildered
The atelier dazzled and awed her. III
large and lofty room, with its costly eas
ern hangings, its great masses of foliage
s. the windows and rare bits Of art scatter
te everywhere IN profusion, was 50 unlike t
to humble and poorly furnished room
,e which she had pictured him at work
Is For the first time vague feeling Of IL
easiness. not distrust Of her lover, but
faint dawning Of the fact that he was Il
Of her world, came TO her.
4 Antonio drew her into his embrace.
1e kiss me, Zenobia; only the sunshi
al can see US"
~ He explained to her gently that t
ID painter and sculptor must have beautii
surroundings if be wishes to gain ri
patrons. If the room were poor or NEAR
furnished, they would take their mon
er / and their orders elsewhere.
"a "Ah. how often, when dining off a crI
d. OF bread, this gorgeousness has seemed
mock me-" he added, with a sigh viii
seemed 70 come from his heart. "You
here all my worldly possessions. Con
N, little one, let me show you the treasures
up my kingdom"
an She was ignorant Of the world. this lit
flower vender.
She loved and she believed.
Hand in hand they made the tour Of {
NO studio, he amused at her childish delil
If and astonishment They paused at l
- before q curiously carved panel, set dee
into the wall, which, on Antonios tou
glided back noiselessly, revealing beyon
small square room.
~ mo one knows OF this little recess
ourselves" he said. at shall be your b
ing place II We are ever disturbed. Tn
is a staircase leading from it to the str,