Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-04

emphasizing slightly. so the todeschi never
beat their wiveA'
"Angela's husband never beat her." said
Catina-
''well." concluded the painter. making a
motion to 60. Il hope that your husband will
never beat you. II he should attempt it call
upon me. / will attend to him. Now run and
ask your aunt il she viii let NE paint your por-
trait. 1 will give you copy Of ii il she con-
sents."
Catina few away with joyful haste and Denuys
returned to the drawing room. 1.-The services
are ended" he said to Miss Andrews, whom he
found consulting her watch You made
mistake in not going"
You found them interesting?" she asked.
with gentle indifference, seeming TO be absorbed
in her sketch. ''Thirty-fve minutes"
He walked up and down the room. giving
Aorid description of the burial, and telling how
he meant to dress Catina for his Ruby. ~
must have some red plush. Plush always looks
il the light were shining out Of it, not on to
it What's become of the qittle shoulder cape
you wore last winter in Florence? 1t always
seemed to be the very source Of all the reds
about-s sort of a John Keats among the colors,
Q la Browning"
Il will fish my murax up from the depths Of
a trunk for you, if you want it," Miss Andrews
said. .'You can make Catina present of it,
''Oh, nc" he said, quickly, finding her tone
rather dry. 81 didn't mean TO ask for II, but
only after it. 1 hope that the propositions de-
fine my meaning. There goes our gondolier
with a new batch Of tourists. hope he won't
forget to point out the home OF 'Lod Bahyan-'
What an impression Byron made in Italy. They
forgot the visits of popes and kings. but they
will always point out the house where be lived"
That's because all the English ask for it,
more than for the popes and kings" she
answered. still with reserve. Besides, they
say that Satan leaves his tracks wherever he
goss-scorches them i'm Then, repenting of
her ugly speech, after all. poor Byron" she
added, and looked up with a smile.
That smile restored Dennys' tranquility. He
had been growing uneasy, with a feeling OF
being chilled. For some time he had had the
habit of talking good deal with this girl, and
rather confidentially. He always told her what
his plans were and asked her advice 1t rather
surprised himself, he had not been in the
habit of holding very confidential intercourse
with any one; but il was very pleasant. He
liked the quiet listening. scrions and sisterly,
and the good sense and good feeling which die
tated her counsels; and he especially liked a
tacit understanding they had that neither spoke
in the same way with any one else 1t would
have been pleasant, even il always serious and
matter-of-fact; but now and then these con-
ferences we're illuminated by musical laugh.
sweet smile or a fascinating scolding. Watch
ing the two together one might have observed
that Miss Andrews smile was always reflected
in Dennys' face.
He smiled now.
Put away your work, he said. ''and let's
go out and have a prowl through the inner
canals. want to go to the Formosa and
the Santa Barbara. What is that Ouida says
about her? / always go to see what Ouida
praises. L am so glad you like her."
shes got soul in her body. and q nobly
generous SOUL" Miss Andrews said, putting
her brushes away. ''They say that she pro-
fesses to hate Americans, but 1 mean to like
her even if she should hate me.''
Bravo said Dennys. snow make haste,
and We shall have time to walk up to the post
Office and drop down the grand canal in time
for our roasted mutton"
'I'll tell you a secret about our roasted NUT
ton and beef, and all our roasts." Miss Andrews
whispered. They are first boiled to make
that mild broth in which shredded cabbage is
cooked for our soup, and then they are put into
the oven and Drowned over for a roast For
tunately our youthful appetites stop their
career at that stage, or who knows what other
changes they might go through
She ran upstairs in great good humor to put
on her hat. AFTER ALL he means nothing in
looking at the girl, she thought thrustiny a
formidable spi!lone through hat rim and braids.
HE sees in her merely subject / hope" ad-
dressing her reflection in the glass. 81 hope you
are not going to make fool of yourself.'
If to be happy was to be fool. then Hiss
Andrews was very foolish during the bright
days which followed. Such wealth of undaunted
color, such an enchanting, sweet silence, full of
life, Sometimes she and Dennys painted to-
gether out of doors in some little piazza. or on
quiet bridge, or in a disused boat The girl
caught on her canvas the tip of a campanile
isolated from the earth by a cloud of thick mist
with dim line of roots floating like a wreck
beside it. The man painted dark. round arch
OF massive stones, with the gay colors of
group of fruit sellers seen on the water steps
beyond.
eve two represent earth and air." he said
Some day we must try to unite them. l will
aspire and you must condescend."
IL dark thread ran through that bright web
1t was woven there by Catina, who was growing
into ruby under Mr. Dennys' brush. The
young man painted from morning to night and
Catina was his indoors subject. Every day she
gave him an hour IN the chamber at the top of
the house, which lie had chosen as a studio.
They were frequently alone, though the aun.
went up occasionally Cor proprieties' sake, or
sent some one to open the door. she had per-
feet confidence in Mr.. Dennys, and. In fact in
Catina; for the girl told her every item of those
interviews. which both hoped were courtship.
well, Catina, what has he done today!" the
Sor Rosa would ask eagerly, drawing her niece
aside when she came down from a sitting.
HE patted me on the head" Catina whis-
pered, looking anxiouslv into her aunts face.
as if to see how much patting on the head
might mean. "And he called me 'Carina.'"
"Umr' murmured the aunt. nodding her head
up and down thoughtfully. There is no harm
in that. But be prudent. If thou art light he
squeezed thy hand?"
No" said Catina, she smoothed it softly
and said that it was pretty" She lifted her
hand as she spoke and gazed at it with a
dreamy reverence. "He was placing ME and
seemed to notice it for the first time. He laid
my hand on his-so. palm to palm-and looked
at it. He said the nails are pretty
"And then?" the aunt prompted
''And then he told me to sit still. and went
back to his easel"
Thou didst not draw thy hand back?"
''No let it stay. 1t was he who let CO."
~ think, said the Sor Rosa after moments
study, that if he takes thy hand again thou
hadst better draw it gently back after Just one
SECOND, and then. perhaps, he will wish to keep
it,
Catina received the lesson with breathless
earnestness. gazing at her aunt with large anx-
ious eyes, childlike. vet passionate.
Poor Catina. Her portrait was but half done
and already she adored the painter 1t was no
longer with her the question of having a good
husband, OF rising in the world and dressing
like lady. Her one thought was: Would this
goiden-bearded artist love her? She felt herself
sinking away into dark chcas AZ the thought
that he might go away and leave her. But a
few weeks and already there was q fever in her
blood that burned like ruby color OF cheek
and lip to an intense fame and heightened the
luster OF those dark, appealing eyes. From
dawn till sleep came at night he was her one
thought She studied to be at some window
when he came out, to watch him as long as he
was in sight, and again to watch for his return.