Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-10-04
CHAPTER III.
A Model.

Rufo Anio was a Roman by birth.
His parents had been OF the people,
and he was their only child. At four
teen he had stated his determination to
become q painter, and, regardless alike
OF persuasion or entrSaty, had spent his
time in self. culture, had studied and
copied from the churches and free gal
leries, had made friends with the art
students, and, finally, won his way TO
comparative success, though as yet he
had achieved no triumph great enough
TO make him famous, as in his dreams
he Hinged TO be-.
Apart from his passion for art, he
was tickle, inSincere and iEdClant-lOv-
ing his pleasures, and taking them,
when possible, with a total disregard
as to who might suffer ia consequence.
He had a face that women loved, de-
spite its expression of weakness and
irreSolution, and was gifted with q per-
suasiVe eloqucnce, a caresSinS manner,
which led many to believe him in ear.
nest when he vas merely pretending
the feelings he displayed.
He had set his mind now upon OBJ
tanning Mia as a model, and that idea
absorbed him for the present. Through.
out the day he sauntered idly here and
there-now stopping to gaze at q mar
iorette show in the square, or dream
under some old broken gateway, where
the walls had once been frescoed, but
had nov only the dim soft green's and
grays of age. There was plenty Of
beauty In the old time-worn town-but
the kind of beauty that would only
charm the eye of a painter or poet,
and by most other people be disregard.
ed.
1t charmed Rufo, and gave him sub
jects for many a sketch, to be after.
ward 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 step, stony road, where
he knew Mia must % be, If her
friend kept her word.
That she did keep 1t was soon evil
dent Gay voices and girlish laughter
fell upon his ear, and CLAIMING he saw
the tall, handsome figure Of the copper-
smiths daughter, but lot a IS he had
anticipated-as Nita's sole companion.
Some half dozen other youths and
maidens had Joined tn sm, and were
evidently bound upon the same GRAND
he had intended for himself.
However, there was no help for ii,
so, resolving to make the best of cir
cumstances, he gave a gay greeting to
Teresina, and walked by her side until
an opportunity came of speaking to
Nita. 1t soon offered itself-the little
coquatte knowing perfectly well that
this meeting owed nothing to chance,
erd being as DESTROYS of exercising her
destinations on the handsome stranger
as he was to succumb to their witch
cries. From time to time, as some
farm or HON stead was reached, the
escort diminished, for Nita lived fur.
Their from the town than any % her
companions, and the young men who
would 81 dly have accompanied her to
her own dwelling grew sulky and an
gered at her saucv rebuffs and pretty
impertinences, and left her finally to
the care of Rufo and Teresina. Then
ii was that. Selling the opportunity for
which he had longed all day, the young
painter pleaded for the privilege Of
painting her from life.
FTn no Continued