The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-13


cidents of which shall write began to
take place. / was In Rome at that time.
whittier | had gone to pursue my studies
as an artist. Shortly after my arrival
in the Eternal City accidentally STUN
bled upon Ralph Redburn, former
schoolinate, who was an artist full OF
enthusiasm, and, / might add, airy
dreams. He had his studio near the
Piazza di Spagna, In what had doubtless
once been palace of considerable mag
nificence, but which was now 80 tum-
bled down and given to neglect AZ to re-
semble a barn more than a place tor hu-
man habitation. But Ralph Redburn
was eccentric and had a great passion for
ruins. especially when it came to pay
ing rent, for ruins rent very cheaply In
Rome, and the young artist found it
necessary to use economy.
BY his urgent invitation established
myself in his studio, which might easily
have accommodated half dozen others.
and by liberal use of rugs and dra-
peries | succeeded in making the place
quite comfortable.
had been three months In Rome and
was beginning to feel desire for
change of scene when one evening as /
was strolling past the church OF Trinita
del Monte saw young lady emerge
from the edifice and enter carriage
that stood in waiting. She was an
American, i knew at the first glance,
and was possessed of such rare lowell
ness of form and face that for a mo-
ment / stood staring after her as if
stupefied. She was of medium height,
with complexion of the clearest olive,
rnd eyes large and lustrous, with a hue
OF deep violet in their shadowy depths.
She passed SO close To me that caught
the faintest odor of the strange sweet
perfume that clung to her garments.
Then she entered the carriage and was
driven rapidly away.
/ stood there as if transfixed till the
carriage had vanished from sight; then
recovering myself, and noticing that my
stupid staring had excited the atten-
tion Of group of beggaTs who were col
lected near the church entrance, hastily
drew few pieces of silver from my
pocket, and tossing them to the ragged
mendicants walked on.
But could not forget the face Of the
strange beauty, and in spite of my ef
forts to Danish her from my mind she
would reappear before my mental vi
sion with such frequency as to astonish
even myself. For the next few days
spent great deal Of my time in the
vicinity of the church of Trinita del
Monte. but my visits to that neighbor-
hood were unproductive OF any result
save to increase my desire to again be-
hold her who had awakened in me an
interest had never before felt in wom-
an. t.#
In the next week that followed 1
think ] must have searched for her
through every portion Of the city, yet
failed to discover the slightest trace of
her. One evening nearly q month later
something very strange happened. For
more than an hour had been sitting
alone in the studio, putting away at a
cigar or indulging in reflections over
the past. 1t had grown quite dark in
the room when suddenly seemed to be-
come aware of presence near me. Then
the strangest thing happened-was
dreaming, or what was it that came to
my vision? 1t seemed as if door in
the old ruined wall swung open, reveal
ing the interior of a room beyond.
There were two persons in the room
one stoutly built man of about so; the
other young girl-she whom 1 had
seen at the church of Trinita del Monte!
She was half reclining upon luxurious
| couch, while one white arm, from which
the loose flowing sleeve had fallen back,
rested affectionately upon the shoulder
of the man whose easy chair was drawn
close to her side. Presently the man
turned and laid his arm about the girl Is
waist, and although heard no sounds
the expression of his face and the move
ments of his lips told me that he vas
speaking to her upon some subject of
grave Importance.
Her face was turned to his. and /
could plainly see traces of sorrow and
pain depicted upon her countenance.
Then apparently the man ceased speak
ing and fixed look of entreaty upon
the beautiful girl. Suddenly she lifted
her hand above her head, her lips moved,
while strange look of pain and deter
mination crossed her face. Then the
man caught her in his arms and pressed
kiss upon her brow.
A moment later the scene changed.
The man was alone in his easy chair.
Suddenly the door opened. and an evil
visaged man of perhaps 30 years en-
tered. AS he entered tho other rose
from his chair with violent start, rage
and astonishment upon his face. With
quick gesture the older man pointed
to the door, but was met with a smile
of scorn from the other. The next in
slant he strode forward and grasped the
intruder by the arm as If to eject him
from tho house. A ferocious light
CLEANED in the eye of the young man.
Then, dissngaging himself from the
grasp upon his arm, he dealt his adver-
sary blow in the temple. The old man
~reeled backward, then sank down in a