The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-01-03

ture, began 70 paint with marvellous
dsxterity and defsness and with the
swift confidence Of a maa inspired to
the work. As be worked bis brow grew
smoother, the tension Of his strained
face RELAXED, happiness dawned in bis
| eyes, and smile broke on his lips, and
OGa watched him with tender, gor-
rowful gaze. Still be painted, and he
was painting when the king burst in
from the otber room In great rage and
carrying his sword drawn in his hard,
for he had sworn by Our Lady and st.
Peter to kill the rogue who had done
the princess such a wrong and SO SIAN
dersd her beauty. And his gentlemen
came in with him all very ready to see
Giraldo killed, but each eager that the
king should leave the task to him. Yet
when they entered aud saw Giraldo
painting as though he were wrapt by
some ecstasy and had forgotten all that
had passed-nay, even their very pres
epce-they paused in unwilling and
constrained hesitation, and Osra raised
her hand to bid them stay still where
they were and not interfere with Giral-
dos painting, for now she desired above
all things on earth that he should be
ieft to finish his task, for he thought
that he had read more than pity and
more than tenderness in osra's eyes.
He bad seemed to see love there, and
thus be had cried out in joy, and thus
ne was now painting as never had even
me- Tor all his SKILL painted before. His
unerrlng hand, moving lightly to and
iro, impaired the sweetness OF his do
iuslVe vision to tile canvas, 60 that the
eyes OF the portrait glowed with won
der1ul and Seautlful love and gentieness
PRESENTLY dlraldo began to sing very
soitly 10 himself sweet, happy old
song that peasants sang to peasant girls
IN the heids OUTSIDE his native Verona
On summer evenings. HIS head was
tnrown oacK ID triumph and exulta-
tlen as ne sang and worked, tasting the
luxury OF love and glorylng In the trib-
ute tnat nls genius paid to her whom no
loved. linus came moment OF great
Joy 10 tine soul OF 9lraldo the painter,
Tor mans aovo and mans work are,
when they seem to prosper, OF all things
tne sweetest, and their union in one
MS il1e's contamination.
IL was DONE He lald down the brush
ana drew back q step, looking on what
ne nad conc. Inc princess came softly
and slowly as though attracted against
ner Will, ana stoed oy him. Tor she saw
lns' shls picture was now beyond al
'empnre' tne most perfect ana peanti1ul
u al 'ha1 no or any osher man had
painted OF ner' ana sne loved MIN Tor
lnus gior'iyins ner. But before many
nomen" mao gone ny sudden start
ano shiver ran through e'1raldo's BODY.
Inc spell OF ms entranced ecstasy broke.
ais eyes Tell from the masterpiece that
ne had MADE and wandered to those
VINO $1,000 ABOUT him-.to the gentlemen
VINO did not know whether to wonder
u 10 laugh 10 the angry Ease OF the !
flne ana the naked sword III his hand,
u iaA5 70 osra, whose eyes were still
shed, and with it went, as it seemed
o them, his madness Reason dawned
or moment in his eyes, but was
Iuenched in an instant by shame and
Despair, for he knew that all had seen
hat other picture, and they knew
vhat he had done, and suddenly with a
titled cry be flung himself full length
n the floor at Osra's feet.
"Let us wait, - said she gently. "He
will be himself again soon."
But the king was too arpry to listen.
"He has made us fools before half
,urope,'' he said anerily, "and he
hall not live to talk of it. And you-
ave you seen the picture yonder?''
Eyes, l have seen it, /" said she.
But he does not now think that pic
nre like me, but this one" And she
armed to the gentlemen and desired
nem to raise Giraldo and lay him ON
ouch, and they obeyed. Then she knelt
= his head, and after awhile be epened
is eyes, seeming sound of sense in ev-
'ything except that be believed she
, her as lovers whisper to their loves loves