The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-03-30

loved her, let the folly OF his love and
Of the extravagances into which it drove
him be as great as it would Turning
toward Giraldo, she saw him fretting
his puckered brow with his hand and
vainly seeking to CONNIE, his disordered
brain to understand N. de Merosallles'
letter. So she was very sorry for him.
and, knowing the sudden, hot temper
to which the careless king was subject,
she glided swiftly across to the painter
and whispered: Escape and hide.
Hide for a few days. He will be furi-
GUS now, but he will soon forget. Don't
wait now, hut escape, signor. Some
harm will happen to you here. " And in
her eager pleading with him she laid
her hand on his arm and looked up in
his face with imploring eyes. But he
looked at her with daZed, vacant stare,
mutterirg, 81 cannot read the letter"
Then wistful smile came on his face,
and he thrust the letter toward her,
saying. Madame, will you read it for
me?' And at that moment they heard
the king swear an angry oath, for he
had seen the mad picture Of his sister.
mo, no, not now" whispered Osra,
beseeching Giraldo. "not now. signor.
Listen; the king is angry. Escape now,
and we will read the letter afterward." !"
And she was as earnest as though she
had loved him and were praying hirn to
save himself for the sake Of her love.
And be looked into her softened eyes,
and suddenly, giving a little cry, as it
great JOY had come to him unexpect-
edly and contrary to sill likelihood, he
dropped M. de Aercsaiiles' letter and
sprang to where his brushes lay on the
floor, and seiziDg them and his palette
he gave another swift glance at the
princess and then, turning to the pic
ture, began to paint with marvellous
dexterity and deftness and with the
swift confidence Of man inspired to
the work. AS he worked his brow grew
smoother, tie tension Of his strained
face relaxed, happiness 6awned in his
eyes, and smile broke on his lips, and
Osra watched him with tender, sor-
| rowful gaze, Still he painted, and he
| was painting when the king burst in
from the other room in great rage and
carrying his sword drawn in his hand,
for he had sworn by Our Lady and St.
Peter to kill the rogue who had done
the princess such wrong and so slam
dered her beauty. And his gentlemen
came in with him all very ready to see
Giraldo kilad, but each eager that the
king should leave the task to him. Yet
when they entered and saw Giraldo
painting as though he were wrapt by
some ecstasy end had forgotten all that
had passed-nay, even their very pres
ence-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 Oh earth that he should be
| left to finish his task, for he thought
that be had read more than pity and
more than tenderness in Osra's eyes.
He had seemed to see love there, and
thus he had cried ont in Joy. and thus
he was now painting as never had even
he, for all his skill, painted before. His
unerring hand, moving lightly to and
fro, impaired the sweetness Of his de
lusive vision to the canvas, so that the
eyes of the portrait glowed with Won
derful and beautiful love and gentleness.
Presently Giraldo began to sing very
softly to himself a sweet, happy old
song that peasants sang to peasant girls
in the fields outside his native Verona
on summer evenings. His head was
thrown back in triumph and exulta-
tion as be sang and worked, tasting the
luxury of love and glorying in the trib-
ute that his genius paid to her whom he
loved. Thus came moment Of great
Joy to the soul of Giraldo the painter,
for mans love and mans work are,
when they seem to prosper, OF all things
the sweetest, and their union in one
his life's consummation.
It was done. He laid down the brcsh
and drew back step, looking on what
he had done. The princess came softly
and slowly, as though attracted against
her " and stood by him, for She saw
that this picture was now, beyond ali
compare, the most perfect and beautiful
of all that he or any other man had
painted of her, and she loved him for
thus glorifying her. But before many
moments had gone by sudden start
and shiver ran through Giraldo's body.
The spell Of his entranced ecstasy broke
His eyes fell from the masterpiece that
be had made and wandered to those
who stood about him-to the gentlemen
who Gid not know whether to wonder
or to langh, to the angry face OF the
king and the naked sword in his hand,
at last to Osra, whose eyes were still
on the picture. And his e1ultation van
ished, and with it went, as it seemed
to them, lis madness. Reason dawned
for moment il his eyes, but was
quenched in an instant by shame and
despair, for he knew that all had seen
that other picture, and they knew
what he had done, and suddenly with
.4;Qo1 or,, 10 Arrr himself frll length