The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-12

shy anu oeepiy wooded spurs ran downward
10 the sea, together with the winding roads
bordered by cactus hedges and garden walls
green with ivy. Far below one could see
all these distinctly reflected In the deep blue
waters dotted with myriad pointed sails
or the boats that looked like cookie shells
from where I viewed them
After walking some distance sat down
near the edge of ravine and rnunched a
piece OF black bread, preparatory to setting
to work. Time flies when one makes frantic
efforts TO fix a scene Of such SURPRISING
beauty more upon ones mind than on the
actual canvas. for that / defy any artist
TO do with any amount of satisfaction in
the result. ard / must have been painting
some time when an altogether unexpected
sound reached my ears. 1t was a child's
cry.
You have no idea how eerie It seemed.
breaking the solemn silence all at once The
brush fell from my hand. looked round No
living thing was visible. but again the wall
of distress pierced the morning air.
Il searched about and at last perceived
what might be the faintest indication of the
track of tiny feet. Lying fiat upon my
stomach. ! peered cautiously over the edge
OF the ravine, and there to my horror about
twenty feet down was a small creature
hanging by some article of its dress which
had caught in the brambles. suspended over
a fearful precipice No doubt the child had
rolled over, but how it came to be alone
near such spot passed my powers Of con-
lecture. However. there it was. and some
thing had TO be attempted towards its
rescue. though 1t seemed more than prob
able from the slippery nature of the rock
g. A.
neither OF us would be heard of more
Reaching my alpenstock. cautiously let
myself down on to a narrow ledge only wide
enough to accommodate foot, holding
on meanwhile with one hand to the ground
above, and keeping a firm grasp the
stock with the other. Then had to pause
in order TO make sure that the bush where
the child hung offered a second footing, for
without that il was utterly impossible TO
rescue the wretched little being which was
doing It's utmost to be precipitated below
by violent struggles to free itself from this
uncomfortable position. A second Of delay
might make all the difference. and my brain
began to reel at the idea Of seeing helpless
infant dashed to pieces beneath my eyes
And yet it was a difficult and dangerous
matter to balance oneself on one foot while
only actual security, and bringing it down
to the alpenstock upon which I must lean
while placing the other foot on a level with
the bush in order to grasp the child with my
free hand 1t would have been easy II
only that ravine had not been yawning be-
low making a thousand fantastic thoughts
obscure my brain just when 1 required all
the wits possessed about me. Among other
wild fancies I remember smiling at the idea
OF this enormous grave prepared for man
and little child, If by some Titanic
malice of Fate, that mysterious arbitrator
of destinies. Probably only few moments
passed before the child was safe within my
grasp. but they were ages of anxiety
"And now another problem presented
itself. How was I to get up with my help
less burden, which could not be trusted TO
cling on round my neck even. in its infantile
fright at the whole proceeding. 1t was very
certain my hands must be free, or in losing
balance we should both topple backwards.
All at once the recollection of a man in the
street lifting heavy weights between his
teeth flashed upon me. The figure in it's
spangled jersey, which had appeared to me
rather absurd at the time. now seemed like
a teacher of inspired things I slung the
young one between my jaws by means of
it's fortunately tough garment. and thus re-
sembling a cat carrying a kitten, managed
TO hoist myself with caution once more on to
level ground.
Hardly had my teeth unclenched them
selves than a woman darted forward and
received the babe within her arms passion
ately embracing it in almost frantic joy
without so much as giving vent to a single
syllable.
This silence amazed me, as you may we'll
imagine, seeing she of the voluble
southern race. but when. after the first
ecstacy over, she raised her face to
mine was so struck by the intense and ex-
traordinary character of its beauty that /,
in my turn, was struck dumb
Beneath the straight black brows glowed
eyes of deep. deep blue. unfathomable as
the sea- They were of that strangely dis
turbing shade of color which varies with
every emotion. and reminds one of the
changeable element il most resembles Our
English maidens have little serene bits of
the sky let into their faces often enough.
but never these passionate, soul-stirring
glances. kindling into fiercepess or melting
to softness, the inheritance of these Gala
brian women from their Saracenic and
Hellenic forbears. The stately grace and
classic regularity of feature which distin-
guishes this woman in particular, attracted
my attention, almost less however than a
certain fateful expression overshadowing
her strange beauty; as though hers was no
common lot among the daughters of men,
as. indeed, 1 was soon to learn TO my cost
it was not.
''She made so fine subject for painter,
standing there in picturesque costume
among the rocks, with the child clasped TO
her bosom. that / determined to beg a boon,
when in her choicest Italian she began to
stammer forth words of gratitude 10 the
| savior of her 'bambino.' I pointed to my
sketching apparatus, and indicated with
| smile how she could repay me: but with
| gesture that would have done honor 10 the
! famous Rachel the woman started back as
| II in terror. Then she stood still for
moment looking the ground, evidently
| the prey of conflicting emotions.
You will go away 10 your own country,
| signor and show the picture TO no one
not a single person-in mine, after you
| have got it?' she asked in slow, deep tones,
| looking at me distrustfully beneath the
| black lashes.
eff you like said / Struggling my
| shoulders only IL is rather hard TO be
| hound nv conditions for such a slight re-