Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-09-26

OF hls that l have had. yet | would
know his work amid 10000 canvases."
But who Is hc?" Inquired anxious
~ tie refused TO tell me his name"
Nobody knows" responded the deal.
er.
He is a MASTER" declared. admir-
ing the picture.
Undoubtedly. Such tcchnlc IL nos
sessed by no other living painter. 1t is
because OF that am able to offer you
1000 lire for the picture"
thousand lire, stood open mouth
ed.
III was more than you expected. ehF''
he reJoined. with a laugh.
weeks passed. however, until one
morning while was busy he entered
accompanied 10y Fnomena. lie seemed
rather more feeble. aud single glance
at the girl. whose sweet face. with the
clear blue eyes, was such an exact rep-
hca OF that exquisite little Madonna
or Nsndyke In the Pitt palace. show
cd that she had sadly changed. Her
checks had lost their roundness. her
race was pale. and she was evidently
Ill.
sympathized with her. and we fell
TO talking quite naturally. She was I'm.
genuous, frank and altogether charm
ing.
told the signore how | had sold the
picture TO FcrrOui. at which he smiled
and then proceeded To quiz and criti-
else my new work. pointing out n dc.
rect In foreShOrtening that | had NOT
oetore noticed and indicating the err
rorS with his thin. bony hand.
but you are improving rapidly
piano. 81 lnvore bcne." he said encour-
asingly and after giving some technical
instruction added. And now let me see
what can make OF IT."
He threw aside his shabby coat. took
UP my palette. mixed some colors with
great care and then i'm silence went to
work
Thus stood chatting with Filomena.
We cbattcd about the galleries and the
antiquities. and | could not refrain
from saying:
"firenze non ST muove. So tutta non
81 duolc"
"Ah.' she laughed. that is quite
true! Its charm lies In the fact thar
the vandals have not touched ii like SO
many Of our old cities And you find il
pleasant toot''
i have but little time 10 see its beau
ties" | answered. Il work always.
Work. work. but with such little result
-ah. SO very little
The old man finished al last and
threw down the brushes. saying:
that old rogue Ferroni and make him
give you 1000 lire for It. II is worth
that. hut the old Jew always lies like
an epitaph.'
| stood before the easel dumfounded.
The effect was perfect. He was indeed
the mysterious master. | thanked him.
but he waved me aside. declaring II
was nothing.
As the old man had suggested. Fer
roni gave me 1000 lire for the picture.
and q day or two afterward. having
entered Santa Maria Novella with a
view 10 painting the Strozzi chapel as
q background. | suddenly encountered
Filomena. She was going up to Fiesole
10 deliver a message for the signore.
and. obtaining permission. | accompa-
MED her How well l remember that
sunny afternoon as we strolled about
the ancient little town perched high
upon its hill. where the women were
plating their straws; how we gazed
down upon the Duomo and the red
roofs or Florence. with the Arno wind
ing away like a silver thread TO sun
blanched old Pisa and the distant sea!
/ became intoxicated 10y her marvellous
beauty. for her face was pure as one of
Donatello's angels.
Beneath the shadow OF the grim old
Porta San Gallo she halted to take
leave OF me. and saw In her manner
a firm determination TO give me no op-
portunity of finding out where she
lived. Somehow l could not open my
mouth even to stammer a word of love,
although my heart was full of IT,
"Addio." she said. stretching forth
her slim. white hand.
"Addio. 81 dice al morti' (adieu one
says only TO the dead). i protested. TAX
ing her hand.
Then riverderie." she said, raising
her eyes TO mine with a strange, sad
look and, turning. continued her way
beneath the trees Of the Viale
Time wore on until the fiesta of Ma
tale. On the day following the fete |
CHANGED to be crossing the Piazzi ST.
gnoria. that great old square banked by
the PalaZzO Vecchio and Oreagna's
dark old ioggia. with its wonderful
bronzes and statuary, when suddenly
fine carriage drawn 10y grand pair OF
bays passed me. In IT. sitting alone.
was slight female figure warmly
wrapped in rich furs. | glanced quick
ly after her. No. Surely il could not
be Filomena! | laughed bitterly at the
suggestion. then. sighing wearily. con-
tinued my way.
One night while sat reading by can
delight my door was opened sudden
ly, and man in smart livery stood in
the entry.
THE Signor George Maguire?" he
inquired.
rose quickly and took from his hand
a letter, which | found to contain an
urgent request i'm Italian that should
accompany the bearer. as the writer
wished to see me Immediately. 1t was
signed I'll Maestro MisteriOsO."
SO he knew the title that old Ferroni
had given him! The letter was a sur
prise, but assumed my fravcd over