The Wilmington daily Republican., 1900-04-04
.'"..A..".. ."..A..".. ..".. 80. ."..A -"
i The Face at
]. The Window
BY NEVILLE CAIN,
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Observation-Disclosures
was lazily riding in q gondola al
Venice.
"Did you read" said my gondoler. "in
the Giorno of Baratuzzi's success? His
statue. La Joie,' received the premium
Of the salon. And thereby hangs tale"
II had not heard of it," | replied.
"What are the circumstances attending
1t that you hint at as being unusual?"
"Oh, the French government wanted to
make him chcyalier de la Legion d'Hon.
neur, but he Is not to be found-dsap.
peared. The agent in Venice who ship
| ped the statue had been paid for his serv-
ices and given receipt, and that was
the end Of his knowledge. Antonio Carac-
ci, model employed at the Ecole B.,
who was formerly a sort of valet as well
as model to the sculptors at the old aban-
doned palace in the Canale di Chiostro,
tells the story.
, "Mariano Baratazzi, 1t appears, brought
with him from the provinces peasant Of
remarkable beauty to pose for his statue.
She was the talk Of Venice, and fabulous
| sums were offered her by many artists,
but in vain. With sanity constancy she
| remained true to her contract"
Leaving the Riva degli Schiavoni to
the right, we drifted on past st. Marks
square, where the moon was Just begin
ming to silver the lions wings.
well, to resume. in an evil hour Bara-
tazzi formed friendship for IN Eng
lishman named Reginald Quorne. who
freQuented his studio great deal.
Quorne had an old secondhand gondola,
which he had fitted up into little float
Ing studio. He rowed it himself, and,
with red fez crowning his leonine head
and scarlet sash around the waist of his
old velveteen knickerbockers, he was the
center of much interest about the canals.
"Well, Quorne watched the progress of
La Joie.' and Mariana watched him, and
the beautiful model watched both of
them. but particularly Quorne.
"At length the sculptor tried to Danish
him on the ground that he filed the stu
dio with tobacco smoke. Quorne simply
abandoned his pipe and continued to
come.
"One day the fair paysanne was taken
taint, and. being unable to return to her
lodgings. Quorne CALAMITY conveyed her
thither in his craft. This happened more
than once. Finally the model came no
more. Nor Quorne.,
"Dissemblng his rage and cursing him
self for fool. Baratazzi sat grimly be.
fore his unfinished statue, clutching
chisel In his hand that glanced in the rel
evening light like blood stained knife.
Motionless as though turned to stone, he
sat there, thinking. thinking.
"Tba p,npp n Inppth CT strnnnad fhroiOh
the great window, and not more marble
cold light.
AT length Baratazzi arose and lighted
his lamp and wrote n letter to Signora !
Francesca yecchio, 10 Riva degli Schia-
yoni, Venezia, and. descending to the
landing, he signaled gondolier and bade
him deliver the note and wait for an an
swer. Then he leaned against one Of the
tall posts and watched the wayelcts lap
ping against its base.
"Ere long the rhythmical thud Of the
oar, as well as a soft voice chanting
love song, apprised him Of the return Of
his messenger.
Successful he muttered rs white
smile CLEANED on his face in the moon
light. They disappeared up the dark
and that gondolier was the last
human being to look upon the twain.
"a strange coincidence was about this
time the finding Of Quorne's gondola
floating bottom upward Just off there
where we first caught glimpse of the
Lion. The Giorno stated that the gon-
dola was probably run into by some fish
ing smack returning In the dusk, and as
The tide was running out its occupants
body was probably carried out to sea-"
Busac paused. n am strongly of the
opinion that there is some tragedy behind
It all which never will be brought to
light. We are opposite the Chiostro ca
nal. Let's run in, and will point out to
you the old building where Baratazzi
wrought his masterpiece"
Gliding along in the shadow of the tall
,artcoored buildings the tops Of which
we're white in the moons rays. we Glove
he oily waters of the canal. shifting al
ernately the salt sea and garbage. ap.
,earing vividly in broad bands of lamp
light from doors and windows and again
ost In gloom. miraculously grazing other
,ondolas that came upon US suddenly.
We halted presently, at signal from
3usac on the other side of the canal, be- '
ore what must have been house of G