Omaha daily bee., 1905-06-18

italian, and it that language greeted me
" You the man want to meet" said he " Have
you any particular engagement for this afternoon
Of me?'
" I want you to with me in company with an Ital-
ian gentleman, the Count Assorli to look at pic
ure in the sohareno palace IT is called The Picture Of
the Curse"
Naturally struck by so strange a title ! asked Herr
Schumann to explain its meaning He then me the
following account which regret that my does
allow reproduce in his own words. There were
many details doubt, which have forgotten but the
outline is substantially correct
"You know" he began by saying. that the old and
naughty house Of Soareno represented only by the
young marchesa who at present lying at the point Of
death Twenty however when the old marquis
alive the Soareno in the fun zenith prosper
y and fortune. The Marquis Nuceuuo had married the
farest lady in Pisa and she had brought him two lovely
children, boy-the one who died the other day-and
girl the Marchesa Helena Ever the nupals
the palace had been given feasting and festiyy
Every day the old marquis devised fresh pleasure
added luxury to crafty wife and she on her
part threw herself into the tide of with all
the abandonment Of her youth.
Foremost among those who took part in the gather
ngs at the Sonareno palace young and handsome
painter by name Andrea Chiatto lie was not native Of
Pisa it seemed Of Tuscany. No in fact, could
say from what part of Italy he But his talent an
artist undoubted; and equally rcngrkabe his
powers in all that pertned the kindred sciences
of design of architecture ana of mechanics In addi
ton there said be something mysterious in his
studies for light often burning the topmost
window Of his solitary dwelling long midnight, and
even on to the hour Of dawn. The rumor among the com
mon people was that Chiatto was a magician.
To those who intimate with him--f any couu
be said to be truly intimate with this reserved and sngu
lar mamie admitted certain leaning the
arts He professed belief in Of the marves related
Of modern spiritualism ana not unwilling at times to
give Illustrations Of his peculiar powers mesmer-
ist. Such was Andrea Chiatto.
He had not been long in Pisa when ola Soareno
for him to the palace to execute portrait Of his wife
The painter accepted commission a large
agreed be paid the completion of the picture
The marchesa next approached and she consented
appoint certain hours at which the artist might attend ana
hig Ial IIa apIN nft4
a month the picture made steady progress.
" At the end of that time, however strange thing
occurred Chatto suddenly declared himself dissatisfied
with his work and tearing the canvas in pieces demanded
leave begin all again The beautiful sitter whether
hattered by this humility secretly willing to proong
the series of meetings with Andrea for which his task
occasion made difficulty and the stngs for
another period But the thing to be repeated
When sufficient number Of weeks had slipped past tfe
again pronounced wholly unworthy
of their lovely subject and third canvas set the
easel
complaisance began, by this time be the talk Pisa
and 1t in the inevitable of things that it should
last to the of the whose honor
interested From this point conjecture to what hap
pened extent, supply the narrative
The marquis to have preferred charge his wife
and in private with the suspicious for which had
become target, and have satisfied himself from her
confessions from her evasions, that she had
the doom of fathlessness
ITO admit by seeking revenge, that his honor
sullied by of Chiato's obscure he may
considered beneath his dignity But the unhappy
could be allowed to live Recourse had poison
No cry heard, warning given but when An
drea to renew his Peneope-like labor he found
dressed in the robes and Jewels and sitting in the
attitude he had chosen for the woman he loved her
frozen corpse.
He uttered not a word but came away bearing his
unfinished He made report of the circum
the authorities, and the Marquis Soareno pro-
cyed medical opinion that his marchesa had died from
overdose Of medicine prescribed to her short
time previously
II was remarked that Andrea Chatto fingered on in
Pisa, although the houses Of the nobility longer
md ba hone ,1isF
much in the of his profession portrait painter
after the catastrophe He continued to keep his mystic
rous light burning through the unhaowed hours of dark
and the belief in his magic powers among the lower
orders Of the people day The popu-
lar interest in this strange character its height
when became known that he had actually written to his
enemy Sofareno Offering him gift the completed por
trait Of the unhappy marchesa.
BY this time the feelings of the old had under
gone a certain change. The tenderness he had
formerly felt his youthful bride her grave,
and if ne did not wish his stern deed urdone he at all
events, began his memory dwell fondy time
before his joy in her had been blasted by the touch evil
Strange 1t then, he closed with the Of
the painter and submitted to the conditions by wHch it
accompanied.
These conditions were far more extraordinary than
the offer itself Chatto stipulated that should be
set apart for the reception OF the picture and that he
should be permitted to at his time and place II
the walls He required the key OF the be sent
him I'm advance and insisted that should It
ill his work was accomplished He would bring his own
ladder other instruments necessary
the fixing Of pictures and person to question him.
Having obtained these concessions the painter ar
the palace morning the hour of dawn with
conveyance which two immense and unwieldy
packages 10y the driver Of the wagon, Chiato
carried the appointed locked himself in
For the next ten twenty minutes sounds of ham
merng heard and the shifting OF furniture from place
to place Finally, the artist summoned his driver, and
behind them they carried back the bulker
of the two packages the vehicle The then drove
OF while Chiato demanded TO be brought before the lord
Of the palace.
The wondering servants obeyed, and the enemies
were presently face The marquis had been in
formed painters arrival and his eccentric behavior
and had hastily and in his dressing
actuated partly by curiosity partly by desire
the earliest for gazing at the features
the once loved dead
The meeting embarrassing one but the old
nobleman with his began
some words Of acknowledgement of the artists gift
Chiatto interrupted him.
Sir said did not come here for your thanks
There throwing upon the table with crash
the key Of your Go and picture
AS YOU please but that I only painter,
have command Of secrets know not Of and have
invested portrait with that shall alght
all who venture behold -and that curse is death
II old Sonareno daunted for the moment by this
threat he shook his fears ana affecting regard