Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-11-09
SCHEME THAT FAILED.

SCHEME THAT FAILED.
"Then you really intend to become a
competitor, Giovanni"
Eyes, Batista. | am determined. You
see, this offer Of the curia's to give a
prize of $4,000 lire to the person who
shall carve the finest marbla crucifx for
the high altar of the Church of the Sa-
cred Heart furnishes the one opportunity
OF my life
Indeed An opportunity to do what ~
Giovan looked at his fair companion
for a few moments, and then said:
ITO make you my wife, Batista.'
Batista pretended TO appear surprised
.Your wife? Before you can do that you
viii have to obtain the consent of two
persons my father and myself"
Yourself, Batista? Have | not that
already?" returned Giovan, ardently.
"And your father's-well that will come
should | be successful in obtaining this
prize. You know he continued, after a
pause, your father, whom | spoke to
| yesterday upon the matter, has promised
that if / can show myself possessed of
means sufficient to support a wife he
will give his consent to my marriage
| with you. Therefore / have decided to
become a competitor, Batista, and so en-
deavor to gain two objects at one time
position in the world of art and
wife"
And which would you value most ?"
she archly asked.
"Ah, do not tempt me-" exclaimed the
youth; you know how highly value
both"
| 1t was as GioSan had said The clria
of the Church of the Sacred Heart at
Milano, possessed at one and the same
time of a magnificent cathedral and an
elastic treasury, had decided to offer
prize of $4,000 lire to the sculptor who
should carve by his own hand the finest
representation of the Crucifxion in mar
| ble the successful work to be used to
| form the massive centerpiece in an elab-
crate reredos, then in course of erection
| for the high altar of that church.
For the reasons stated by himself Clio
van Angelo decided to compete for this
prize, and the resolution became the abb
sorbing feature of his existence. He
was a clever artist, although young, and
his productions had always received the
/ highest encomiums of connoisseurs of
the art. But as yet he had accomplished
no great thing, nothing likely to prove
| lasting monument of fame Here was a
golden opportunity, he thought, of prov
ing to the world his claim to high po-
sition in his profession, and he deter
mined to seize it. And from that time
| forward nc devoted his whole energies to
| The task he had set himself to do.
| OF course, there were other competi-
/ tors, of one of whom it was necessary to
make special mention. Petro Gaspard
and Gioyan Angelo had served in one
studio, under one master and so good a
master that both pupils became, in course
of time, clever artists, their work ex-
hibited a marked similarity in execution
and design, but with one difference; while
\ both displayed a beauty of style and fin
ish, Giovan's possessed an additional
power, charm, which the other mans
lacked certain indefnable expression
which seemed to impart real life into
his work. And it was this that marked
his superiority over his rival, a superior
! ity the other was not slow to perceive.
Petro Gaspard also resolved to become
q competitor for the curia's prize. BY
the RIGHTEOUSNESS of fate Gaspard was
also rival in Giovans love affair. for
be also loved the fair Batista with all the
violence of his impulsive southern nature,
and was the more ipcensed to find his
compeer in art accepted, where he was
/ apparently rejected. But he knew her
fathers great love for money, and he
argued, could he become possessed of 1s.:s
attractive prize. the old mans consent to
his unison with his daughter world at
once be obtained, and hers would follow
/ IN dino ,t,sl his
ture determined to obtHin this end by
any means, fair or foul.
1t was the evening preceding the day
of adjudication, and Giovan had invited
Batista to view the finished carving ere
it was sent in. He had thrown the whole
energy " his art into the work, the re-
suit being production of unusual merit.
He was reasonably proud of it, and ex-
| pressed himself fearless of other compete
tors. rot excluding Gaspard who had
now, through no fault of his, developed
into 4 furious enemy.
The young lady, who was probably bat
little of connoisseur, had, much to the
artists amusement, fallen into raptures
over the first figure she saw on entering
the studio, which Giovan explained was
simply y somewhat rough stone cutting
of the Crucifix intended to serve as a
model ere nc began to work upon the
more expensive marble.
Ii her admiration was great al viewing
] the rough model, it was increased a hun
6redfold when the artist. removing a COW
ering, exposed TO her delighted gaze the
crucidx itself. With the fervor charac-
icristic Of her religion and race. she in.
voluntarily dropped on her knee before
the sacred representation, words failing
! to give expression to her thoughts. Slow