The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-04-05

stranger. "Henceforth | am nothing but the shadow behind her footsteps She came to me when sought her not. She has called me forth and must abide the consequences"
 From that day forward the stranger of the catacombs did not allow Miriam to lose sight of him. He haunted her footsteps and was often admitted to her studio where he posed az model The story of the adventure spread abroad and was made the subject of fantastic tales. Miriam laughed al them al. and, even when pressed by her three friends. only gave expsana- tions still more fantastic. averring that the man was demon who had bought her soul In return for impart- Ing long lost secret of Roman fresco- painting.
 She grew moody and became subject to fits of ill-temper. at which times she would particularly resent any al- fusion to her strange model. Thus Kenyon and Hilda soon agreed that, st was best to dismiss all conjecture and accept the supposition that, after all. there need be no mystery about the matter. and that the fellow was simply one of those Roman beggars who have wonderful pertinacity about pursuing persons who happen to take the slightest interest in the1h. Donatello. however. took the matter sadly to heart. At first sight of the stranger he had felt that unreason- ing antipathy which so often is more trustworthy than the acutest insight Into character As time went on every appearance of the mysterious model would depress him Into sombre mood sad and sudden as e sudden cloudiness over . laughing field. At such times too. there appeared a trace of some- thing savage, like that of fierce anil nal, in the gentle features.
 One pleasant day Miriam started out to walk with Dona tello, who was to meet her at the Villa BoPghese. On the way she stopped at Hilda's studio "a studio high in the air at the top of . great square tower. Looking up- ward. Miriam saw the young girl dressed in white, scattering food to a flock of white doves that futtered around her as if she were . dove her self. as indeed she seemed from be- low.
 In one of the angles of the battle- ment stood a shrine of the Virgin, and there HildA, although a zealous Pro- teatant in conformity with her New England rearing. kept alight the lamp which had been set there to burn for ever.
 Her gentle courage enabled her to dwell all alone and unfearing in the
 
 made her secure in the streets and galleries. Her rninistrations to the shrine won for her the love of the people around about her,
 "what picture is this?" asked Mir jam, looking around the studio. Why you have done nothing else as won derful as this! By what miracle have you obtained leave to copy Guides
 sT Knew that s-s pr,nee Barberini would bs deaf to all entreaties," said Hslda. '.So sat down before it, know not how many times. until had it in my heart And now I do believe 1t is photographed there. Thus put it on canvas"
 Miriam; ssheA that slept in the dun geon and awoke to climb the scaffold. An, if could get within her conscious- nessl Beatrice's sin may not have been so great. Perhaps 1t was no sin at all. but the best virture possible un- der the circumstances. If l could but clasp Beatrice Cenci's ghost and draw 1t into myself! would give my life to know whether she thought herself innocent or the one great criminal since time began"
 Hilda looked in astonishment at Mi riam and was amazed to see that her friends expression had become almost that of the portrait: as if her passion ate wish and struggle to penetrate poor Reatrice's mystery had been sue- cessful.
 Miriam recovered herself almost at once. T have come to ask you to do me a favor" said she. "In week or two, yon know. am leaving Rome for the summer. Now four months hence. unless you hear from me. would have you deliver this pack age.'
 HIlda read the address. It was to signore Luca Barboni at the Palazzo Genet.
 When Miriam reached the Borghese grounds. Donatello, gay and exuberant with the spirit of spring that haunt ed the beautiful groves and the fiowery vistas of the venerable and lovely place, dropped from the thick leaves of an Hex tree and stood before hei suddenly as if he had leaped from the bosom of the green earth. His joy of life infected her. For this one hour" thought she. 'let me be as Sly as he is tomorrow will be time enough to go back to my reality.
 Donatello gave a clear call, and | bird came singing and fiuttering l around his handsome head. He gath 1 cred garlands of flowers and crowned Miriam and himself He ran. He | laughed aloud in answer to laughing echoes. Suddenly. as he was about | tying her hands with wild flowers. he 1 cried: "Hark" and drew her along swiftly toward a place whence there came the sound of music.
 They burst into an open glade. where | a party of strolling musicians sat on | the stone benches. Donatello snatehed | the tambourine from one and flourish 1 ed 1t above his head. producing music
 so potent as he danced with frisky | step. stil drawing Miriam with him. I that people came from everywhere ap- | parentiy. and after few moments 1 listening joined fin the dance. l It was as if the Golden Age had
 come again. Peasants. soldiers. art
 ists, tourists. came into the wild ring that followed Donattello's graceful Il Hitting form. Like vision the scene
 had started into the modern day--and | like a vision 1t burst asunder again
 In the midst of the riot a stra nge figure suddenly confronted Miriam
 breaking into the throng and standing l before her It was her model.
 The next moment Donatello was l aware that she had retired from the
 dance. He stopped and rushed to- ward her. where she sat on the grass Instantly all the dancers stopped, and
 In another moment the motley throng l was dissolving as suddenly as it had l come together. It was as if fright eninE presence had come upon group I of nymphs and fauns with Pan in the
 middle of them.
 Donatello stood by Miriam's side
 glaring at the dark figure of heI l burRuer where he stood under the