The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-05
MIRIAM CRASHING DoNAfllO5 HAND CONVULSlVElI,
 PED" "NY GOD!
 [ lcS THIS

ing into the throng and standing before her. It was her model
 The next moment Donatello was aware that she had retired from the dance. He stopped and ras4el toward her, where she sat on th, rlss. Instantly all the dancers stoppcG, and in another moment the motley throng was dissolving as sud- denly as it had come together. It was as if a frightened presence had come upon a group of nymphs and fauns with Pan in the middle of them.
 Donatelo stood by Miriams side, glar ing at the dark figure of her pursuer where he stood under the gloom of cy- press. His lips were drawn apart so as to, disclose his teeth. T hate himl" muttered he.
 '.Be satisfied. l hate him. tool" said Miriam.
 Shall I clutch him by the throat whispered Donatello with d savage scowl
 Tn heavens name, no violence! ex- claimed Miriam. "Oh, have pity on me, Donatello Follow me no further. Leave me to my doom. Dear friend, kind, sim pie, loving friend make me not more wgetohed by the remembrance of having thrown fierce hates or loves into the wellspring of your happy lifeg'
 Not follow you?' said Donatello soothed from anger to sorrow. Not fol- low you? What other path have I?'
 We will talk of it again tomorrow" said Miriam. "Only leave me now"
 As soon as his form disappeared the stranger approached. "What will be the end of this persecution?" demanded she
 'There can be but one result. You must throw off your present mask and assume another. You must vanish out of the scene; leave Rome with me and leave no trace behind. We have a des- tiny which we must needs fulfill together I, too, have struggled to escape it. And what was the result? Our strange en- counter in the bowels of the earth
 Then" said Miriam calmly. "I foresee the end It will be death."
 "Your own death, Miriam, or miner" he asked, looking fixedly at her.
 Do you imagine me a murderess?" said she, shuddering You, at least, have no right to think so."
 "Yet, rejoined he with a glance of dark meaning, "men have said that this white hand once had a criminal stain" He took her hand and held it up to the waning light as if to see.
 Tt had no stain,' cried Miriam. snatch ing it away, "till you grasped it in your own"
 Slowly they moved along Miriam be- seeching him, first calmly, then passion atey and wildly, to leave her free. At last her agony of mind reached pitch where she suddenly sank down on the steps of a fountain and, under pretense of washing her hands, duplicated her evil shadow on her knees.
 In this attitude Kenyon and Hilda strolling through the park, beheld her. and they were not deceived by the pre- tense. They watched in sorrow, won derng what evil spell bound these two together, until the model walked slowly away, leaving Miriam to turn homeward with her eyes bent heavily to the ground
 The next day there was a gathering in the studio of fellow artist and Ken zen, Hilda and Donatello together exam ined a portfolio that contained ancient sketches, many of them made by great masters. One in special was esteemed a prize, for it contained what was be- lieved to be Guidos original design for his picture of the Archangel Michael set ting his foot on the demon.
 This is a far more striking demon than the one on the finished picture" ," cried Kenyon. "and I have seen that face! Upon my word, I have seen 1t