El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-03-22
The Beautiful Venetienne
A short story.

l. A.
~ Venice because OF the interna-
- tiOnaI art exhibition. He had sem
in small SOnndorf landscape painting
to the committee and was very much
I surprised when it was accepted. He
had never dared hope Tor such good
luck, as the picture was by no means
{ one Of his best 1t was merely a sketch
/ work showing the effect OF sunlight
I in the dark pine forest. The accept
I ance Of his painting, however. was a
| great encouragement to him 1t gave
! MIN the confidence in himself which he
: mad lacked hitherto, for he was now
praised IN all the papers as a rising
artist Of great promise.
bis mother suggested he should go
10 Venice TO see now his picture had
been hung Her words acted like a
I burning match in a heap of straw, and
ne was all fire and enthusiasm at
once
His mother packed, his plain carpet
bag gave him a handful of banknOtes
and added a good quality of mOtheriy
advice just before his train left Pc
4 ter Paul was only p, had never seen
anything of the world He was more
OF dreaming enthusiast than a prac-
ucal man.
AS the train carried him away and
his beloved SonndOrf woods and noun
talnS disappeared in the distance, he
Ielt something like physical pain. He
erer he was. For three years he had
painted nothing but SOnndOrf land
Scapes in his own quiet manner and now
he felt that he was drifting helplesslv
out into q great sea OF mysteries. But
ne remembered his modest little paint
ing which had gone before him into the
world and passed VIGOROUSLY through
the great battle, though it was as mod
est and shy as himself
During the first days after his arri-
val ne wandered about Venice as if in a
dream. looking wiki surprised eyes al
all the wonderful productions by the
Sreat artists of all nations He was
confused at the sight Of the riot Of
colOrs, and the riddles OF the subjects
adopted by the masters
On the Lido he met the beautiful wife
Of SlgnOr SilviO GuadOsninO, the influ-
entail art critic. to whom he had been
introduced few days before; and
though signor Guadognino. as a true
Venetian, was cold and distant, he had
been exceedingly kind TO the modest
sky artist from the backwoOds Of Ger
many.
The painter felt it his duty to call on
slSnor Guadoglino in return for his
extended kindness. The brilliant eyes
OF signOra GuadOgninO seemed TO pierce
the very Utmost soul Of the artist and
her expression filled him with a feeling
he had never known before. He Felt
that he was -predestined TO a tragic
love, and it was the happiest moment in
MS lie when signOra tIUadogEinO said
TO him:
You, too. are a character who will
never find happiness, poverO amic0
MIC"
The kiss on her hand with which he
responded appeared to scare her. He
saw plainly that from this moment she
treated him differently. She was more
silent to him and more amiabie towards
her husband. This famed his passion
When he was away from her ne suf-
Tered, but when she was near his SUI
ferings were almost beyond endurance.
The perfume Of her dress intoxicated
MS senses and her soft voice made the
blood rush through his veins like fire
In order not to betray himself ne
stayed away from her, but now ii was
s16nOr GuadOgninO who called for him
and asked him to spend the next after
noon on the beach, together with him
and his wife.
When he called the next day. how
ever, il was only signOr GuadOgnino
who came down the marble steps to
greet SOnndOrf. who had come in a
sondola-
My wife felt slightly indispOsed,"
he said, and asked to be excused, so we
viii have to go alone, but we shall find
plenty Of company"
Peter Paul knew what this meant;
she wanted to avoid him, and the
thought made him more silent than
ever, so silent that among the merry
company Of artists, siSnor GuadOgninO
soon forgot his presence. Sonndorff /
determined to leave for home the next [
He could not leave without saying
farewell to her, so he bought a bOu- I
luet Of flowers and started for her I
house
Il must be prepared to find that she I
will not receive me-" ne said to him I
self as he almost hoped for such a 1
,ruelty.
The door opened to him, and he was /
ed into the elegantly furnished salon. /
dis heart beat furiOusly, but he said 1
% himself that he must be strong and /
Tot betray himself
At last she came. She wore a blush
sreen dress OF thin, shimmering silk !
'eter Paul saw nothing more. Her pres
nee charmed him always, and sudden
y he felt her soft body in his arms, the
Ott silk against his rough tourist coat,
Ter heart beating against his
50 you understood what l meant J
he whispered into his ear. "GuadOgni- :
10 Will not be home until tonight Oh, I
GU are smart. my little German boy, J
GU knew i was waiting for you"
And her experienced lips sought the
rtists feverish mouth
His mother in SonndOrf sent Peter
.aul some more banknOteS, but when !
hese. too had been spent much too
ulcily. nothing came but good, moth
rly advice. 1t happened that just then
iSnora GuadOgninO had to accompany
er husband 10 France. so Peter Paul
arted from Venice and the beautiful
enetienne to return to his dark and
COL pineWOOds. It was long before he 7
ad eyes for the artistic effects OF the z
lnliEht there. On his lips still re-
.alned the sensation Of fiery southern !
lSSes. and his soul was dazzled from |
ne sunlight on the glittering lagoon. {
But signOra GuadOgninO also dreamed !
{ Germany, and in her heart she pro-
IS ted violently whenever anyone said I
her presence that Germen men were /
4 M a srr-~ # NJ 81