The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-06-28
ssTIE MARBLE FAUN''
BY NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE
Condensation by Rev. Paul Revere Frothnsham)

Four individuals were standing In
the sculpture gallery of the capitol at
Rome Three of them were artists.
and they had been simultaneously
struck by a resemblance between one
of the antique statues and young
Italian, the fourth member of their
party.
You must confess, Kenyon" said a
dark-eyed young woman, whom her
friends called Miriam. that you new
er chiselled out Of the marble more
vivid likeness than this. Our friend
Donatello is the very Faun of Praxite-
! les. Is it not true, Hilda?"
mot quite-almost-yes, really
think So" replied Hilda, a slender
| New England girl whose perception
| of form was singularly clear.
"Donatello, said Miriam, you are
] a veritable Faun. Shake aside those
brown eurls and let US see whether
this resemblance includes furry ears
mo, no! dearest Signorina," an,
swered Donatello, you must take my
ears for granted" and he lightly trip
ped beyond the reach of her extended
hand, only moment later to come
close to her and look into her face
with appealing affection.
you have bewitched the poor lad,
said the sculptor laughing. THAT is
a way of yours. see another of your
followers behind yon pillar, and his
presence has aroused Donatello's
wrath"
They had emerged from the palace
and there, partly concealed by a pill
lar in the portico, stood the wild fig
ure of a bearded man
Miriam" whispered Hilda, at Ii
your model"
Miriam's model, as Hilda called
him, had suddenly appeared a few
weeks previously when the foul
friends were visiting one Of the Gaia
combs. In the dark depths of the
earth, and amid the labyrinth Of pass
ageways, Miriam had been lost. Guild
ed by the shouts of the others she haG
finally reappeared accompanied b.
this strange and uncouth creature
And from that time on he continued
constantly to haunt her footsteps, dis
appearing perhaps for days only to re
turn and glide like shadow into he
life. What hold he had on her or sh,
on him remained unknown, enhancin,
the mystery, already deep, whicl
hung about this beautiful woman.
One OF Miriam's friends took tn
matter sadly to heart This was tn
light-hearted, faun-like Italian count
who seemed such child Of nature
He cherished against the mysteriou
stranger one Of those instructive ant!
pathies which the lower animal
, sometimes display
In the Medici Gardens the unwe
come creature had appeared anon
the trees just as Donatello was d.
claring his love for Miriam ST hat
him., muttered Donatello as he caugh
sight OF the sinister figure. BE sa
( isfied; / hate him too" said Miriam
i, WhereuDon Donatello had offered t
clutch him by the throat, that the
might be rid Of him forever; and tn
woman had difficulty in restrainin
the gentle youth, whose hithert
l1ght-hearted nature seemed suddenI
suffused with rage.
1 But it was otherwise a few night
. later on a moonlight ramble that
company of artists were enjoyin
among the ruins of old Rome. Th
four friends were of the party, which
after visiting many places, climbe
the Capitoline Hill and stood on tb
q Tarpeian Rock It was bordered by
low parapet. They all bent over th
railing and looked down Miriam an
e Donatello stood together gazing in,
the moonlit depths. They were s
absorbed with the scene and With eac
I other that they did not notice the d.
parture of their friends. Hilda ha
gone off with Kenyon, who had draw
her quietly away, and the others ha
departed in twos and threes, leavin
}, Miriam behind alone with the Italian
q But not entirely alone. Hilda ha
gone but short way with the sculptc
u when she missed her friend and tur
n ed back. She reached the pave
b courtyard with the parapet just !
time to witness unnoticed a trag
scene. Out of the shadows the {
!! miliar figure of Miriam's persecutt
+ had appeared and approached he
n There was struggle beginning ar
ending in one breathless instant Alor
u with 1t was loud, fearful cry While
e quivered upward through the air ar
e sank quivering downward to the cart
Then silence! Poor Hilda saw ii
whole quick passage of deed whie
It took but that little time to grave
s. self in the eternal adamant. 81
y turned and fled unseen, and the love
= were indeed alone
u What have you done?" said Nj
o lam in horror-stricken whisper.
h Il did what ought to be done to
!. traitor Dontaello replied; "wh
y your eyes bade me do as / held Il
wretch over the precipice"