The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-09-14
CONDENSED
CLASSICS
~
THE MARBLE FAUN
~
By -
NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE
By
MEL HAWTHORNE
Condensation by
,.v Paul Revere rockingham

M...%*:*******%**>|:'ss'ss<sS
rOUR individuals were standing
IN the sculpture gallery OF the
canitol at Rome. Three Of them
,. artists, and they had been ST.
.,,,toneously struck by resemblance
so.,roon one of the antique statues
"a a voung Italian, the fourth men,
her Of their party. IL
avon must confess, Kenyon" said
dark.eyed young woman, whom her
sr,ends called Miriam, "that you new"
~ chiseled out Of the marble a more
vivid likeness than this. Our friend.
honatello. is the very Faun OF Prax-
ite,es. Is it not true. HildaF
mot quite-almost--yes, I really
think So" replied Hilda. a slender New
england girl, whose perception OF
FIRM was singularly clear.
"Donatello," said Miriam, "you are
veritable Faun. Shake aside those
brown curls and let us see whether
this resemblance includes furry ears
mo. no! dearest Signorina," an
swcred Donate!o, "you must take my
ears for granted" and he lightly
tripped beyond the reach of her ex-
tended hand, only moment later 10
come close to her and look into her
face with appealing affection.
@You have bewitched the poor lad"
sad the sculptor laughing. "That is
away Of yours. see another of your
followers behind yon pillar, and his
nresence has aroused DOnatello's
wrath"
They had emerged from the palace,
and there, partly concealed by pillar
IN the portico, stood the wild figure OF
bearded man.
aMiriam," whispered Hilda, 1T is
your model"
Miriam's model, as Hilda called him,
had suddenly appeared a few weeks
previously when the four friends were
visiting one of the CatacOmbs. In the
dark depths of the earth, amid the
labyrinth of passageways. Miriam had
been lost. Guided by the shouts of the
others she had finally reappeared ac-
companied by this strange and un-
couth creature. And from that time
on he continued constantly to haunt
her footsteps, disappearing perhaps for
days only to return and glide like a
shadow into her life. What hold he
had on her or she on him remained
unknown, enhancing the mystery. al
ready Deep which hung about this
beautiful woman.
One Of Miriam's friends took the
matter sadly to heart. This was the
lghthearted, faun-like Italian count
who seemed such a child Of nature
He cherished against the mysterious
stranger one of those instructive an
tipathies which the lower animal!
sometimes display.
In the Medici Gardens the unwel
come creature had appeared among thu
trees just as Donatello was declaring
bis love for Miriam. II hate him,
muttered Donatello as he caught sigh
OF the sinister figure. "Be satisfied;
hate him, too" said Miriam. Where
upon Donatello had offered to clutcl
MN BY the throat that they might b
10 OF him forever; and the woman
mad difficulty in restraining the gentl
youth, whose hitherto light-hearted ma
lure seemed suddenly sufeused wit
rage.
But 1t was otherwise few night
a'er on a moonlight ramble that
e"mpany of artists were enjoyin
enlohg the ruins of old Rome TIL
lour friends We're of the party, which
si'er visiting many places, climbed tn
oapltoine hill and stood on the Tai
pe'an rock 1t was bordered by lo'
Mrapet. They all bent over the raj
Jug ana looked down., Miriam and Dor
.'e"o stood together gazing into tn
uooniit depths. They were so al
!. . =. with the scene and with eac
suer mat they did not notice the d.
> arture Of their friends. Hilda ma
. soue on with Kenyon, who had draw
D t qaetly away, and the others ha
sr pst'ed IN twos and threes, leavir
d. aam behind alone with the Italian
s aot enti,ely alone. Hilda ha
s.e out snort way with the sculptt
su sne missed her friend and turne
. ,,s. Sne reached the paved cour
=. '~,.u with the parapet just in time I
., = As unnoticed a tragic Scene. o,
~ n.y.. .e shadows the familiar figure I
- ,n,sa s prosecutor had appeared an
- Ii sSsed her. There was a stru
NJ isss .slnning and ending in one breatl
Is ss ss Instant. Along with it was a lou
- th,." cry which quivered upwal
~ dowssa the air and sank auiver1r
~ ln.., to the earth. Then a {
~ onss ' poor Hilda saw the who
\ th,t n passage Of deed which took b,
q etena' tle time to grave itself in IL
ons.sn adamant. She turned and fle
Il alone N 'he lovers were indet
" m h nave you done?" said Mira
y d S,s stricken whisper.
0.t. uu what ought to be done to