Fair play., 1921-09-03
CONDENSED
CLASSICS
~
THE MARBLE FAUN
~
By
NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE
A
Condensation by
Rev. Paul Revere rockingham

IN the sculpture gallery OF the
capitol at Rome. Three of them
were artists, and they had been ST.
simultaneously struck by resemblance
between one Of the antique statues
and young Italian, the fourth men,
Der of their party.
"YOu must confess, Kenyon" said
a dark-eyed young woman, whom her
friends called Miriam, that you new.
er chiseled out Of the marble a more
vivid likeness than this. Our friend.
Donatello, Is the very Faun Of Prax-
iteles. Is 1t not true, HildaT
"Not quite-almost-yes, really
think So" replied Hllda. slender New
England girl, whose perception Of
form was singularly clear.
"Donatello," said Miriam, "you are
a veritable Faun. Shake aside those
brown curls and let us see whether
this resemblance includes furry ears"
"No, no! dearest Signorina," an
swered DOnatello, "you must take my
ears for granted" and he lightly
tripped beyond the reach of her ex-
tended 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
II 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 pillar
an the portico, stood the wild figure of
a bearded man.
Miriam" whispered Hilda, ut 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 Miram's friends took the
matter sadly to heart. This was the
1ight-hearted, faun-like Italian count,
who seemed such child Of nature.
He cherished against the mysterious
stranger one Of those instructive an
tipathies which the lower animals
sometimes display.
In the Medici Gardens the unwel-
come creature had appeared among the
trees just as Donatello was declaring
his love for Miriam. II hate him."
muttered Donatello as he caught sight
of the sinister figure. "Be satisfied;
hate him, too" said Miriam. Where
upon Donatello had offered to clutch
him by the throat, that they might be
rid Of him forever; and the woman
had difficulty in restraining the gentle
youth, whose hitherto light-hearted ma
ture seemed suddenly suffused with
rage.
But 1t was otherwise few nights
later on a moonlight ramble that a
company Of artists were enjoying
among the ruins Of old Rome. The
four friends were Of the party, which,
after visiting many places, climbed the
Capltoline hill and stood on the Tar
peian rock. 1t was bordered by n low
parapet. They all bent over the rail-
ing and looked down. Miriam and Don
atellO stood together gazing into the
moonlit depths. They were so alb
sorbed with the scene and with each
other that they did not notice the de-
parture of their friends. Hilda had
gone off with Kenyon, who had drawn
her quietly away, and the others had
departed in twos and threes, leaving
Miriam behind alone with the Italian
But not entirely alone. Hllda had
gone but a short way with the sculptor
when she missed her friend and turned
back. She reached the paved court
yard with the parapet just in time to
witness unnoticed n tragic scene. Out
of the shadows the familiar figure of
Miriams prosecutor had appeared and
approached her. There was strug'
gle beginning and ending in one breath
less instant. Along with it was loud
fearful cry which quivered upward
through the air and sank quiverine
downward to the earth. Then ST.
lence! Poor Hilda saw the whole
quick passage of deed which took but
that little time to grave itself in the
eternal adamant. She turned and fled
unseen, and the lovers were indeed
alone.
"What have you done?" said Miriam
IN a horror stricken whisper
81 did what ought to be done to a
traitor" Donatelo replied: "what your
eyes bade me do as I held the wretch
over the precipice."
The last words struck Miriam like a