Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-08-27

- il the sculpture gallery Of the
X capitol at Rome. Three of them
were artists. and they had been 81
multaneously struck BY a resemblance
between one of the antique statues
and a 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 Praz-
iteles Is it not true, Hilda?"
Not quite-almost-yes. 1 really
.hink 50. replied HIlda. a slender New
England girl, whose perception OF
form was singularly clear.
"DonatelIo." 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 Tor granted and he lightly
tripped beyond the reach of her ex-
tended hand, only a moment later to
come close 70 her and look into her
face with appealing affection.
"You have bewitched the poor lad"
s; id 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,
ID there. partly concealed by a pillar
in the portico, stood the wild figure Of
a bearded man.
Miriam" whispered Hilda, st is
yDur model"
Miriam's model, as Hilda called him,
ad suddenly appeared q few weeks
previously when the four friends We're
visiting one Of lie Catacombs. In the
dark depths of the earth, amid the
labyrinth OF passage ways, Miriam had
been lost. Guided by the shouts of the
others she had finally reappeared &C
companied by this strange and I'M
eOuth creature. And from that time
III 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
light-hearted, faun-like Italian count
wac seemed such a child of nature.
He cherished against the mysterious
stranger one Of those instructive an
tlpathies 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. Il 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 sufIused with
+ rage.
But it was otherwise a 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
Captoline hill and stood on the Tar
peian rock. It was bordered by low
parapet They all bent over the rail
ing and looked down. Miriam and Don
atelIo stood together gazing into the
moonlit depths. They were so alb
sori)ed 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. Hilda had
gone but q short way 18th the sculptor
when ~he missed her friend and turned
back she reached che paved court
yard with the parar-t JUST rs time to
witness u0noticed q tragic scene. out
Of the shadows the familiar figure of
Miriam prosecutor had appeared end
approached her There was q st~ug-
gle beginning and ending in one breath
less instant Along with it was 81 loud.
fearful cry which quivered upward
through the mir and sank Quivering
downward to the earth Then a ST.
lence, Poor Hnda saw the whole
quick passage Of q deed which took but
that little time to grave itself in the
eternal adamant. She turned and fled
unseen, and the lovers We're indeed
alone.
"Vhat have you done?7 said Miriam
In q horror stricken whisper.
AZ did what ought TO be done TO a
traitor" Donatello replied what your
eyes hade me do as l held the wretch
over the preciplce."
The last words struck Miriam like a
bullet. Had her eyes indeed provoked.