Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1921-08-25


in the sculpture gallery of tn
capitol at Rome. Three of then
were artists, and they had been 81
simultaneously struck by a resemblance,
between one of the antique statue!
and a young italian, the fourth mem
Der of their party.
you must confess, Kenyon" sale
a dark-eyed young woman, whom hel
friends called Miriam, shat you new
er chiseled out of the marble a more
vivid likeness than this. Our friend
DOnatelio. is the very Faun of Prax
iteles. Is 1t not true, HildaY
mot Quite-almost- really
chink So" replied Hilda, slender New
England girl, whose perception of
form was sIngularly clear.
"DOnatelIo," said Miriam, 'yOu arc
a Verltable Faun. Shake aside those
brown curls and let us see whether
this resemblance includes furry ears"
mo. mol dearest SignOrina," an
swered DOnatelIO, "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
a way of yours. 1 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
in 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 &C
cOmpanied by this strange and I'M
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
light-hearted, 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 animals
sometimes display.
!, In the Medicl 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 It was otherwise few nights |
later on moonlight ramble that S
company of artists were enjoying n
among the ruins of old Rome. The
four friends were of the party, which, G
after visiting many places. climbed the G
Japitollne hill and stood on the Tar y
leian rock. 1t was bordered by low S
Darapet. They all bent over the rail- t
ng and looked down. Miriam and Don s
teilO stood together gazing into the o
nOOnlit depths. They were so alb r
OFbed with the scene and with each n
'ther that they did not notice the de- t
'arture Of their friends. Hilda had c
one off with Kenyon, who had drawn o
er quietly away. and the others had r
eparted in twos and threes, leaving b
1irlam behind alone with the italian. n
but not entirely alone. HlIda had c
one but short way with the sculptor g
riien she missed her friend and turned a
ack. She reached the paved court b
ard with the parapet just in time to b
fitness unnOticed a tragic scene. Out Il
{ the shadows the familiar figure Of "
Liriams prosecutor had appeared and g
pprOached her. There was strug-
ie beginning and ending in one breath 4
IS instant. Along with It was loud, 10
earful cry which Quivered upward e.
through the air and sank uulvering o.
Ownward to the earth. Then q 81 e
meet Poor Hllda saw the whole Il
nick passage Of deed which took but %
Aat little time 10 grave itself ia the et
teEnnl Adamant. she turned ana ned p
nseen. and the lovers were indeed a
lone W
FWhat have you doneF' said Miriam Ia
q horror stricken whisper. "a
n did what bught to be done to g
altor. DOnatello replied: sWhat your
les babe me do as held the Wretch
HeF the precipice."
The last words struck Miriam Ike
Iilet Had her eyes indeed provoked,
assented 70 thls deepi She had not RI