Page:010 Once a week Volume X Dec 1863 to Jun 64.pdf/239

 ONCE A WEEK.

KB. 20, 1SC4.]

"We

"'Of the same?' " raised my eyes,

ami saw that my interrogator held in his hand a plain miniature, which he had taken from the table. bowed my head in answer to his question, and ho went on, " How long have you worked at this L

I

—

'

V

picture " Since

last saw you.' But not always from the model

'

"

'

"

I

V

" u

I dare scarcely ask you, my father, to accept this trust, but if you can so far pity me you will relieve my thoughts from a great

'

'

l

u Her name ?' " This abruptness

irritated

me, and I

re-

to

and

fro across the

upon

He room,

and then pausing abruptly, spoke in a low, sad voice.

" I will tell you.' " What 1 " Her name.' You know her, then '

'



'

'"I am

'

?

her husband.'

"

Calmly as these words were uttered, they me with the force of twenty daggers. I reeled and gasped. He did not notice me, but walked on steadily,' muttering to struck

himself.

"



It is not every painter for a model. You

chioness

who has will

a mar-

forget the

You will be garret that I saved you from. happy among these golden cornices and silken think of me ? curtains. Of me ? I am

Why

—

her husband that is all.' " For a long time I heard nothing but the beating of my heart. " ' But for all For that, this is not justice. my praise you bring humiliation for my gold

you give me

tears



for

my trust

you briug

dis-

honour.'

"1 threw myself at his feet, and swore he He laughed a bitter laugh, and wronged her. 1 fell, and dragged down pushed me from him. the picture. In a moment I sprang up with It was an insult at once to my burning tears. labour and to her. I became mad. I struck him across the breast, and, throwing him a sword from a pile of arms which served for models, I cried " « After this,

open tion.'

my

me

is

with '

Tell

but that nevertheless

very sad,

some quiet night she sees my shade standing by her side, let her turn towards it with a smile upon her face, and my If in

soul will rest for ever.'

"

fixed his eyes but this time I returned their gaze.

commenced pacing

hand

I die in hope.



"Again my questioner

'

thanked

later I received his last breath.

'

!



He

promised him.

" He spoke no more, and about an hour

mained silent. " Her name " I do not know.'

<

'



of her

were





I

eyes, and continued more feebly her that to be denied even a farewell pi

She came, then, frequently ? The next words Daily, Siguor.' spoken in a trembling voice.

me

to light I

his

Yes— always.'

'

woke

sent to her.

"

'

t

I

I

sorrow.

" Answer me.' «

came darkfound myself stretched upon the picture, while my blood was They brought mingling with its wet colours. me here, sent for yon, and now I have only 1 wish this packet to be one more request, crossed swords and then

When

ness.

hesitated.

I

231

only when you have cut hoart shall you read her justifica-

I started early the next

morning

for the

I knew that my dress Palazzo Bonaglieri. would procure me admission unquestioned, and

although I was half reluctant to avail myself its shelter on such an errand, I looked upon the poor boy's last wish as sacred, and if I did wrong 1 trust that Heaven will pardon me. I The found the palazzo in great confusion. porter was not in the hall, and it was only in one of the upper chambers that I found a serThat vant of whom I could make inquiries. morning the marchioness had been found dead in her bed. " On the same day, and almost at the same hour that a richly-appointed funeral procession left the Palazzo Bonaglieri, a simple hearse emerged from one of the narrow streets leading to the Via della Scala. At the gates of the of

cemetery the driver of this plain death-carriage drew up to allow the long train of black velvet and silver lace to pass ; then he followed What became of his burden no humbly. one cared to discover, but the more brightly studded coffin of the other cortege was much admired, for the history I have just related was not written on the inscription plate. After the funeral I opened the packet entrusted to me, and found that it contained a lock of hair.

" The marquis disappeared, and, several years afterwards, proofs of his dea'.h in England having been forwarded to Florence, the property descended

to

To these heirs I and in return, by

presented

appointed here. the in

blood-stains,

doing

veiled.

so,

the

family. portrait,

their influence I became They attempted to remove but finding some difficulty

preferred

Who knows

expiation."

his brother's

'I

to It

keep the picture be the blood of

may