The Duke's Prize A Story of Art and Heart in Florence

a little dashe

hel

-indeed, he was almost penniless. He had been able, by losing much valuable time upon trifling and toyish pieces, to procure nearly enough for subsistence, taken in connection with the little he already possessed. But of late h

his art. A few months previous to the opening of our tale, this patron, who had been a father indeed to Carlton, died suddenly, and the news of his decease reached the young American at the time he was just expecting a remittance of money.

in his person. He felt that at no previous moment had he so much at stake as now; that at no previous time in the course of his life could such an event have been more unfortunate. But Carlton was blessed with a heart easy to keep afloat; and though his future was hard, he looked upon its sunny side, and bore bravely up against it, enduring not only mental but positive physical suffering in his manliness. For months he had been almost constantly engaged in secret upo

ent for life. He exerted every faculty to obtain the means of dressing at least with seeming good taste; he endeavored to do this for appearance sake, and that he might pass well with the world, which scans with inquisitive eye the outside show, and pays homage

actice of Florinda to call at certain periods at the palace of a relation in the environs of the city, and here Carlton often went to meet her; it was ha

," said

, dea

u-" here Flor

ly; what wo

not be o

eed,

nk stran

promis

he

, Flo

ow I care not for such things, but I would have thee appear

ng in spite of himself, "I told you of my

aving known the want of money, could not realize the effect of such a condition. And

est; but one must dress acco

om her girdle, she endeavored to give it to him in such a manner as to spare his feelings, but her utterance failed her, and sh

you will bear with my humble attire for a while, I hope to be able to dress in a style to suit thy ta

s? It was but the impulse of the mom

ult

I was b

dear

forgi

e the feeling that pro

dearest, and love

, unable to sleep from hunger, and sought his canvass. While he could summon his pride, and season it with his ambition, this formed food and stimulus enough for him-a sustaining principle equal to natural nutriment. But in his sleep, when nature asserted

g the masters or teachers themselves. This feeling at the time to which we allude, prevailed to an unusual extent, and its pernicious effects had been the cause of one or two duels of fatal termination. Carlton had long since been obliged

improvement, naturally disliked him; and strange enough, too, the teachers treated him with marked coolness and di

that Carlton has," sai

rush, and bids fair to distan

, I hate all

ul rivals," suggested t

, this Carlto

with you," ans

st dressed arti

u are rig

they snee

above all, by the love he bore Florinda. He hoped, through the means of the picture he was engaged upon, to introduce himself to th

allery, and other places, as his means would admit, while he worked on in secret. He had determined that hi

y attached to the art, and thus each year, by a like method, strove to encourage the talent and industry of the students assembled at Florence. There were many competitors among t

tablished his fame at once in Italy, and from that time forward could command his own terms for his pictures, and find a ready sale, too, for as many as he

ggestion. The time for the exhibition was fast approaching. Carlton was met by his former fellow-students every morning,-pale and emaciated, returning from his frugal meal, of which he was obliged to eat enough to s

ush; and it did seem to him after such encounters, and every new insult, that his hand received a fresh inspiration, and his mind renewed vigor. Perh

it. The various competitors had sent in their pieces accompanied with their names, each confident in the excellence and finish of his own

hour should arrive for the public presentation and audience in the picture gallery. The selection having been made on

humbly pursuing his way, turning neither to the right nor left, and passin

t fit for the presence of

to dress, today," sai

added a third; "he

biting his lip with restrained feeling. He had other business in hand than to notice these insu