LAURA PELUCCI.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 111, 3 February 1908, Page 3

LAURA PELUCCI.

(By Louisa Driscoll.l (The painter Lf_ ii 'having been- commis-sioned-to decorate ,the walls of the eon- "' vent 'chapel; at Lugano, finds among the • sisters* tnere;his : old love, La.ura' Pelucci; : ;;,.'i,;whbvhas. bfeen forced to ..take :thc veil .by '■! .y£ her-father to prevent her,-marriage with' Luini.) '••' YeSj it is I,:Luini.."For I heard, Whispered- about the'convent, certain' .word Of Vthe : great'" f artist. who'' woald; come and .. make. .■' Our chapel walls all'beautiful arid take , Th.;' .'\mlight"'and the-rbse-flower arid' the : That .'^hoefffsoftjat. matins,, and- the lo'ng ( ,' • Still ; .slow* coming night' !j *'' into - fabric for; men's. sight. Nay, u '.ot' Start; Luini. As one dead '!' Buried within-theso robes' I-lie uncomforted, And could ,not/rest through pr'ayor and pen- ■- ance done ' . ; '• • '.<• ; Knowing tbat'-thoU' Wouldst come. Look! See! lam .a .nun. ••!•.'- ' ' •. v.,' ■ Dead to the. world. The rosary ; is placed ,i ! Where r :a thy arm slipped close about my • wa: . v V The lips ,hou: kissed, they offer prayers—and _ yet-— y ■■ _ .-' V "'v. Think'st thou in prayers,, thy : kisses they ; forget? r , , ; V ■ v-"/. '■ ''. > Put back thy hand, Luini. I shall lie 1 L'pon the cell floor penitent and cry Sweet Mary's meroytforMthis'hdur's length, \t Although ;(dear phrist, lJjjan£„Thee) I hjaye- • I strength. •" ■: : To look, on thee and leave :theo. • Lift thy face i Ah, God! ,thg Jiij?s L,Lui;u,ikeep thy?place.>i I!leave'thee. iro-^ ■ r cannot rest','though doadj-'until I know.''

i I've heard, Luini,' that,thy .brush,doth paint - One only face for Virgin and for saint. I can'forget the; pain, the cold, slow wrong, My' father's ' harshness ; and. the lone ' years long, '' " -.... Can go through heir triumphant if it be , ■ My'facij'thou paint's't'. ' Luini,-look at mo.

The,wall;above? Ah, sbl. Ain l a saint? Well,'. onceV'l looked like Thy brush " doth, paint','., .. ). . Thei- ; wdman-'-that^ 'Not changed? Luini, go! ' 1 \\ Not one , word more.' ' And ( does ' Saint Catherine know ' The hand' that/painted loves her?' No saint I— ' . ' The nun's robe hides'a woman . til I dio. /