The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-08-10
HAPPIER III.


CHAPTER III.
Frederick Rother was Young German scup.
tor lie had been pupil of 1hurwadsOn but
now had his own studio, being considered in Rome
equal IN genius and art TO his master. This was
many years ago, before the immortal Swedc had
attained that celebrity which has given him an
imperishable fame. The German was a voung
man o; high and commanding intellect. His i'm
Imagination was lively, yet not untlnctured with
the gloom of German superstition He loved
night End solitude, the reading OF books touch
ing the dark lore Of necromancy, and research in.
to the mazes of metaphysics was passion with
him. He was also a poet and would have been
lover had he not been welded to his sublime
art.
One night lie was seated in his studio, wrapped
in lis evening robe, smoking his meersChaum, and,
with his eyes Es.i upon de ceiling, was buried
III deep musings upon the spiritual world Of Swe-
denbourg, whose writings he had Just laid down,
when . eight knock at his door aroused him.
Come in," he said without changing his posi-
ton, for he supposed it to be little Indian boy
who attended on him At lis rooms.
The door slowly opened and iuil.sacd middle.
aged mar, onveloped in a gray CLOAK, entered
On his head was Il low cap like a priests. The
s'Gtlo WA strongly lighted, for Frederick was
70 complete bust that night, and had all his tools
ready to work when he finished his meer.chaum.
there wassomcthing in the air Of his visitor that
Impressed him with awe and rising, he awaited
hls wishes. The man came near him, and taking
seat to which the sculptor pointed, waved his
hand tot Frederick to be re-seatcd. The artist o.
bcyed IN silence. There was something in the
expression Of the strangers eybs that made him
feel uneasy, and he could not keep his gaze from
them, They arrested bis like basili.k's. The
stranger features were dark and intellectual. li-
face thin, and bis hair black, long and flowing +,
His brows were heavy and projecting and be.
meath them like lamps burned pair Of deep set
eyes that were nconceiyably penetrating
Are ycu the sculptor, Frederick de Rother :"
he asked, in a mild tone, the voice deep and mu.
si1al
The sculptor replied in the affirmative, not n
liitlc relieved to lave the silence broken.
You have the reputation Of being the first
sculptor in Rome =
# am but pupil still" answered Rother, mod,
e-tly.
Il require tho aid Of your ori, said the visitor
without remarkng his reply
Il am honored by your notice ol me- said Fred,
crck, but regret TO say tla, have on hand un.
finished engagements for many months to come :"
Il want your services tonight answered the
stranger, sternly
Impossible have 10 put the finishing chsel
to that bust Of cardinal r, which will oc-
capy me til! midnight. He leaves Rome in the
morning, aud takes It to lis country place with
Linn"
a must have my wishes complied with" said
'he man IN the grey cloak impcratiyely, and he
fixed his eye' 50 steadily upon Frederick, that he
dropped his own with sensation Of pain
"YOu are unknown to me" he began to object
ard here he hesitated and became suddenly
silent. The eyes of the stranger rested upon hl,
forehead so intently, that he was deprived of his
power to artculntc. He felt indignant, and wo'd
have risen, but found he had no power over his
limbs His cyelids fell and he began to expert.
ence chilly sensation pcvGding lie frame
Gradually he felt himself losing all sense If tx
ternal things his mind became all Mt once clear
and wonderfully perceptiye; the most beautiful
images passed before him; music, such Is mortal
ear never listened to, foaied around him; soft
voices whispered sweet and strange words, which
his heart, not his ears, heard, his spirit expanded
and became like air, and he seemed 10 be borne
on wings Of light through universe Of happiness
and splendor inconceyablcl and then sudden
darkness veilcd all things silence unbroken reign
ed, ayd the deepest oblivion followed He sat
like marble statue colorlcss and motionlcss.
The stranger rose with n smile of power upon
MS lip, aud approached him aud vaiyed his hand.
TAe younr man rose with ready obedience. and
stood before him immoycablei The stranger
placed his hand uron lis ryclids, and they flew
open with startling brancy. his ewes looking I'm.
naturally lus,rous. and beautiful. like thos. in
wax figure They were nevertheless without cx.
preston, aud unwinking, The man then badc
him take clay and hi, moulding tools. and follow!
With his eyes still closed Ike one in sleep the
Young man oLeyed. and following him 10 the
street keeping n pace behind
Wrapping himself in his cloak the stranger
took MA way along a narrow street that led bv
the Tibcr and crcssiu, a bridge not fur from Tr0.
i,n's pillar, asceudei a terrace that led to range
of palaces. He followed the marble paved wav
beneath lime and orange trees, until il terminated
in grand s,aIrcasc This he assembled. and af
ter crossinz. mgvnifcont Garden adorned with
fountains nni statues. closely followed by the
sculptor who bent not his fixed eyes for one in.
-'aut during the whole way, from the prison OF
his mysterious conductor they came TO a portico
which LED them into hal, Of one Of the finest
mansions IN 9ene. 1t was dark save when the
moonlight streamed in through stained easements,
We, the stranger ken, on his way to an inner suite
Z