The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-09-28

ton. a.
The house had formerly been the mansion
of merchant, of enormous wealth, who had
left it, with his valuable collection of paint {
ngs, for the purpose OF affording encourag.
ment to Flemish art. The third room had
been his reception chamber, and the space
over the magniicently carved chimney was
| assigned, as the place of honor, to the best
painting. The painter of this picture oil.
ways received costly prize, for which he
was likewise indebted to the munifcence OF
the founder. To this spot my eyes were
naturally turned as entered the door. Was
/ dreaming Istood stll-I turned hot and
cold by turns-I ran forward. 1t was no !
deIusion 1! There was my picture, my own
picture, in Its little modest frame, installed
in the chief place of all the gallery And
there, too, was the off icial card, stuck in the
corner, with the words, "Prize Painting"
printed IN shining gold letters in the middle!
| ron down the staircase and bought a cata.
logue, that my eyes might be gladdened by
, the confirmation of this joy and there, sure
enough, was printed at the commencement
. "Annual Priza Painting-View in Rotter-
| dam, No. l27-Franz Linden" l could
r have wept for delight. was never tired of
e looking at my picture; | walked from one
side to the other-I retreated-T advanced
{ closer to t-T looked at it in every possible
e light, and forgot all but my happiness.
: "a very charming little painting, sir"
said voice at my elbow.
# 1t w's an elderly gentleman, with gold
, spectacles, and an umbrella. | colored up,
!, and said, falteringly: DO you think so o.
f. 81 do sir" said the old gentleman. IL
n am an ama,eur-I am very fond OF pictures.
d presume that you are, also, an admirer Of
Is art!"
s | bowed.
p, Every nice little painting, indeed" he
e, continued, as he wiped his glasses, and ad
" justed them with the air Of connoisseur
r Water very liquid, colors pure, sky trans.
parent, perspective admirable. III buy it,
- Will you," exclaimed, joyIulIy. go
er thonk you, sr!'
" 90" said the old gentleman, turning sud
r, denly upon me, and smiling kindly, SO yo,
is are the artist, are you! Happy 10 make
your acquaintance, Messer Linden. Yol
at are q very young man to paint such picture
9. as that. congratulate you, sir, and-Il
e. buy it," .a
~ So we exchanged cards, shook hands, an
at became the best friends in the world. | wa
er burning with impatence to see Gertrude
and tell her all my good.fortune: but m!
30 new patron took my arm, and said that h
@. must make the tour of the rooms in N!
rk company; and was even forced to comply
ur We stopped before large painting tha
Se was my masters work, the Conversion o
th st. Paul. While we were admiring it, an
| was telling him Of my studies in the etcIte'
a of the painter, man started from before us
to and gided away, but not before had recog
nd nized the pale countenance of Van Roos
ee There was something in the expression o
ed his face that shocked me-something tina
stopped nv breath and made me shudder
he What was it! scarcely knew; but tn
|ip glare of his dark eyes, and the quivern
~. passion OF his lips, haunted me for the res
ny of the day, and came back again in m
r =; dreams. said nothing of it to Gertrud
in, that afternoon, but 1t had sobered my raptr
10 rous exultaton most successfully. | pos
,as tively dreaded, the next day, to return to th
N. studio but, to my surprise, my master re
cir ceived me as he had never received me be
ed fore. He advanced, and extended his han
ng to me.
W. Welcome, Franz Linden" he sal
by smilng;" am proud to call you my pupil.
s.. The hand was cold-the voice was hars
ng the smile was passon)ess. My comPas
ow ions crowded round and congratulated me
he and, 10 the warm tones Of their young, chee
nd full voices, and the close pressure of the
,ss friendly hands, forgot all that had paine
av, me in the conduct of Van Roos.
ur Not long after this event Gertrud's faith
,od designed to have her portrait painted
Mt. console him for her absence, he said, wh'
ind should be 80 wicked as to take her aw
red from him. recommended my old maste
Of whose tutelsge had recently left +; and VI
llv, Roos was summoned to fulfill task that
'ro would gladly have performed but portra
the ure was not my line. could paint slee
spotted mich COW, or drove OF sheep
I better than the fair skin and golden curls
the my dar ling Gertrude.
r Of She could not endure the artist from I
fore first. In vain reasoned with her and stro
!, it to persude her-all was OF no use; and
day used to say at the end Of every such cow
avv sation, that she wished the portrait
our finished,
ers. But this portrait took long time. V
INV Roos was in general rapid painter
alls Gertrude's likeness progressed at 81
got. pace, aud, like Penelope's web, seen
nee, never to be completed. One morning
E: so happened to be in the room--a rare event
ent, that time, for was hard at work upon
no. new landscape and was struck by
ext: change that had come over my late mast
4. He seemedlto be no longer the same M
ID to There was light in bis eye and vibrat
cedl in HE voice, tbst had never observed
a.. ro.a and whcn he vosA to take leave, tn