Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1860-11-23


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appropriate light, to which, when at last COM
pleted, the beggar was bound by cords, hand
and foot, after the precise manner that Christ
was pinioned on Calvary. le.,t5b ,f -,stsr.
The artist impatiently seized his brush !;
he had secured the very arrangement he re-
quired and the assistance thus rendered by
the bound mendicant. The picture grew
apace the artist seemed almost inspired so
enthusiastic did he become in his employ
ment, and few days served to place the
work beyond the possibility of proving a
failure. The artist was satisfied. The work
was nearly completed-one expression upon
the face alone was wanting. II was the ag-
ony experienced by the Saviour when the
spear was thrust into his side, and the nails
pierced his hands upon the cross, Rr ga
The painter sat with the beggar bound be-
fore him. 1t was the last touch Of his brush /;
he gazed upon the uneasy body of the men
dicant, on whom he had drawn the cords
tighter than usual The expression in the
countenance of the artist was one of strange
and struggling passioni some dark resolve
was passing through his brain. Suddenly
he drew his dagger, and pinned the beggar
to the cross! The agony Of death was on him,
and he writhed beneath the pain of that fa-
tai blow; his face assumed the very express
sion that the painter wanted. 1t was the dy-
ing look-halfreproachful, haltforgiving, yet
wrought with an agony Of pain. boa 'go,fl
| ~ With an effort at calmness, he seized his
brush, and catching that expression, placed
it upon the picture with faultless accuracy.
1t was perfect The painter tremblcd violent
ly with the fearful excitement of the moment.
Twas done. The pope's order was fulfilled
the mendicant was a corpse.
On the subsequent day came the all-pow-
erful head Of the church to see how his order
had been executed. A dim hut faultless light
had been arranged so as to fall upon the
painting, and as the curtain was withdrawn,
and his holiness beheld the perfect picture,
saw the wonderful accuracy of detail, the
marked excellence of even the most rifling
part of the painting, and finally the almost
miraculous expression Of the dcath-agony in
his face, he exclaimed with amazement, -
&c Hath Heaven inspired this man ~ e.an
| And he fingered long and even anxiously
| by the wonderful picture, until at last, order
ing its removal on the subsequent day, he
returned to his palace delighted at the sue
cessful result of his order to the artist.
a No sooner had the pope returned to his
treasury than he ordered ten thousand pias-
ters to be sent to the young artist, as the
price of the picture. The money was recciv-
cd, and the young painter hurried forth with
the two bags that held the sum, and sought
in retired part of the city, the residence of
the beggar's family. He found the sorrwing
wife and weeping children, deposited the ten
thousand piasters in her hands, saying that
it was sent to her by the pope, and then re.
turned to his studio. asr.fi a., g-..
On the following morning file of the
papal guard was heard approaching the door,
and the artist knew that his crime was dis
covered, and that these soldiers had come to
arrest him. A moment only he hesitated !;
then, seizing brush, with one dip into pot,
and dash upon that almost living picture,
he obliterated every link Of beauty, and left
it mere daub! The soldiers came he was
arrested and thrown into prison. With that
abruptness characteristic of the government
and the times, he was examined by an officer,
and condemned at once to die. ;t#.tf
But there came message from the pope
to his dungeon, when it was found that this
wonderful picture was ruined, saying, if he
would restore the painting to its original per-
fection he should be pardoned. Asserting
to this the artist demanded to be let back to
his study, where guard was placed at his
door. Being once again alone, he dipped q
piece of canvas in . preparation known to
himself, and in one moment obliterated every
Sign of Disagreement he had made upon the
painting; and, calling for the officer entrust-
ed with the execution of the business, exhib-
tied, almost instantly, the restored picture
"This is a miracle!" exclaimed the officer
in utter amazement. t.itn a5 gH.rta.H
:" Are you satisfied" meg5 s..i t.at-
!" am; but how have you performed such
a strange piece Of"
at matters not. / have done as you re.
quired Of me? ~" +" ~ a.g s.:aa
ID" "You have.V -f rl4tf VIC sa rai
Il. Then you release me?'', g5ar, b.
.My orders are to do so," replied the Of
ficer regarding the artist with silent amaze
ment, as he handed him the pardon, already
signed by the pope. jtFf Tai
Taking possession Of the painting, the Of.
ficer, superintended its removal at once to
the cathedral, when It was placed in spot
it was destined to All. The artist followed,
saw his work placed in the niche prepared
for it, bekeld it's enhanced effect in its new
and sacred position, then knelt before the
altar in prayer.
Seeking one of the fathers, he opened the
inmost secrets of his heart at confessional,
was promised the forgivness that his religion
vouched to the penitent who confessed and
prayed it; and the next morning when the
priests came to early service, they found him
lying dead before the crusifix scene that he
hal perfected at such, a cost :. ,
This is q sto,y Of the olden time, and comes
down to us with all the, fanciful coloring Of
the dark ages, q asa ,'aa a.'' 7# an
American Girls and ldatrimony.
American girls Of good education do not
know how lucky they are. Every American
grl who is sane and sound -and many who
are neither one or the .other-has not one.
but many chances. of marriage. It is yery
different in Europe. In the country towns
in England marrying men are SO rare that it
is quite common to zee dozen charmino oirls