Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-04-16


easel, know canrot approach the genius
S Iiee. possess II you would but render titus
Al have not your devotion, Maria"
You loved your art once, Wilhelm :;
you had high, grand thoughts about it
once"
"Boyish dreams"
"They might have been the facts of
your manhood, had you chosen so, good
friend"
1t was hard upon him-who had come to
create q sensation, to win the admiration of
the fair enthusiastic meet so chilly a
welcome, such a lecture upon his short com
ings. Maria herself began to think SO at
last, and changed the subject.
"Do you like my lilies :"
"They are exquisite, they are inimitable
full of your own gaace, and subtlety, and
expression. You have nearly competed
them"
No, there remains much to do. See,
these leaves are hardly touched this bud
is merely raw color"
There was pause. He looked from the
panel to her. Standing SO humbly and
gently before a most marvellous effort of
painting, how could he help great admira-.
fion and love possessing bis hearth How
could be hinder them from sparkling in
his handsome eyes? His one hand rested
on his hip, the other toyed gracefully with
the silver tassel of his CLOAK. He was in
his most winning attitude. Maria looked
no at him innOcently, read something of
his thoughts in his face, und then turned
| away, little frightened perhaps.
You remember" he said, at length, in
his most musical t0ne-"yOu remember,
Maria, my first comirg here ?-my assumed
bearing. my affecting to be dealer, come
to purchase your works, when my real aim
was to see you, to become acquainted with
your"
at was a trick. Wilhelm, shameful
trick :" and she moved away from him.
" 1t was fair, for loved you"
| She put her hand to her heart, as though
| she had been struck there. She could not
! speak, but she waved her hand, by her ges-
| ture inploring him TO desist.
81 loved you then, Maria, ard from that
day have loved you more and more. If
| have neglected my art, as you say, may
not love be my excuse? Let that plead
for me. Do not judge me too harshly."
| She heard him like one in pain, trem-
bling, and with closed, quiver;ng eyes lie
was about to continue she placed her hand
| gently upon his.
"Cease, Wilhelm, l entreat of you."
You don't love me, Maria % The ques.
ton was SO musically, waiingly, fervidly
| breathed, it was almost irresistible. For
| some moments Maria could not speak
| Her breath came and went SO hurriedIy.
! and she trembled so.
81 dare not lin a low, broken whis
per.
| You doubt me?'
She bowed her head affirmatively, and to
! hide Ter bushes and her tears.
Wilhelm had had little experience in
failure. He was puzzled, amazed. Could
it be that his love was rejected He was
about to break out in exrostulations, into
passionate Caths and entreaties but a look
from Maria stopped him.
You, who are false to art, can hope
that you will be true to me?'
but love you"
"You loved art once, Wilhelm you neg.
lect it now"
But will never neglect you, dearest
| swear it,"
False in one, false in ALL"
"Maria, this is cruelty"
"Let it be so, Wilhelm, and let US part
Leave me to my lilies they can never be
to me less good and pure, and true. lean
not quit them, to give NY trOth to one who
may one day turn from me, his love fallen
from him like a withered leaf. IL sur
render them, Wilhelm. for you, and the
time should come, as it would, doubt not
when you would cease to love me-when
should be to you poor frai woman, charm
less, lustreless-I could not bear it. Viii
helm, it would be DEATH"
But this is a nightmare. darling; il
never shall be the truth. lore YOU:
love alt; | have not ceased to love art.
will always love noth.'
But Maria only shook her head sadly
and murmuI ed,
False to one, false to all"
But try me. These are not mer,
words-idle, vain test them; they will
bear it,"
She looked at him earnestly; Their
seemed honesty in his face and in hi
speech.
First, then, you will be true to art?"
q swear it,"
You will work honestly; you will b
at your easel cor six hours day at least
continuously; painting scrupulOusly, rem
cerIng faithful account to the objects yo,
paint, as they seem to you not tricky, O
to produce rapidly, or to sell quickly yo
, will not be seen with Hell, or Broken, O
Wander Move. You will avoid the Golde
, Calf; you will cease to make Delft rim
: with your designations. You hear me-
, Wilhelm ?"
f Il will do all this, Maria"
t And for six months-mark that yo
r will do all this for six months"
I" may see you the while, may not ?''
A "No, Wilhelm, it is etter not: it is be
A ter not, for both our sakes. At the end ,
six months come to me. Tell me you hay
done all this faithfully tell Inc you hay
, been true to yourself, to art, to me. TIE
D me that you love art truly, and as YOU Low
] art, love me-"
4 "And if do this, you"
S She gave him a lily white hand. II
pressed it passionately to his lips.
. Six months have yet to pass, Wi
c helm"
! He hardly heard her, be was dashin
i down the stairs mad with joy, and hop
o and love. 1n five minutes his blue doubl,
a was off, and he was hard at work before h
e easel.
f The poor lily lady, pressing her han
upon her head, was too shaken and Devil
: dered to resume her pencil Immediately.
Soon, however she turned towards b,
flowers, exciaiming with passion:
True or false, oh, my lilies, / cam,
love you less. / am still yours, and yO
will still be mine ~
n There was thick crust of snow upon a
o the gable roofs of Delft; the canals wei
t frozen, thick ice blocked up the river. III
r six months had passed. Maria was sti
d at her easel. There were no lilies to |
had now, only those upon her panel, pc
It fected: so close were they 20 nature,
: seemed impossible to carry imitation furt
8 er. She was employed in painting folde
drapery OF stamped purse colored velye
6 the back ground of her picture. ST.
seemed paler than ever now and an air
fatigue and suffering haunted her face v
she WORKED on in her old nlacid sin,nI