Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-02-12

charming creature? is it a fair advantage,
think you ~
"Why not?" l replied; s'surely, we
admire all the portraits here, whether On
canvas or not; and you have certainly q
right to select your position"
| wish you could have seen the work
Ernst made of copying the piece he sat
down to. Sometimes his Diogenes stood
out with long, black tresses, and delicate
1.-THE form; again the cynic would abso-
lutely forget his lantern, and at another
time omit to light it. Droll business was
1t tor Ernst Won Wolzogep, already the
pride of the younger German artists, and
the admiration of all who saw his produc.
tons.
The young girl, meanwhile, was busily
engaged. Acute as the sex are in recog-
nizing an admirer, do not believe she
had any thought that Ernst was other
than an artist intent upon his copy, so
single hearted was she in her own pur-
suits But this could not last always
The ''Vilage WeddiDgn was finished, and
our heroine, after an absence of week
during which time Ernst was inconsola-
ble-reappeared at the Louvre, and select
ing picture in another part of the hall,
again commenced her labors. It was a
landscape by Salvador Rosa, painting
calculated to cali forth ali her enthusiasm,
and she began it with zeal delightful to
| witness.
4" What am to do now 2" said Ernst,
despairingly. "Be near her must live
but in her presence. What will become
of me now?'
=" You should paint her then you will
have her image to worship"
:" All I! would I bad the right to do So
but | will not steal portrait; | should
despise myself forever after"
by the way, where is your Do
genes 2"
THAT is most excellent joke. It is
the only funny part Of the affair. Ny D-
ogenes, indeed No one after this will
accuse me Of Copying !'
" But what have you done with %
"Done with it? Nothing | gave it to
Laurent to alnuse his children"
Then | must get it from him. l will
give him two pieces much more suitable
for children, for the one which he has,
aud preserve for exhibition, when you
are renoW ned"
"But that does me 30 good now. Let
me reflect; [ do not dare venture again to
copy next her; she would certainly notice
it."
She would not: and that is why ad-
inire her"
We'll, let US see, then, what 1 an to
work ct"
We moved toward the spot where the
girl was sitting.
The dead Christ"
| will rot place myself there" said
Ernst, emphatically. "Why will artists
spend their labor on death? as if represen.
tatjon was their sole work. Believe me,
it is false idea. Life, life always We
have nothing to do with dead bodies"
And he repeated his tavorite quotation.
Look on the other side"
ga sketch of Paradise" That will de.
The t50ang Saviour is there. This | will
endeagor 10 transfer, and she shall inspire
me-"
A short time after this conversation [
went to havre for the purpose of taking
leave OF one of my relations who was about
embarkiDg for America. [ was absent
four days. On my return, | met Ernst
standing at the entrance of our house he
expressed much satisfaction on seeing me.
and appeared, | think, more cheerful than
usual
(Here Franz Won Herberg stopped aud
unused for moment)
4Hessieu1s Che continued), what I am
about to relate was told me by Ernst him
self. | will proceed ana take up the story
from the time of my leaving for Havre,
until my return to Paris-a period. have
said, OF four days.
On the day OF my departure, Ernst went
as usual to the LoQvre, and took his &C
customed seat. He had really done some
J thing towards copying Tin;oret's Paradise,
] and was certainly much improving it. |
have il now in an unfinished state, and
you shall see it.
The girl, toe, was busy with her pencil,
while the very proximity made Ernst
sufficiently happy. The next day Ernst
resumed MS seat at The usual time, but
the young girl was not there. A halt
hour passed, and she did not come. Five
minutes more-Ernst saw her walking
along the gallery. His heart beat tumuI-
tQously. As tie object Of lis devotion
approached, he perceived that she was not
ace upan;ed by the man servant who in
variably attended her. She walked, how
ever, rapidly forward, cast an uncertain
glance around, then placed a chair for
herself, and arranged tor her mornings oc-
cupation.
Ernst observed, however. that her
countenance bore troubled look, and that
her dress was IN disorder, and some parts
Of il seemed to have been recently s0iled
and Graggled with mud from the street.
She continued to wear both hat and shawl
This OF itself would scarcely have attract
ed ErDst'5 notice, were it not for the
strange appearance which the young girl
exhibited. So much was he carried away
by it, that, forgetting his previous resoiu-
ton, he seized his pencil ana commenced
sketching her.
y nile he was thus engaged, and utterly
absorbed in the occupation, the subject of
his sketch rose and stepped toward him.
Ernst co!ored crimson, and, like a guilty
wretch, unconsciously drew aside the pa
per on which he was drawing
"You were taking me ?" she said.
"On my honor" said Ernst, deeply
moved, son my honor, it was involun-
tary;" and he tore the paper in pieces i'm
mediatey. to prove his sincerity.
But DO you desire to paint me 2"
Ernst dared not raise his eyes. His first
impulse was to fall at her feet and pour
out his soul to her, for the tone in which
she asked the question implied willing
ness to grant the favor.
"Do you desire to paint me9" she
again repeated.
Il would ask nothing more in this
world, could | have permission"
at is granted. But you must come