Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-02-01
IOWANDA, BRADFORD COUNTY, Pa. FEBRUARY l. 1866

slow pace, and, like Penelope's web, seemed
never to be completed. One morning
happened to be in the room-a rare ever-
at that time, for was hard at work upor
my new landscape and | was struck by
the change that had come over my late
master He was no longer the same man
! There was light in his eye, and vbra
tlon in his voice, that had never observed
before; and when he rose to take leave
there was a studied courtesy to his bow
and manner that took me quite by surprise.
Still, never suspected the truth. and
still the portrait was as far as ever from
being finished
1t all came out at last, and one morning
Hans Nan Roos made formal offer of his
hand and heart. OF course he was refused
But as kindly as was possible, dear
Franz" she said, when she told me in the
evening, " because he is your friend, and
| because he seemed to feel it so deeply And
and You don't know how dreadfully white
he turned, and how he tried to restrain his
tears. | pitied him Franz, indeed | was
very sorry"
And the gentle creature could scarcely
keep from weeping herself as she told me
Of it,
did not see Van Roos for some months
after this disclosure At last | met him
| accidentally in front of the stadhouse, and
to my surprise, for the second time in his
life he held out his hand.
4 good day to you, Messer Linden
said he. a. hear that you are on the high
road to fame and fortune"
Il have been very prosperous, Messer
Van Roos," | replied, taking the profered
hand But never forget that | owe my
present proficiency to the hours spent in
your atelier'
A peculiar expression fitted over his
face.
If | thought that" said he hastily, 81
i should esteem myself particularly hap
py.'
There was 50 odd a difference in the way
in which he uttered the beginning and end
Of his sentences-so much hurry and pas
sion in the first half, such deliberate polite
ness in the last, that | started and looked
him full in the face. He was as smiling
and impenetrable as a marble statue.
& too, have been Fortunate" he said,
after a mements pause. Have you seen
the new church lately built near the east
end of the Haring-vilet p
ing, but had not been inside
Il have been intrusted," ;" he said, with
the superintendent Of the interior decora-
tions. My Conversion Of st. Paul is pur-
chased for the atar-picce, and am now en-
gagged Ill painting series of frescoes upon
the ceiling. Will you come i'll one day. and
give me your opinion upon them p
| professed myself much hattered, and
appointed to visit him in the church on the
following morning. He was waiting for
me at the door when | arrived, with the
heavy keys in his hand. We passed in,
ana he turned the key i'll the lock.
always secure myself against intru-
ders," he said, smiling people will come
into the church if leave the doors unfast-
ened, and do not choose to carry On my
art, like sign-painter, in the presence of
every blockhead who chooses to stand and
stare at me-"
1t was surprising in what disagreeable
manner this man showed his teeth when he
smiled.
The church was handsome building, in
the Italian style which initiates the antique,
and prefers grace and magniicence to
the digmtied sanctity Of the Gothic order
Corinthian columns supported the roof at
each side Of the nave gliding and decora-
tive cornices were lavished in every direc-
ton the gorgeous altar piece already oc-
cupied its appointed station and little
to the left Of the rallied space where the
communion table was to be placed, a lofty
scaf1oding was erected, that seemed, from
where | stood, almost to come in contact
with the roof, and above which | observed
Il H., a. &
so. Three or four more, already completed
were stationed at regular intervals, and
some others were merely outlined in char
coal upon their intended site.
Will you not come up with me 2" asked |
the painter, when | had expressed my ad |
miration sufficiently or are you afraid of
turning giddy! p
felt somewhat disinclined to impose this |
trial upon my nerves, but still more disn-
clned to confess it so | followed him up
from flight to flight of the frail structure,
without once daring to look down.
At last we reached the summit as had |
supposed there was not even room enough |
Tor the artist to assume sitting posture,
and he had to paint while lying on his
back. | had no fancy to extend myself on
this lofty couch So | only lifted my head
above the level of his flooring, looking at
the fresco, and descended Immediately to
the flight below, where | waited till he re-
Joined me.
How dangerous it must be-" said !,
shuddering, " to let yourself down from that
abominable perch
used to think so, at first" he replied,
" but am now quite accustomed to it.
Fancy" said he, approaching close to the
edge of the scaf1olding, fancy falling from
here to the church below"
Horrible 2" cried l.
IL wonder how high it is from the level
of the pavement" continued Van Roos,
musingly, "a hundred and eighty feet, |
dare say-perhaps two hundred"
drew back, giddy at the thought.
4" No man could survive sucl fall, said
the painter still looking over. The thick
est skull would be dashed to atoms on the
marble down there"
"Pray, come away" said |, hastily. "My
head swims at the very idea
"Does it ?" said he, turning suddenly up
on me, with the voice and eye of fiend-
"Does it Fool !" he cried, as he seized
me round the body in his iron clasp-"fool,
to trust yourself here with me-me whom
Won have WrOnped whose life Won have