The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-05-12

sonle, good-Iempered, educated rich
Now, Franz, if thought you had been
such fool as to form any attachment
without"
"Oh, sir, you do me injusticel" l cried
Indeed, have done nothing of the kind
But do you think-do you think that she
would have me?"
Try her, Franz" said my father, good
humoredly, as he resumed my arm "If
am not very much mistaken, the burgo
meister would be as well pleased as my
self. AS for the fraulein-women are
easily won"
OF the inn where my father was to sleep
were:
Try her, Franz try her"
"FrOm this hour I was a constant visit
or at the house of the Burgomeister Won
Gael 1t was a large, old fashioned man.
sion, built of red brick, and situated upon
the famous line of houses known as the
Boompjes.
In front lay the broad river, crowded
with merchant vessels. from whose masts
futtered the flags of ali the trading nations
of the world. Tall trees, thick with foil.
age, lined the quays, and the sunlight
/
ciOus drawing-room of Gertrude's home
Here, night after night when the stud
les OF the day were over, | used to sit with
her beside the open window, watching
the busy crowd beneath, the ripping riv-
er, and the rising moon that tipped the
masts and city spires with silver. Here
we read together from the pages of our IA
vOrite poets, and counted the first pale
/ stars that trembled into LIGHT
1t was happy time. But there came
at last time still happier, when, one still
evening as we sat alone, conversing in
unfrequent whispers and listening to the
beating of each others hearts, / told Ger
trude that loved her, and she, in answer,
laid her fair head upon my shoulder, with
a sweet confidence, as If content so to rest
| forever
Just as my father had predicted, the
| burgOmeister readily sanctioned our be.
/ trothal, specifying but one condition, and
this was that our marriage should not
take place till had attained my twenty
fifth birth day. 1t was long time to
wait, but | should by that time perhaps
have made name in my profession. l
! intended soon to send a picture to the an
nual exhibition, and who could tell what
l might not do in three years to show
Gertrude how dearly loved her?
And so our happy youth rolled on, and
the quaint old dial in Messer Won Gaels
tulip garden told the passage of our gold
en- hours
! In the meantime l worked sedulously at
my picture. l labored upon it all the
winter, and when the spring came sent
it in, with no small anxiety as to its prob
able position upon the walls of the gal
/ lery. 1t was view in one of the streets OF
/ Rotterdam.
There were the high old houses, with
their gables and carved doorways, and the
red sunset glittering on the panes of the up
per windows, the canal flowing through the
centre of the street, the W hite draw bridge,
with barge passing beneath, the green
trees deep in the shadow, and the spire of
the church of St. Lawrence rising beyond
in the clear sky. When it was quite fin
ished and about to be sent away, even
Hans Van Roos nodded cold encourage
ment, and said that it deserved a good po-
sition. He had hin self prepared paint
ing this year, on more ambitious scale
and larger canvas ,han usual.
Il was sacred subject, ard represented
! the Conversion of st. Paul. His pupils
admired it warmly, and none more than
myself.
| We all pronounced il to be his master
/ piece, and The artist was evidently of our
+ opinion.
/ The day Of exhibition came at last /
had scarcely SLEPT the previous night, and
the early morning found me, with num-
/ Der of other students, waiting impatient
/ ly before the yet unopened door. When
/ arrived it wanted an hour to the time,
! but half the day seemed to elapse before
we heard the heavy bolts give way inside,
and then forced our way through the mar
/ row barriers.
\ / had flown up the staircase and found
myself in the first room, before / remem-
bered that l should have purchased cat
/ alOgue at the door. / had no patience,
however, tC go back for it, SO | strobe
round and round The room, looking eager
/ ly for my picture. 1t was nowhere 10 be
seen, and passed on to the next. Here
my search was equally unsuccessful
1t must be N the third room," said
/ to myself, "where all the best works are
hung. Well, if 1t be hung ever so high,
in ever so dark corner, it is, at all events
an honor to have picture in the third
ROOM"
But though / spoke so bravely, it was
with sinking heart | ventured in.
could not really hope for a good place
among the magnates of the art, while in
either of the other rooms there had beer
possibility that it might receive ia
vorable position.
The house had formerly been the man
/ sion of a merchant of enormous wealth
who had left it, with his valuable cOllec
ton of paintings, to the State.
The third room had been his reception
chamber, and the space over the magnifi
Gently carved chimney was assigned as the
place of honor to the best painting. Tn,
painter of this picture always received ;
costly prize, for which he was likewise in
debted to the munificence of the founder
| To this spot my eyes were naturally
turned as | entered the door.
! Was dreaming? | stood still turned
hot and cold by turns. / ran forward. Il
was no illusion. There was my picture
my own picture in its modest little frame
installed In the chief place in the gal
leryl
And there, too, was the official care
stuck i'm the corner, with the words
"Prize Painting" printed upon it i'll
I shining gold frame. / ran down the stair
and bought a catalogue, that my eye
might be gladdeDed by confirmation O
this Joy. And there sure enough wa
printed at the commencement, Annua
Prize Painting-View in Rotterdam-No
127-FranZ Linden"
/ could have wept for Joy. ] was neve
tired looking at my picture. L walked
from one side to the other, | retreated,
advanced closer to it, l looked at it il
every possible light, and forgot all but m,
happiness.
"A very charming picture" said voic
at my elbow.
1t was an elderly gentleman, with gol'
spectacIes and an umbrella.
1 colored up and said falteringly:
"Do you think so?'
81 do, sir" said the old gentleman.
am an amateur am very fond of pic
lures. presume that you are also an al
mirer of art?"