Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-05-13

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We stopped before large painting thai
occupied the next best position to my
l. own, Itwas my masters work, the Con
!. version of st. Paul, and while wal
9 telling him of my studies in the ateEter o.
the painter, q man started from before u,
U and glided away, but not before l haC
seen and recognized the pale countenanct
i of Van Roos.
There was something In the expression
Q OF his face that shocked me-somethine
that stopped my breath and made me
shudder. What IL was-I scarcely knew
but the glare of his dark eyes and the
quivering passion of his lips haunted me
for the rest of the day, and came back
again in my dreams
said nothing of it to Gertrude that af
ternoon, but it had effectually sobered
my exultation. l dreaded next day to re-
turn to the studio; but to my surprise my
master received me as he never had re.
ceived me before. He advanced and ex.
tended his hand to me.
8 Welcome, Franz Linden" he said,
) smiling, =" am proud to call you my pu-
pill"
The hand was cold, the voice was harsh,
the smile was passionless. My compa-
mons crowded round and congratulated
me, and in the warm tones oftheir young,
cheerful voices, and the close pressure of
their friendly hands, forgot all that had
troubled me in the manner of Van Roos.
Not long after this event Gertrude's
father desired to have her portrait painted
to console him for her absence, he said,
when l should be so wicked as to take
her away from him. recommended my
old master, whose tutelage had recently
left, and Van RoOs was summoned to fill a
task that would gladly have performed
had it been in my power to do 80. But
po1traiture was not in my line. | could
paint a sleek, spotted milch COW or a
drove of sheep far better than the fair
skin or the golden curls of my Ger
trude.
She could not endure the artist from the
first In vain 1 reasoned with her-all
was of no use, and she used to say at the
end of every such conversation, that she
wished the portrait was finished, and that
she could no more help disliking him
than-than she could help loving me. And
so our arguments always ended with
kiss.
But this portrait took long time Van
Roos was in general rapid painter, yet
Gertrude's likeness progressed at a very
slow pace, and like Penelope's web,
seemed never to be completed.
One morning l happened to be in the
room-a rare event at that time, for | was
hard at work upon 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 vibration in his voice
that l had never observed before, and
when he rose to take leave there was a
studied courtesy in his bow and manner
that took me quite by surprise.
nH hn frt1t Nd
still the portrait was as far as it ever was
from being finished.
1t all came ouS at last, and one morning
Hans Van 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 you don't know how dreadfully pale |
he turned, and how he tried to restrain |
his tears. l pitied him, Franz-indeed, 1
was sorry"
And the gentle creature could scarce
keep from weeping herself as she told me.
did not see Van Roos for some months
after this disclosure.
At last l met him in front of the Stadt |
House, and, to my surprise, for the second
time in his life he extended his hand.
"a good day to you, Messer Linden"
said he; 81 hear that you are on the high
road to fortune"
az have been very fortunate, Messer
Van Roos," replied, taking the proffered
hand; "but l shall never forget that l |
owe my present efficiency to the hours
spent in your dtttter."
A peculiar expression fitted over his
face.
"If thought that" he said hastily, 81
L should esteem myself particularly
happy"
"There was 30 odd difference in the
way in which he uttered the beginning
and end of this sentence-so much hurry
and passion in the first half, such delib-
crate politeness in the last, that started
and looked him full in the face. He was
as smiling and impenetrable as marble
statue.
81, too, have been fortunate" he said,
after moments pause. "Have you
seen the new church lately built at the
east end of the Haring vliet?"
replied that l observed it in passing
but had not been inside.
=" have been intrusted," he said, after
moments pause, with the superin-
tendence of the interior decorations My
Conversion of st. Paul is purchased for
the altar-piece, and l am now engaged in
painting series of frescoes upon the cell
ing. Will you come in some day and give
me your opinion upon them ?"
professed myself much t1attered, and
appointed to meet him in the church on
the following morning.
He was waiting for me at the door,
when l arrived, with a heavy key in his
hand. We passed in, and he turned the
key IN the lock.
always secure myself against intrud-
ers," he said, smiling. "People will
come into the church if leave the doors
untastened, and | do not choose to carry
on my art like sign painter, in the pres
ence of every blockhead who chooses to
stand and stare at me-"
1t was surprising in what disagrceable
manner this man would show his teeth
when he smiled.
The church was handsome building
in that Italian style which initiates the
antique, and prefers magnificence to the
dignified sanctity of the Gothic order. A
row Of elegant Corinthian columns sup
ported the roof at each side of the nave,
gliding and decorative cornices were Law
ished in every direction.
The gorgeous altar-piece already occu-
pied its appointed station, and little to
the left of the rallied space, where the +
communion taOle was TO be placed, a scat
fold was erected, that seemed from where
l stood to almost come in contact with
the roof, and above which observed the
yet unfinished sketch of mastery con-
ception.
Three or four more, already completed,
were stationed at regular intervals, and
some others were merely outlined in char
coal upon their intended sites. -
"Will you not come -np-With me?"
asked the painter, when / had expressed
my admiration sufficiently, "or are you
afraid Of turning giddy%
ltelt some what dsinclined to impose the Z
trial on my nerves, but still more Inclined
to accept 1t but followed him from fight
to flight of the frail structure without dar-
ing to look down.
AT last we reached the summit and, az
l had supposed, there was hardly room
enough for the artist to assume a sitting