The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1870-06-16

: haunted me for the rest OF the day
and came back again in my dreams
said nothing of it 10 Gertrude thai
afternoon, but II had effeetually so
bered my exultation. | dreaded, mex
day, 10 return the studio but to ny
surprise, my master received me ~
he had never received me before -
He advanced, and extended his hanC
to me.
"Welcome, Franz Linden" he
said smiling. II am proud to call you
my pupil"
The hand was cold, the voice was
harsh, the smile was passiOnless.
My companions crowded round,
and congratulated me; and in the
warm tones Of their young, cheerful
voices, and the close pressure OF their
friendly hands, L 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 alb
sence, he said, when | should be 50
wicked as to take her away from him.
recommended my old master, whose
tutelage had recently left; and Van
ROOs was summoned To fulfil a task
that | would gladly have performed
had it been i'll my power to do sO.-
But pOrtraiture was not in my line
| could paint n sleek, spotted milch
COW, or a flock of sheep far better
than the fair skin and golden curls of
my darling Gertrude.
She could not endure the artist from
the first. In vain | reasoned with her
all of no use and she used to say at
the end of every conversation, that
she wished the portrait We're finished,
and that she could no more help dis
liking him than-than she could help
loving me. So our arguments always
ended with kiss.
But this portrait took 4 long time.
Van ROOs was in general rapid
painter; yet Gertrude's likeness pro-
gresSed ut a very slow pace, and like
PenelOpe's web seemed never to be
completed. One morning / happen
ed to be in the rOOm-;i rare event at
that time, for | was hard at work up
on my new landscape; and L was
struck by the change that had come
over my late master. He was no
longer the same man. There was q
light in his eye, and vibration i'm his
voice, that / had never observed be-
fore; and when he rose to take leave
there was a studied courtesy in his
bow and manner that took me quite
by surprise.
Still, never suspected the truth,
and still the portrait was as far from
being finished rs ever.
1t all came out at last, and one morn
ing Hans Van ROOs made formal of
fer of his hand and heart. OF course
he was refused.
'But as kindly as 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 turn
ed, and now he tried to restrain his
tears. l pitied him, Franz-I was
sorry"
And the gentle creature could hardly
keep from weeping herself, as she told
me.
l did not meet Van ROOs for some
after this disclosure. At last
1 met him accidentally in front of the
and to my surprise, for the
second time in his life he held out his
hand.
"a good day to you, Messer Linden"
said he, 81 hear that you are on the
high road to fame and fortune"
81 have been very prosperous, Mes
ser Van ROOs," / replied, taking the
prOffered hand. "But / never forget
that | owe my present proficiency to
the hours spent in your atelier."
A peculiar expression fitted over
his face.
''If L thought that" said lie, hasti-
ly, 'I-I should esteem myself partie-
ularly happy"
There was so odd difference in the
way in which he uttered the begin
ming and end of his sentences-so
much hurry and passion in the first |
half, such deliberate politeness i'm the
last, that 1 started and looked him
full in the face. He was as smiling
and impenetrable as a marble statue. |
"I, too, have been Fortunate" he |
said, after a moments pause. "Have |
you seen the new church lately built
near the east end of the Haring vilet?"
] replied that / had observed it in |
passing, but had not been inside.
'I have been intrusted," he said, |
'wita the superintendance of the in
.eriOr decorations. My Conversion
IF st. Paul. is purchased for the altar
piece, and / am now engaged in paint |
ng a series of frescOes upon the cell
ng. Will you come in some day, and /
give me your opinion upon them ~
/ prOfessed myself much fiattered,
md appointed to visit him in the
church the next morning. He wait
ng for ME at the door when | arrived,
With the heavy keys in his hand. We
passed in, and he turned the key in
he lock.
al always secure myself against in
ruders," he said, smiling. "PeOple
will come into the church if L leave
he door unfastened, and i do not
.hOose to carry on my art, like a sign
Dainter, in the presence of every block
lead who chooses TO stand and stare
It me-"
Teeable manner this man showed his
eeth when he smiled.
The church was q handsome build
ng i'm the italian style, which imi-
ates the antique, and prefers grace
md magniticenee To the dignified
anctity of the Gothic order. A row
f elegant COrinthian columns sup
'Orted the roof at each side of the
ave; gliding and decorative cOrnices
we're lavished in every direction; the
'OrgeOus altar-piece already oc-
upied its appointed place, and a lit
le TO the left of the rallied space where
he communion table was to be placed
lofty scaflOlding was erected, that
eemed from where it stood, almost
D come in contact with the roof, and
bove which observed the yet unfin-
shed sketch of a emasterly frescO.-
'hree or four already completed, were
tatiOned at intervals, and some 9TH :
rs were merely outlined in charcoal
pOn their intended site.
"Will you not come up with me ?"
aid the painter, when l had express
my admiration sufficiently; "Orare :
ou afraid of turning giddy?n
/ felt some what disinclined to i'm +:
Ose this trial on my nerves, but still
aore disinclined to confess it; so 1 fol- ]
owed him up from flight to flight of
be frail structure, without once dar-
lg to look down. &. |!
AT last we reached the summit; as
had supposed, there was not even
Dom enough for the artist to assume 4
sitting position, and he had to paint
yhile lying on his back. / had no
incy to extend myself on that lofty :
ouch; so / only lifted my head above
he level of his flooring, looking at his !
resco, and decended Immediately to {
he flight below where / wiated till he
ejoined me. [
''HOw dangerous it must be" said {
"to letyourself down from
hat abominable pOsition.n {
"I used TO think so at first" he re- {
lied, "but am now quite accustOm-
d to it. Fancy" said he, approach {
az close to the edge of the scaffold- {
lg-''faney falling from here to the [
hurch below"
tHorribIerp cried /.
sT wonder how high it is from the
,veI of the pavement, {" continued Van
.OOs, musingly, "a hundred and eighty c
two hundred" 8
/ drew back, giddy at the Thought. '
'eNo man could survive such fall"
aid the painter, still looking over
The thickest skull would be dashed to
toms on the marble down there" '
'rPray, come away" said 1, "my t
cad swims at the very idea" I
EEnOaS If 0ii Said ha f,Irufnor ouickIV Y