The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1870-12-19


now his chief obstacle. He felt
too deeply to succeed in expressing
the idea which filled his soul. The
day passed i'm fruitless attempt,
and the night surprised him, dis
satisfied and Responding.
In the meantime Lucy had suf-
fered severely for the preference
shown her by Van Dyck. The
envy and jealousy of her com
panions found vent in impertinent
sarcasms (; SO that, ON separating
for the night, her mind was filled
with his idea, and, after her night
ly prayer, his name was the last
on her lips.
1t was midnight, the heavens
shone with thousand sparkling
stars, and soft light spread itself
on the old abbey, which stood sol
itary and alone among its ruins.
A window Of the palace opened,
and "A shadow passed slowly along
the balcony and grand staircase,
crossed along the court and reached
the monastery.
1t would be difficult TO say how
this figure had lett the palace and
penetrated so far; but she must
have been well acquainted with
all the turnings, for, in a short
time, she crossed the long avenues,
and, arriving at one Of the galleries
Of the chapel, she found herself in
the painters work-room, and,
passing lightly on, seated herself,
without looking around her, i'm
mediately in front Of his easel.
Oh, surprise! oh, joy! this be-
ING, SO calm, SO beautiful, is Lucy !!
The responding artist who had
been unable to retrace her features
on his canvas, now beheld a living
model before his eyes.
What could have induced her
to come? What idea could have
given her the courage and resolu-
ton? He threw himself on his
knees before her, but Lucy, mo-
tioniug him to rise, pointed TO his
pencil. Her look penetrated him
with Il flame SO pure, that he for
got the reality Of his vision; his
astonishment seemed to him a
want of faith. Transported by
his Imagination to an ethereal
sphere, he seemed above the earth,
and in the midst of the sublime
concerts Of angel he beheld Mary,
environcd by divine rays. He
was no longer the powerless artist,
who bad just thrown at his feet
his unsuccessful pencil; the artist
had replaced the man. Mute and
breathless, inspired by my steriouS
; strength, he seized his palette.
His colors gave the form, and his
soul the lite-in IA few hours he
created the most beautiful and
r most pure ofvirgins.
When the Young girl saw that
after tracing her features he was
occupied in imparting to his pic
ture the soul which animated him,
r she rose silently, and with a calm
/ andasSurcd step left the monastery
by the same road she had come.
r Van Dyck, with wondering eyes
and oppressed breathing, made
. not the slightest effort to dctail
. her. In his eyes, she was nc
longer mortal, and in her dcpar
turc he thought he saw the Ma
donnareturning to ernative skies
: Enchanted by his execution and
excitement he. fell asleep in his
armchair. On awaking, his frs
thought was to examine his can
vas. Transpor. ed with JOY ut hi:
success, he thanked, on his knees
the angel or woman who had sc
favored him. In vain lie cndeav
= ored again to impart the ideaht,
G which existed in his imagination
It He had SO combined the ihought'
of the Madonna and Of Lucy, tina
:, he determined to discover th'
!. truth, and wrote tbs. following bil
lot: Ia the young girl ,,ss 90. 100
- "Telr me ifryou are indeediM