Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1872-04-05

lNOSc Az AOOA SoAOW
Every much so.''
"Well, young sir. when you have gone
through as much of agony as myself then
may you think Of leaving this world in
search of. another. where, as just punish
ment for your crime. worse fate awaits
you in eternity. Who are you? Whence
came you? Above all''-bere Philip
searched for the tiny cruci6x that hung
from the rosary he wore round his wrist,
'are you Catholic
"Who dares to question it?" EXCLAIMED
the young man, haughtily. Il am"
'Are you gentleman p again ques-
toned the king
by my patron saint, I am. sir.-as
true gentleman as ever wore sword"
"Gentleman or not. you are a Chris
tian. Come, follow me, and I will give
you some supper and a bed for the night.
Tomorrow we Continued King Philip
who. accustomed as a sovereign to speak
in the second person plural, had difficulty
to adopt the first person singular in his
disguise )-that is, will further question
you as to what you can do to earn your
livelihood for the future. There, Gomez.
lead the way"
Holding the rescued youth by the hand
firmly. lest he should escape. Philip, pre-
ceded by Ruy Gomes, bent his step to-
wards the palace.
On his way curiosity; one ofthe strong
est passions oftbis great sovereign. got the
better of his charity, and. notwithstand-
/ ing the young man was so weak as to rem
der his answers almost inaudible, the king
obtained from him the outline of his his
tory. He was, he said. one Alfonso
Sanchez Coelio. native of Portugal, and
a portrait painter by profession. He had
been driven from Spain by order of the
Marquis Don Louis de Mariavalle, Gov
ernor of Badajos. for the crime of falling
in love with his excellency's daughter
Dona Estafania, in whose company he had
been much thrown during considerable
time employed in the execution of her pic
ture. lie had wandered to the Neither
amos T - n ne ncss @ j 55esISIsg =srE.=r
But although he had done all in his pow
er to earn his bread, be had in every case
failed, and for two days had not tasted
food. He was too proud to beg. and mad
dened by want. had sought to free himself
of his miseries by violent death.
The king provided Coelio. as he prom
ised, with substantial meal and good
bed. and the next morning he awoke much
refreshed, to find R1y Gomez by his couch,
holding in his hand handsome suit of
clothes for his service. Vainly did be
question the shrewd Ruy as to the condi-
tion of his unknown benefactor Ruy in
formed him that the gentlemen was named
Don Paez; that he was in the service of
his Catholic Majesty, and that presently,
when he had finished his collation., the
Senor Don Paez would come to him and
talk of his prospects for the future.
Accordingly, when Sanchez Cecilia had
dispatched an excellent breakfast. the
king. still wearing his disguise. entered.
The first impulse of the grateful young
man was to raise the hand of the supposed
venerable Don Paez to his lips and thank
him for his kindness, above all for having
prevented his committing so fatal crime
as suicide. Don Paez listened to him
with kindness. Young gentleman, we
that is. I am convinced that the fearful
act which you contemplated last night was
the result Of famine. which had deprived
you Of your reason. AS we have taken
some interest in you, and are desirous of
providing for your future, we-that is. I
am willing. since you say you are painter
of portraits, that you should take like
ness of myself. But on the one condition.
that it be finished by the day of our daugh-
ter Maria. 1t wants one month to the
holy day of Our Lady Mary of Mount
Carmel. We intend this picture as pres
ent to our-my-daughter. Can you
paint so rapidly?"
Il can, SIR"
my servant will pay you one hundred
ducats in advance for the said picture. He
will also escort you to lodging I have
prepared for you, and to which I will re-
pair for the sittings for my picture. lam,
as you have doubtlessly discovered, en-
ployed about the person of His Most Cath
olic Majesty, and our sovereign often
passes through these apartments; and, as
he objects to the scent of paint, oil and
turpentine. think it more becoming that
my portrait be painted without the palace.
As l am in service about the kings per-
son in the day, can only come to you at
night. Can you paint by lamplight p,
Il can, sir.''
Above all things, mention to no one.
I beseech you, that we-that is, that am
having my portrait painted. Mention my
name to no one. Guard your tongue aud
never come to the palace to inquire for
me; | object to persons coming here on
business. If you require anything ask it
of Ruy Gomez; he has orders to serve you
. in all things. To- night, at nine o'clock,
will be With you. Farewell"
] Before Coelio could answer the disguis-