Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-10-10

Aus
al entertainments now received a new
impetus, for Heers could strike the
lutte with a master-hand. Sometimes
the returned prodigal discoursed with
eloquent enthusiasm upon the wonder
land of divine statues, and a sky per-
ennially blue. How they all listened
Even impatient Franz, but most of all
the lovely Anna. Her eyes rested will,
an expression of devout admiration
upon the dark, earnest face of the
speaker, falling only when his soft
glance met her own, which happened
oftener and oftener, The rose glowed
deeper on the maiden's cheek, he1
breath grew quicker, and her smile
more radiant, and thus the "blue flow.
er" Of q first happy love unfolded in
Gerhard Dow's studio.
Frau Katherine was soon the conf
dant Of the girls over-full heart, and,
after the manner of women, she con-
stituted herself the guardian of the
lovers. II was she who arranged for
Anna q seat beside herself in the twi-
Light nj the paE1or window which looked
out upon the street where jacob Heers
was sure tO pass bow respectable
greeting, and then step a little nearer.
Then the housewife s.wot,ld suddenly
remember some important matters de
manding her immediate presence.
There seemed always to be kettle
boiling over in the kitchen, and there
were no such junketing cats in all Ley
den as in Gerhard Dow's house.
Meanwhile the young people were
left alone. Their conversation was
carried on very softly, the little blonde
head peering SO shyly from behind the
yellow violets and rosemary. Some
times mans hand, strong and shape
~, stole IN, and rested upon the win
dow sill-perhaps to set the fower-pots
right--no wearisome labor, surely ;
yet the rosy, girlish fingers hastened to
aid that hand, and so they were held
suddenly in warm, sweet imprison-
ment, until Frau Katherine came back,
and the dungeon opened itself. But
the lovers we're not seldom startled in
a more ungentle fashion. A rain OF
coarser garden vegetables would fall
among the flowers, accompanied by q
shrill whistle, or sneering laugh.
Whence came the these insults7 -.
Gerhard Dow, whose eyes we're wont
to observe so closely every lineament
of the human face, seems strangely
blind to the plain declaration of the
two happy faces, but Franz Mieris'f
dark blue eyes we're all the keener, and
his heart was torn with angry jealousy.
Perhaps he had made love to the
charming Anna more as a pleasant
pastime than in sacred earnest, yet none
the less had his manly vanity received
a painful stab. Such wounds are al
ways hard to heal. Was not Jacob
Heers head shorter than he7 What
q comparison between that slender
form and his own perfect proportions
Did not all the beauties of Leyden de-
clare his black eyes unsurpassed
Had even any one, except Anna Smy.
theirs of Ghent, withstood his eloquent
lips and fearless glances2 And YET
she preferred that insignificant follow
Had he possessed the arm of q giant,
how gladly would he have flung Jacob
Heers back to that Rome whence he
came! Anna no longer appeared with
her accustomed regularity in the
studio. Awoman in love seems in that
blessed time to forget for one thing oil
the most earnest pursuits of her life.
Dow's pupil now often neglected he,
easel to sit for hours in her own little
room, Watching the path of the clouds,
and wondering much how her father
would receive the young sculptor, wher
he should one day go to Ghent, to say
to him, " I ask your daughter for my
wife,"
The master, excited by Franz Mieris',
jesting questions, began to wonder
aloud ut the negligence of his once *
dillgent pupil. It was we'll that Frat
Katherine knew so we'll how to pacif,
her husband, and coax him to let "tht
child" alone. At evening they wer,
always together as usual, and Anna'l
face was so radiantly happy, and hel
voice sounded so sweetfy to tho &C
compartment of jacob Heer's lutte
that the master always forgot his little
resentment.
So DAYS and weeks passed away
But suddenly, one day, Pere Smytherl
appeared in the studio, and IN curt
decided terms, demanded the return o.
his daughter, for whom he had found
an acceptable suitor. he also hintei
at secret information, from some one
that Anna was learning nothing of i'm
portance, and evincing no zeal in he1
work.
But, alas, how pale grew the face o.
the beautiful grill She could not ever
give her father a suitable greeting
Trembling and confused, she stood be
fore him, and he saw with violent dis
pleasure the tears bursting from he,
eyes. Tears were q poor accompani
ment, indeed, to the obedience due from
q child to parent. -, .~e
Anna felt the gaze. of Lucas Smar
riveted ON her face, while she explained
that she.was willing to return with hel
father, and remain the faithful, obedj
ent, daughter, but in reference to he1
future husband she begged that til.
decision might be delayed few years
Frau Katherine meanwhile encouraged
her by signs. -
The old man received this request il
great anger, and cursed at once Ger
hard Dow's studio, and his own foil,
in ever having sent his daughter there
Now she is good for nothing in tht
world " he cried, striking the table
and setting free great cloud of dust
to the distinction Of the master; "fo]
what is girl good for but to be mar
ried? She has learned no more than ,
Thousand others, and now I shall b.
poor all my life, and she with mel"
Anna drew herself up, and cried,
with glowing cheeks and flashing eyes
"Wait a. little, father, before 70,
condemn me, aud insult my master
Let me place before your eyes an evi
dence of what have learned with him
Let me show you that I can earn enough
by my art, SO that need not carry Of
my shoulders, all my life long, the mo
ney-bags of an unloved husband. An,
If I can furnish such proof, then civ,
my heart free choice! If + fail, 1 viii
go home with you to-day, and in on
week l will be the wife of Luca
Smart!"
Old Smythers could only answe
"yes." His child seemed to him
very princess, so proudly and 50 com
, mandingly she stood before him, wit