The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-01-18


before leaving Madrid.
In Cordova he visited the posaaa, in viii.
he spent i've days when he was on his pilgrip
age to Madrid, and also the renowned ol
mosque that previously he had had only tiu|
70 glance at. Bot he allowed the quaint Oh
city of the caliphs to detain him but a day d
the second morning he resumed his homewa,l
day after no set out from MADRID he came
sight of the spires of the Giralda-the pride J.
his dear Seville.
How his heart throbbed, and with what
unwonted light his eyes shone as he gazed d
the familiar scenes around hint Seville! WIN
sound could be moro welcome to his earl
His carriage rolled rapidly through the darIE
ening streets. Already here and there shopE
the evening, lamp through the half-open wia
dows. The balconies were adorned with prett&
women, who came out to enjoy the evening"
breeze. It was Seville-the same glorious a.
seville 1t had been for generations, and is still =
>, The carriage draws up at the door of q FAM
liar, many-storied house in one of the mani
streets.
With imagined speed, Esteban hastened
the narrow stairs. A minute later he was r.
his mothers arms.
Bartolome Esteban Murillo opened a studi%
in one of the principal streets of the city. I'D
had brought several sketches with him frouS
Madrid, which he was impatient to paint +
among them was the Mother Marian al
which the old peasant woman of La Manchl
had served as q model.
For o full quarter of q year he worked on
almost in solitude; no one seemed to know oil
his existence, or to care whether he existed oil
not. All Seville was at the feet of Herrer,e
and Valdez Leal. Murillo did not envy them
OF trouble himself about them he worked and
waited.
Immediately on his return he inquired afte,
the idol of his heart. the angelic Beatrice. shs
was still unmarried, and, so far as he could
learn, unpromised. She had lent a willing earl
to the cults of none of the many noble gentle.b
men who had sought her hand. This welcome
Intelligence gave him new vigor, and he sworsI
more solemnly than ever that she should yetI
be his. He visited the Alameda only seldom
he would not spare the tipe During the frat
three months after his return he saw her onlyI
five or six times. She was more beautiful than
ever To her virgin purity of mien she had
added the grace and dignity of the fully.
developed woman. His she must be, or life
would have no charms for him.
Finally, at the beginning of the fourth
month, he exhibited two of his paintings pub
licly.
The pictures, painted for neighboring con.I
vent, treated religious subjects that had Otter
been treated before but Murllo's conceptiousI
were so fresh and sublime, and his execution
so faultless, both in color and drawing, that
the connoissearS exclaimed, as with one voice
" A new star has risenw
TIE success of the two works was unparal.
leied. They excited ftrore i'll Seville, such
as no works OF art had ever excited before
When it became known that the author of
these two new ideals was q son of Andalusia a
native of Seville, and, moreover, that he had
only just entered the treuties, the enth usiasm
knew no bounds, and there was no name the
Sevlllians pronounced with more pride than
that of Bartolome Esteban Murillo.
Herrera and Valdez-Leal, in their jealousy
did their utmost to decry the aforetime "fabr
Gator OF daubs," but the art-cultured public
refused to be influenced by their unjust crit
cIsms, and u year had scarcely elapsed when
Murillo had dethroned them both forever
Herrera - Valdez Leal - who, to-day, knows
lhOnt al
learned in art, the historian, the professional,
perhaps.
But M9rillo's fame is worldwide, and, SO
long as there those who have any love for
thu beautiful, his laurels will not fade. Heis
acknowledged to have been the
greatest painter Spain has ever produced.
The triumph Murillo achieved with his frat
two pictures was destined to have great ma
terra! results. 1t not only brought him innu.
merable commissions, but it gave him social
position: The first people IN Seville now
sought his acquaintance, and in q very brief
period his position was such that it left him
nothing to desire. Every door was open to
hlm, and his admirers paid any price he chose
TO demand for his pictures.
Among those who extended to him a hearty
welcome were the Cabreras. His modest and
yet al gnihed bearing soon made him an especial
.avorlte with them. He was now on an almost
amlllar footing with the Madonna OF his
ireams-could see her daily, if he chose, and
zach hour added to the passion he had long
for her.
:, 1t was on warm evening in May Sonora
cabrera, somewhat fatigued, sat on an otto
nan, struggling to keep awake.
, Esteban and Beatrice were on the balcony.
mere was bright moon, and the leaves of
ne stately old chestnut, in--whose shade the
,outh, the evening before he set out for Mad
ID, swore 30 solemnly that Beatrice should
me Day be his, rustled softly in the evening
freeze. Esteban was so overcome by the re-
objection of that evening that he could rema
ilent no longer. For q moment he looked
way thoughtfully; then, turning toward his
he took her hand, and, looking
nto her eyes, he asked, in a low tone, tremu.
BUS with emotion, Donna Beatrice mayI
eii you long story 7"
Iou may" she replied, making no effort to
withdraw her hand, while her cheeks Redeemed
a deep crimson.
AND Murillo told her of the last three years.
ow she had been his guardian angel, the prize
II winch he had striVen, since the day her
other gave him the ten duros for the Saint
arpara he told her of the evening when she
ood on the balcony and he under the old
iestnut, of the solemn oath he ewore, and all
8 after. history.
When he had flushed she SLOWLY raised her
alnul eyes to his. paused mo nent, then, in
&c zone scarcely audible she asked:
" and you love me Z"
aore than my life, dear Beatricew
lnen we will be happy; for have loved
II almost as lOnN "a po, 10