, 1874-12-20

6clQ0l
Conrad Lonz stood before the gate rs il
awakened from dream. Tho old lady had
thanked the artist with great condescension
but then that indescribab1e parting glance OF
that charming girl! He looked himself all over
from top to toe. Then he discovered for the
slippers and without his hat, IN apron bound
about him and covered with whole rninbow OF
oil-colors. He looked moro like a lackey than
m artist. ::
toward the house. He inquired everywhere who
the two ladies' uers, but nobody knew them:
After ALL had the beautiful young woman been
taken to the convent to become nun It could
not b. With such look as she had given him
no oue goes into convent for all time.
He saw her standing before him eli day long,
and heard her sweet voice. How should he
ever be able to finiah of Saint Erasmus? It it
wero Saint Erasma now. he might have given
her tho Incompatible features Of the young
woman he had seen, and 30 hare painted the
very vision OF lis soul. Unluckily there are but
thrco females among tue fourteen Patron-Saiuts.
aud ho had painted these first
Conrad brought out these threo pictures again.
Their faces now seemed to him cold and lndif-
maiden in tho romotest dogroo. But tho first of
them was named Catherine, and tho young
woman, whose name he did not know, has dir;
appeared in the Catherine Convent. Saint
Catherine should at least havo her features.
He scratched tho tablet on aud began to paint
saiat Cathofino all over again. But his brush
could, not catch tho ideal Of his soul. Five days
long ho put color upon color; the work became
thicker and more plastic, but. Saint Catherine
grew more unlike the unknown beauty at every
stroke.
Then for the second time he spripk!ed spirits
over the tablet and rubbed it of with pu1nico-
stone There remained only tue eaintly feot and
Abou. half OF her martyrs rock when tho knight
yon Haltonbcrg came in to SEQ rAat the artist
might etill need for lie completion Of his work.
He found indeed; that Saint N;cholus was ail
ready 10 be varnished; bnt, ns m offset, Saint
Catherine had again vanished into spirit.
Conrad, excited but opeu-hcarted. confessed
to tho offended knight that he had fallen in1oye,
and his unknown sWeotheart had left him With
out trace,-Ru within b quarter OF Hi hour.
Now no ped to console himself in time OF
need by ct least making the lost ono eerye cs d
Patron-6ant. 4 atoue would have felt somo
rity for him. But the old man WAS harder than
stone; at all events, he had never fallen in
love in q quarter Of au hour. Ho did not even
begin to storm, but laughed in the artists face,
and left tho room with threatening steps.
Three days after, his answer camo. Tho gate
keeper at tins Cdat1o Ha!tenberg appeared with
tho absolute command Of his master to carry off
Saint Nicholas, with or without yarnlsh, together
With all the res. Of the completed tablets. But
II, cnso Saint Nicholas had again boon scratched
off or Saint Catherine had not yet been painted
on, then tis servant was instructed to remain
sitting by tho painter, and not move from his
side until both should be completed. 1t VISA
necessary to protect tic lively artist from every
interruption.
It viii be- soen that tho relations of the Knight
and artist wcro always perfectly open and hon.
o1ablo: each said to tho other just what Ae
thought, and right in his face. Still there WAS
QUO difference between them; Ono Was like an
old strctcher, because it was a matter OF duty
aud conscience with him the other like young
painter. because he enjoyed it and had not yet
learned to lie. ..r:'.:',.. <
The artist found the knights plan of placing
guard to compel him to paint as novel as it was
savage II the Knight had been where no could
have laid hands on him be would layc paid him
back in kind But he could not hold tho gate
keeper responsible he only did his duty, and.
besides this, he was great; strong rascal. who
could not be thrown out ct tho window without
moro aoo. ..
=: So Conrad offered him chair, aud set bcsido
him jug OF wine and large cut OF cold roast
beef for the poor mau had already ridden
miles aod had eaten no breakfast. His appetite
WAS worth seenE,-the way in Which it attacked
that piece OF beef.
Conrad lgctcrded to be laying tho ground
work OF tho picture Of Saiut Catherine in order
to better observo his unbidden guest, Then an
iaea suddenly occurred to him. Was it not moro
Of. nature that sat before him than to
chase about after. girls picture, spun
OF mir, which lis brush had never been able to
seize2 Said md done. Rariuiy. as it Of them-
selves, tho weather-beatcn textures OF tho old
gatekcoper wers outlined upon tho tablet. And.
When tic outlines ,yero ouco ehetci,rI, Coprad
mixed neM palette OF paints witA rash eager
ness, md began to paint dc MORO. he requested
the gatekeeper to remain Citing quietly, and
the latter okoyed with comic ear2estEess. for ho
For tho rest, no could net no persuaded to speak
! word. for his master had forbidden him to
disturb the artist with his conversation.
Very truo to nature did Lcnz put his ncv
model the tablet, except that he onsthene1 out
his ears Like jachass, permitted pair Of small
bis leather stockings into bucks feet. and
appended lovely little tail from Ills back,
curling around at tho side. By vespor-bells he
had q treakfastlng SatTr all ready, and was
happy IN the conviction that he had again been
able toiurn out picture with his accustomed
facility.
He was not even startled as. ut the very
moment be had laid by his brush. tho Knight von
aalteuborg tapped him on the shoulder. The
lrtists selfsatisfaction Was SO great that he had
1ot heard him approach.
1ou appear just at tbs right time" !" he cried.
ts hc showed hlm tbs new picture aud assured
lin that it was one of the greatest Successes
10 had cyer painted; now the Knight must adj
nit that he could conceive and develop rapidly
,nouGh when ho chose.
Bnt this remarkable man had absolutely no ap-
'reciation-for tho masterp,eco; ho thundcrol
md Btorned, and called tho artist q fool, who
lad lost another day and had painted q gcry
sicl-o'~ the Woods for the holy Catherine.
Leuz could not help breaking out in laugh,
nd laughed till the tears stood in his great blue
yes he looked tic Knight in tho face aud
aughed 30 heartily that tho latter was con:
trained to join in, though ho bit his lips with !
Il his force to prevent it. What doubled the ar
iat's desire for laughter was tho spectacle Of the
atekcepcr, who greeted hia portrait with q re
ounding bray, as il indeed bo wero o real Satrr !
I'D had Just stepped out from one OF the 1dyls
t Thcccritus.
$. You arc rgh. in your complaints, ~ said Con-
nd, us eooa as he had regained his breath :; "it
q positive shamo that should permit myself
0 bo mislcd SO easily. But why did you set so
:rcsistblo 3 fellow before my easel ?"
TIE knight "as now Of tho opinion that there
as only one wayi in which tho Patron-Sain.s
ould ever bo finished Oft tho painter should
ome TO his castle, together will, MI bis working
laterial. There wero few empty roorns wheto
othlug would disturb him !; and there, in tho
eepcst quiet and solitude, could he bring Ais
icturcs to completion.
The painter found the proposition delightful
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