The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1879-12-26

al care for the opinion of any one
who is gentle and earnest," responded
Murillo.
"Hsl ha! And so you conceive the
Dons BeatriE to be gentle and earnestP'
"The tenderest heart in Spain, ne
most crystal mind, the fsirest face"
Perhaps" continued Claudio, mock
ingly, but with half threat in the tone,
"you know all Seville says your last
Madonna is q portrait or that 'fairest
facet"
Murillo looked surprised, as If the idea
were new; then said, then said thought
fully, "Is it possibler
"On your own theory questioned
Claudio. what is in your heart you
put on the caDvassf"
MurIllo kept silence.
Look you, Senior Murillo," Claudio
went on, with determination, "tell me,
as man to man, do you intend pressing
q suit with the fair Beatrizr'
AS man 70 man, Don Claudio, am
bound to confide nothing to you. As
friend to friend, ! tell you, frankly, l
dare not lift my eyes 50 high as that
lady"
THAT'S well, my good Murillo, for
there are grandees of Spain who would
dispute your claim on that fine estate At
Pilas and its mistress with an argument
that's sharp, if not short" answered
Claudio, with q speaking gesture of his
sword hand.
"As for a grandee's argument, have
another as sharp" retorted Murillo, with
a disdainful shrug. "DOna Beatriz's
estate may 60 to dogs, or any chosen dog,
yet she would be what she is-too noble
for king"
Faith" said Claudio, al fancy the
lady feels her good qualities and holds
lovers alOof, save for d suave condescen-
sion sometimes with interiors"
He meant that speech should tell upon
the painter; for more than once Beatriz
had graciously visited the studio. Mu-
rillO's face fell visibly as the words thrust
home; for though he could draw q sword
like any Spanish gentlemen, with the
readiness that belonged to the period,
yet his nature was childlike and simple.
He prayed before he painted, and held
his life 50 pure that, if art had not been
the fashio !, the gay courtiers would have
despised such a very good fellow, if,
indeed, they ever noticed his existence
at all. As it was, the last work of his
hand was the gossip in high circles, and
sprigs of nobility haunted his rooms,
picking bits of technical knowledge to
show off elsewhere.
The two men had reached the city
streets when they were met and joined
by Don Amador, the most dainty of
fops, much perfumed and bejeWelled.
Don Amsdsrs Spanish lisp was 30 very
strong, to show himself q really elegant
fellow, that there seemed danger that
his aristocrstic tongue would grow to
his noble teeth, and he bore himself
generally with a dying languor. But
on this occasion he was actually some
what out of breath, like any common
mortal He had been tiptoeing from
the direction of Murillo's lodging, and
daintily picking out the edge of his laces
with fastidious fingers, he fastened to
say, as well as possible through the i'm
pediments his taste had set:
Santiago! Murillo, 1 saw Dona
BeatriZ de Cabrera enter your house."
The painters quick gladness showed
instantly in his hastened step.
"Has she given you an order for q
picture"
"No."
Santiago! but wouldn't it be odd"
lisped the fop, as he tripped in trying to
keep his mincing gait in time with
Murillo's strides" wouldn't it be odd
if the lady should care for poor devil of
q painter, after all?"
" A good painter is never a poor devil,
my lord. Wit makes gold, though gold
doesn't make wit" retorted Murillo, for
not even the hot blooded mobiles took
offense at AmsdOr. Those precious afiec-
tations saved him many a time, for no
gentleman could quarrel earnestly with
q creature of lace and perfume.
"Women's fancies are unaccountable.
l swear that Dona Beatriz blushed at
the mention of Murillo's name, the other
day"
"Fool! keep still" whispered Claudio
between his teeth.
"Ssntiago! but itsqueer. The estate
at Pilas will go, of course, to a man of
family, a man of taste, man of ele-
gsnce," said Amador, perusiDg his fine
finger nails; but Just think if the lady
should have little sentimental fancy
for our friend Murillo. An alliance
would be out of the question, but she
might take the trouble to break his
heart, eh?"
Murillo, impatient to reach home, had
pushed little ahead and out of hear
ing.
"Amador," asked Claudio, "do you
really suppose Beatriz thinks of this
shabby, pale faced gentleman"
Faith, do; as a pastime merely.
But all Seville suspects whom she will
marry"
"YOu mean" questioned Claudio.
Eyes; of course-certainly," answered
Amadpr, with half.satis6ed cough.
Whom do you meant" asked
Claudio, outright.
"Your humble servant, senor," said
Amador, with an absurd bow, and laying
his hand on bis befurbelowed breast.
Claudio laughed nervously, and yet
frowned. He had expected to hear from
the gossip of the town some confirmation
of his own hopes in regard to the mis-
tress of the Pilas estate. Not that he
feared the rivalry of this fop, but he
knew Dons Beatriz was not giving to
lightly color at a name, and believed
her hand might follow her heart, and he
would sooner wiring that heart than lose
the chance of her hand.
Very nimbly Murillo cleared the stairs
that led to his rooms. Almost as fast
came Claudio behind, bent on being
present at the meeting. Amador had, in
q more good-natured way, the same
anxiety; but haste disturbed both tot
lette and circulation, 90 he hung back,
making an effort to preserve q graceful
incidence.
Sure enough, Dona Beatriz was there,
and as the painter entered she beamed
upon him, and gave her white hand to
kiss with q gracious familiarity that
stung Claudio, to whom she had never
relaxed q severe dignity. He yelled his
anger in the elaborate politeness of the
day, but she took no pains to hide the
difference in her two greetings. As for
Amador, she gave him q touch of rail.
lery and q smile, and the poer fellow
found In that, as in every thing, food for
his vanity, and drawled and shrugged
and languished until he actually believed
In having completed conquest.
Dons Beatriz had come, with only an
attendant, to see, as she said, the artists
latest work. To see the artist himself
rather, might be read in the unusual
condescension. She talked of having 9
portrait done, she delayed and went ovel
the pictures q dozen times, then dallied
with a palettee full of colors, while
Murillo followed her lightest gesture, hi
words carrying out her half Spoken