Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-03-27

would be no difficulty in obtaining mod
els of painters"
"The models which can be obtained
for hire are beautiful, without doubt.
have sought in vain for the dignity
and purity which I have never seen
united but in a noble lady who would
dlsdain to sit to poor artist"
The animated and ardent glance of
Van Dyck embarrassed Lucy: it told
her that he had at last found the object
MS fancy depicted. The Duchess,
however, had not observed it, and
asked.
Who is this noble lady?"
"The virgin herself, madam" Bow
ing profoundly and giving a parting
glance at Lucy, he added: IF [ gain
the prize you shall see me again. mad
am, if not leave England"
He took immediate possession Of his
apartments, where he could at the same
time paint his Madonna and copy the
frescoes for the chapel. With his mind
full of the celestial face he had just
seen, he seized his pencil and endeav-
ored 10 trace her lineaments But the
extreme sensibility so useful to art
when time has Gained it was now his
chief obstacle. He felt too deeply to
succeed in expressing the idea which
filled his soul. The day passed in
fruitless attempts and the night sur
prised him, dissatisfied and Respondent
In the meantime Lucy had suffered
severely for the preference shown her
by Van Dyck. The envy and jealousy
Of her companions found vent in i'm
pertinent sarcasm; SO that, on separ-
ating for the night, her mind was filed
with his idea, and, after her nightly
prayer, his name was the last on her
lips.
1t was midnight. The heavens shone
with thousand sparkling, stars, and a
dark light spread itself on the old abbey,
which stood solitary and alone among
its ruins.
Awindow of the palace opened, and
a shadow passed slowly along the bal
cOny and staircase, crossed along the
court and reached the monastery.
1t would be difficult to say how this
figure had left the palace and pene-
trated so far; but she must have been
well acquainted with all the turnings,
avenue, and arriving at enc end of tho
galleries Of the chapel, she found her
self in the painters Work-room. and,
passing lightly on. seated herself, with
| out looking around her, Immediately in
front Of his easel.
Oh. surprised Oh. joy! this being so
calm, so beautiful, is Lucy! The de-
spending artist who had been unable to
retrace her features on his canvass now
beheld living model before his eyes
What could have induced her to come?
What idea could have givel. her the
courage and resolution? He threw HIM
self on his knees before her but Lucy
mOtiOning him to rise pointed to his
pencil. Her look penetrated him with
flame so pure that he forgot the real
ity of his vision-his establishment
seemed to him want of faith. Trans
ported by his Imagination to an ether
cal sphere, he seemed above the earth
and in the midst Of the sublime con-
certs of angels; he beheld Mary en-
vironed by divine rays. He was no
longer the powerless artist who had Just
thrown at his feet his unsuccessful
pencil-the artist replaced the man.
Mute and breathless, inspired by mys-
FERROUS strength, he seized his palette
His cOlors gave the form and his soul
the life-in few hours ne created the
most beautiful and most pure of vir-
gins.
When the young girl saw that after
tracing her features he was occupied in
imparting to his picture the soul which
animated him, she rose silently, and
with calm and assured step left the
monastery by the same road she had
come.
Van Dyck, with wondering eyes and
oppressed breathing, made not the
slightest effort to detain her. In his
eyes she was no longer mortal, and in
her departure he thought be saw the
Madonna returning to her native skies.
Enchanted by his execution and excite
ment, he fell asleep in his arm-c chair
On awakening, his first thought was to
examine the canvas. Transported with
Joy at his success, he thanked on his
knees the angel or woman who had so
| favored him. In vain he endeavored
again to impart the ideality which ex-
listed in his imagination. He had so
combined the thoughts of the Madonna
and Of Lucy that he determined to dis
cover the truth, and wrote the following
billet to the young girl:
"Tell me if you are indeed an angel;
| if you do not wish to deprive Of his
senses the poor artist to whom you have
condescended to appear this night, tell
me if you are the Virgin or a mortal ?'
1t was part of the duty of the Dowa-
ger Duchess to open the billets address,
ed to the young ladies confded to her
charge What was her establishment at
reading this epistle r'
Horror p cried she. A child of
high family to violate her duty in seek
! ing a painter at midnight y
! She rang and sent for the guilty one,
but her rage redoubled when Lucy
with her customary gentleness, denied
] all knowledge of the cause OF her re-
proaches. The Duchess, who expected
to witness in her great confusion or a
candid avowal, would listen to nothing.
The alarm was given III the palace and
it was decided that Lucy, disgraced,
should be sent home to her father.
Her prayers were of no avail; a SIM
gle night of respite was alone accorded
! her, and she was compelled to sleep in
the apartment of the Duchess to avoid
! further scandal.
At midnight, Lucy rose as before
the Duchess was aroused from her I'M
quiet sleep and called all the ladies to
witness the confirmation of her suspic-
ions. With lighted fambeaux, the
duchess, attended with a numerous
suite. followed Lucy, who traversed
again the long hall and numerous pas
sages and arrived at the door of the
monastery. Her culpability could no