Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-03-26

conditions L shall not obtain 1t.
"And why not?"
because I shall not gain the prize"
replied he with an expression of sad
ness which was instantly reflected on
the face of Lucy.
"Why do you refuse this honor? DO
you fear to fail?'
"No, madam; but how shall ] repre-
sent as she should be represented the
mother of the Saviour? Where shall l
find a model?,' AS he pronounced
these words his eyes rested on the an
gelic face of Lucy. Il have hitherto
sought in vain the com binatiOn of mild
ness, sweetness and candor which should
characterize the Queen Of Heaven"
The fire of genius which Illuminated
the handsome countenance of Van
Dyck elected the admiration Of all OBJ
servers.
'But [ should imagine that there
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 / have never seen
united but in a noble lady who would
| disdain to sit to a poor artist"
| The animated and ardent glance of
Van Dyck embarrassed Lucy: it told
her that he had at last found the object
his 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: II l 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 sensibiiitv so useful to art
when time has claimed 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
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 a thousand sparkling, stars, and
dark light spread itself on the old abbey,
which stood solitary and alone among
its ruins.
A window 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
we'll acquainted with all the turnings,
for In a short time she crossed the long
avenue and arriving at one end of the
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. surprise! 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 a living model before his eyes.
What could have induced her to Gomez
What idea could have give1. 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
a flame SO pure that he forgot the real
ity Of his vislon-his establishment
seemed to him a 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 a few hours he created theI
most beautiful and most pure Of viz
gins. ae ueE .r.H.-.
When the young girl saw that after
tracing her features he was occupied in
lmpartlng to bis 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. "essa les 81 1fr~s Fsz z
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 he saw the
Madonna returning to her native skies.
Enchanted by his execution and excite |
ment, he fell asleep in his armchair.
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