The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-04-04

will copy undisturbed. In summer,
also, you shall have a fit residence, be-
sides pension from the Government.
This, 1 think, is paying an artist pretty
WELL"
"Art cannot be paid for my Lady
Duchess, and, if purchased the talents
ttwhich aspire, the favors which you
boast could not purchase Them
This is all very well-you are proud
and we are noble, but, nevertheless,
these honors are conditional. You will
be chosen painter to the Queen if you
succeed in gaining the prize which is
offered for the most perfect head of the
Madonna"
All! madam, if the patronage of her
Majesty is offered me only on those con-
ditions / shall not obtain it,"
And why not?"
because 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 Savior? Where shall /
find model" AS he pronounced
these words his eyes rested on the an
gelic face of Lucy. 81 have hitherto
sought in vain the combination 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 I 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.
I have sought in vain for the dignity
and purity which have never seen uni
ted but in a noble lady who would dis
dain 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 had 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: eff 1 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 fate he had Just
seen, he seized his pencil and endeav-
ored to trace her ineaments. 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
filed his soul. The day passed in fruit
less attempt and the night surprised
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 separat-
ing for the night, her mind was filed
with his idea, and, after ner 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.
A window of the palace opened, and
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,
for in 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 Lucyl The de-
spending artist who had been unable to
retrace her features on his canvas now
beheld living model before his eyes.
What could have induced her to come?
What idea could have given 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 80 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 ethe-
real 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-
terious strength, he seized his palette.
His colors gave the form and his soul
the ife-in few hours he 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
evea aha waa M 1on0ar Mortal ood ~,