Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-03-09

dipping his brush into oil, he advanced
toward the Madonna, who, through the
gloom OF the vast somber apartment,
looked more beautiful and lovely than
ever
"Blot out those charming features
obllterate those heavenly beaming eyes2
No, never! Rather will I endure the
threatened punishment, rather will
undergo any torture than thus annihilate
this most beautiful conception of my
Imagination. The young artists them
selves had not the heart to efface them,
and shall | do it? No, never That lip
lives, breathes and speaks. II I should
erase that celestial countenance should
feel as though had caused the life blood
OF the ever blessed Madonna to flow.
No, rather will prosecute the glorious
task and complete it, let the punishment
be what it may"
No sooner had this thought entered his
mind than Sebastian seized the palette of
Mendez, prepared the various colors, ad-
yanced towards the easel and resumed Ills
fascinating undertaking. The sun rose
higher, and Sebastian continued to paint,
occupied alone with his charming Madon-
ma, who began to receive additional lite
| and animation from his agic pencil.
''Onc touch more here-and there a
| more delicate shade-then this mouth:
on, heavens! it opens-these eyes gaze on
me with a celestial expression-this fore
head, what purity! o adorable virgin?"
Sebastian, lost in his raptures and
oouudless enthusiasm, forgot the hours
that were gliding swiftly away and his
threatened punishment. The youthful
artist before his picture, saw nothing
beside the angelic face of the blessed
Mary, who seemed to smile on him with
mingled look Of app rotation and love.
Suddenly he awoke from his reverie.
He heard slight noise as of persons ad-
vancing behind him, and turning quick
ly round, beheld all the pupils and his
master at the head. He did not dream
for moment of attempting to Justify
himself. With the palette in one hand
and brush in the other, he dropped his
head upon his breast, and awaited in ST.
lence the punishment which he WAS con-
Vinced he had rashly provoked.
For several inmates the most profound
silence pervaded the company-for. if
Sebastian stood petrifed with fear before
them, because he was taken in the very
act, so were also the maestro. Murillo
beckoned to the young men, who could
scarcely restrain the outbursts of their
admiration, to be silent, advanced toward
Sebastian,a and concealing his emotions be-
meath stern, cold gaze, cast his eyes first
upon his trembling slave and then upon
the beautiful head of the Madonna, and
asked him
"Who is your master, Sebastian?"
"You, senor," replied the boy, in an al
most inaudible tone.
Your master Of painting, I mean, Sc
bastian?"
"None other than yourself, senor," said
the terrified boy.
II have never given you any instruc-
tons, said Murillo, amazed.
''You have instructed others in nv
presence, senior, and I could not avoid
learning,' replied the boy, who began
to take courage at the kind and gentle
| voice of his master
"And you not only heard my instruc-
lions, by st. James of Compostella! bat
you have profted by then1," rejoined the
great painter, whose admiration BETRAYED
| itself against his inclinations. "Geptle-
men," said he. addressing himself to his
pupils, "what shall be done with this
boy; does he merit punishment?"
At the word punishment Sebastian
almost lost his consciousness; he raised
his eyes timidly and imploringly towards
his master.
mo punishment, senor!" exclaimed
the young mon, simultaneously, "but
| reward!'
"How shall he be rewarded?" demanded
Murillo.
Sebastian began once more to breathe.
with 1T least ten ducats !" said Men,
dez
sob, fifteen would not be too much. y
said Fernandez.
'Give him a new suit for the fete of
the blessed Virgin" said Gonzalez.
"Speak, Sebastian!' said Murillo, look
| ing at his slave, whose countenance man
ifested no signs of joy at the proposed re-
wards; "speak, my good boy; do none Of
these good things accord with your tastes?
l am so delighted with these people of
your genius, these bold outlines, this ex-
quislte coloring, in fine, with your. beauti-
full Madonna, that I will grant you what
ever you may deslre--anything. Speak
MAKE known your wishes. swear 1t ip
the presence of these gentlemen. By
the ghost o. my departed father, whatso-
ever you ask ofme, in my power to be-
stow, that shall you receive!''
"Ah! my master, i'll only dared"
Sebastian fell upon his knees before
his master, seized his hands,aa nd anyone
might have seen by his half opened lips,
might have read in his large, dark eyes,
| burning with expression, one consuming
thought which his timidity alone prevent
ed him from disclosing.
why do you not ask for gold2" whisp-
cred Mendez
ASK for suit of fine clothes!" suggest
ed another.
"Beg to be admitted among the number
Of his pupils" added third.
A CLEAN ofjoy frightened the eye of
the trembling boy at these words, but be
shook his head and looked mournfully at
the floor.
"Come, come, Sebastian" said Murillo,
while be smiled at what he supposed to
be the indicision of the youth, make
up your mind-decide upon something T.
| At these words an exclamation burst
from the lips of Sebastian; he raised his
eyes, suffused with tears, emploringly to
his master, and said with taltering
voice:
"Forgive me, senior; but oh! grant me
the freedom of my fatherr'
"Your own freedom and his also, my
good boy!" cried Murillo, who could no
longer restrain his deep emotion, but
caught Sebastian in his arms and en-
| braced him. "From this dau forward