The Worthington advance., 1879-05-29

> He took immediate possession Of his
apartments, where he could at the same
time paint his Madonna and copy the
I.frescoes for the chapel. With his mind
full Of the celestial face he had: just seen,
he seized his pencil: and endeavored to
trace her lineaments. But the extreme
sensibility %, useful to art when time has
calmcd2 it was now His chief obstacle.
He felt too deeply to succeed in express
ing the idea'f which filed his soul. The
day passed in. .fruitless attempt and the
night surprised him dissatisfied and de-
spondcnt. - '''' ''''''
In the mean time Lucy had suffered
severely for the preference shown her BY
Van Dyck!'i The envy and Jealousy Of
her companions found vent in, imperti-
nent sarcasm; so that, on separating for
the night, her mind was. filled, with this
idea, and, after her nightly prayer, lis
name was last upon her lips. '''<',' - -,
ut It was midnight. The heavens shone
with thousand sparkling stars, and a
dark light settled itself ,on the old abbey,
which stood solitary? and alone among its
ruins. 49,,
A window Of, the palace opened, and a
shadow passed slowly along the balcony
and staircase, crossed along the court and
reached the outer monastery. ,,G.
1t would be difficult to say, how this
figure had left the palace and penetrated
50 tar; put she must have been wei Il ac-
quainted with all the tlrnings, for in a
short time she crossed the long avenue,
and, arriving at one end Of the galleries
of:thc chapel, she found herself, without
looking around her, immedistely in front
6h, t1 sufprlsae:! la:! OH, joy! this being, b;si so
calm, So beautiful, is Lucy! The de-
spending artist who had been unable to
retrace her features on 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 himself on his knees
before her, but Lucy, motioning him to
rise, pointed to his pencil. Her look
penetrated him with Il flame so pure that
he forgot the reality Of his yision-his
astonisl.ment seemed to him want of
faith. Transported by his imagination
to an ethereal sphere, he seemed above
the earth and in the midst of the sublime
concerts OF angels; he behold Mary
environed by divine rays. He was no
longer the powerlcss artist who had Just
thrown at his feet his unsuccessful pencil
the artist replaced the man: Mute and
breathless, inspired by mysterious
strength, he seized his palette His colors
gave the form and his soul the lifc-in a
few hours he created the most beautiful
and the most pure of virgins.
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 a 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 slight
est effort to detain her. In his eyes she
was no longer mortal, and in her depart
ure he thought he saw the Madonna re-
turning to her native skies. Enchanted
by his execution and excitement, hc fell
asleep in his armchair. On awakening,
his first thought was to examine the can
vas. Transported with joy at his success,
he thanked, on his kness, the angel or
woman who had so favored him. In vain
he endeavored again to impart the idcali-
ty which existed in his Imagination. lie
had so combined the thoughts OF the
Madonna and of Lucy that he determined
to discover the truth, and wrote the fol-
lowing billet to the young girl:
kINo1l sp . /
you do not wish to deprive of his senses
the poor artist to whom you have con-
descended to appear this night, tell me if
you are the Virgin or mortal!'
1t was part Of the duty of the dowager
duchess to open the billets addressed to
the young ladies cotided to her charge.
What was her astonishment at reading
this epistle!
"Horror!' cried She "A child of high
family to violate her duty in seeking a
painter at midnight!'
but her rage redoubled when Lucy. with
her customary gcntlcness, denied all
knowledge Of the cause Of her reproachcs.
The duchess, who expected to witness in
her great confusion or candid avowal,
would listen to nothing. The alarm was
given in the palace and it was decided
that Lucy, disgraced, should he sent home
to her father.
Her prayers were of no avail; single
night Of respite was alone accorded to
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 reused from her unquiet
sleep, and called all the ladies to witness
the confirmation of her suspicious. With
lighted flambaux, the duchess, attended
by numerous suite, followed Lucy, who
travcrsed again the long hall and numer-
GUS passages and arrived at the door of
the monastery. Her culpability could no
longer be doubted; but they followed her
even to the painting room, where she was
already seated before the easel The noise
around her and the Milliancy of the lights
awokc her in fright She was SOM
nambulist.
Thus unconsciously had she served as a
model the artist, who fully repaid in love
what she had given him in renown. He
obtained the prize and was loaded down
at the court with honors and riches.
A few days afterward, there was cele-
brated at st. Paul's the union of Van
Dyck and Lucy, the daughter of the noble
Count Ruthven.-Neo York Graphic.
An appreciative mind can throw a
world Of Pathos into very ordinary state
ment eyes" said he. leaning over the