The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-03-12

Fatner Eugene mas told me as there are
no such things as supernatural beings"
"Why did you tell the young gentle. k
men of the studio, then, that it YVES the Is
Zombi who sketched those mysterious
fgures?"
For my own amusement, father;
enjoyed their astonishment." ]
"Well, good night, my dear bov," said
Gomez, as he left the room.
Sebastian no sooner found himself
alone than he leaped about the room for
joy. ..-.-
'And now to my work." he. cried;
but stopping suddenly, he paused and re-
flected On the morrow. "Twenty five 4
lashes i'll do not tell who has sketched I
these figures; and double that number.
perhaps, if ! confess myself the guilty
one. What shall do2" E e. 81 y ! /
Sebastian kneeled upon the carpet,
which served him at nig hit for bed; but
an irresistible drowsiness crept over his
senses in the middle of his prayer, ard
leaning against the mai BILE wall of the
studio, he fell into a profound slumber.
A faint dusky ray of the morning light |
stole through one of the large oval win
dows of the apartment, and fell softly
upon the easel of Mendez. The sonorous
clock of the old Cathedral of Seville toll
ed the hour of three and aroused Sebas-
tan from his slumbers. ANY other child
would have yielded to the control of
WEAKNESS and slept; but Sebastian, who
had only three hours for himself-three
hours of Liberty, leaped from his resting
place anu advanced toward half opened
window to inhale the fresh air of the
morning. .-.-
up, up, Sebastian" said he to himself:
''you have only three hours of your own,
improve them; and the remainder be-
longs to your master"
By this time ne had completely ban
ished his drowsiness.
Terrified by the sensation his pictures
had created on the day preceding, his
first impulse On awakening was to efface
every line his pencil had traced; and
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
obliterate those heavenly -beaming eyes2
NO, never! Rather will I endure the
threatened punishment, rather will I
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. If I should
erase that celestial countenance I 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-
vanced towards the easel and resumed ]lis
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 n agic pencil.
Zone touch more here-and there a
! more delicate shade-then this mouth
oh, heavens! it .opens-these eyes gaze on
me with celestial expression-this fore
head, what purity! O adorable virgin?'
Sebastian, lost in his raptures and
, bouudless enthusiasm, forgot the hours
that were gliding swiftly away and his
threatened punishment. The Younthfu
i. artist before his picture, saw nothing
beside the angelic face of the blessed
Mary, who seemed to smile on him will
!, 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 hi
= master at the head. He did not dream
: for moment of attempting to justif,
= himself. With the palette in one han(
and brush in the other, he dropped ali
lence the punishment which he was con
e WINGED he had rashly provoked.
s For several minutes the most profound
silence pervaded the company-for, i
D Sebastian stood petrified with fear before
u them, because he was taken in the yer,
act, 50 were also the maestro. Murill'
beckoned to the young men, who coul'
scarcely restrain the outbursts of thei
Z, admiration, to be silent, advanced towar,
Il Sebastian, and concealing his emotions be
II meath a stern, cold gaze, cast his eyes frs
upon his trembling slave and then upol
It the beautiful head of the Madonna, an
asked him
e ''Who is your master, Sebastian2''
"You, senor," replied the boy, in an al
most inaudible Tone
,, "Your master of painting, mean, Sc
bastian?" ~% .'~ -
= "None other than yourself, senor," sal
=. the terrified boy. r.. H.. -
- II have never given you any instrut
- tons, said Murillo, amazed.
- "You have instructed Others in m,
~ presence, senior, and could not avoi
10 learning" replied the boy, who bega
-, ~ to take courage at the kind and gent
- voice of his master.
- "And you not only heard my instruc
~ tons, by St. James Of Compostella! bu
y, you have pro6ted by then.," rejoined tn
VI great painter, whose admiration betraye
% itself against his inclinations. "Geptlt
=, - men," said he. addressing himself to hi
~, pupils, "what shall be done with thi
-, ~ boy; does he merit punishment?"
~ At the word punishment Sebastia
~ almost lost his consciousness; he raise