Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-05-25

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 endeayored to
trace her lineaments. 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 express
ing the idea which filed his soul. The
day passed in fruitlcss attempt and the
night surprised him dissatisfied and de-
spondent.
In the mean time Lucy had suffered
severely for the preference shown her by
Van Dyck. 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, his
name was last upon her lips.
twas midnight. The heavens shone
with a thousand sparkling stars, and a
dark light settled 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 balcony
and staircase, crossed along the court and
reached the, outer monastery.
Itwould be difficult to say how this
figure had left the palace and penetrated
SO Tar; but she must have been we'll &C
quainted 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 herself. without
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 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 a flame SO pure that
he forgot the reality of his yision-his
establishment 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 nc
longer the powerless artist who had just
thrown at his feet his unsuccessful pencil
the artist replaced the man. Mute anG
breathless, inspired by mysterious
strength, he seized his palette. His colors
gave the form and his soul the lifc-in {
few. hours he created the most beautifQ
and the most pure Of virgins.
4 When the young girl saw that aftel
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 hao
come.
Van Dyck, with wondering eyes anC
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, he fel
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 o
woman who had so favored him. In vai1
he cndeayored again to impart the ideali
ty which existed in his imagination. III
! had so combined the thoughts Of thu
, Madonna and of Lucy that he determined
to discover the truth, and wrote the fol
lowing billet to the young girl:
s'Tell me if you are indeed an angel; i
you do not wish to deprive of his sense
. the poor artist to whom you have con
descended to appear this night, tell me
, you are the Virgin or a mortal!'
Y 1t was part Of the duty of the dowage
: duchess to open tho billets addressed t
!: the young ladies coided to her charge
, What was her establishment at readin,
this epistle!
} "Horror!' cried She "a child Of hig
) family to violate her duty in seeking
painter at midnight"
She rang and sent for the guilty one
but her rage redoubled when Lucy. wit
her customary gentlencss, denied al
3 knowledge Of the cause Of her reproaches
: The duchess, who expected to witness i
her great confusion or candid avowal
f would listen to nothing. The alarm wa
t given in the palace and it was decides
l that Lucy, disgraced, should be sent HON
!. to her father.
s Her prayers were of no avail; singh
! night of respite was alone accorded
8 her, and she was compelled to sleep i
the apartment of the duchess to avoi
: further scandal.
r At midnight, Lucy rose as before; tn
|. duchess was reused from her unquie
: sleep, and called all the ladies to witnes
: the confirmation Of her suspicious. Wit