The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-06-21

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and staircase, crossed along the court ant
reached the monastery.
1t would be difficult to say how thi'
figure had left the palace and penetrated
so far; but she must have been well &C
ouainted 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 herself in the
painters work room, and, passing lightly
on. seated herself, without looking
around her, Immediately in front OF his
easel.
Oh, surprise Oh, joyl this being, SO
calm, SO beautiful, is Lucyl The
Responding artist who had been unable
to retrace her features on canvas now
beheld living model before his eyes.
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
fame SO pure that he forgot the reality
of his vision-his establishment seemed
to him want of faith. Transported by
imagination to an ethereal sphere, he
seemed above the earth, and in the midst
of the sublime concerts # angels, he be-
held Mary environed by divine rays.
He was no longer the powerless artist
who had Just thown at his feet his un
successful pencil-the artist replaced the
man. Mute and breathless, inspired by
mysterious strength, he seized his pal
cite. His colors gave the form and his.
soul the liie--in 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
to his picture the soul which
him, she rose silently, ard
with calm and assured step left the
by the same road she had
come.
Van Dyck, with wondering eyes and
breathing, made not the
slightest effort 10 detain her. In his
eyes she was ne longer mortal, and in
her departure he thought he saw the
Madonna returning to her native skies. 4
Enchanted by his execution and excite.
nj. he fell asleep in his arm chair.
On awakening, his first thought was to
examine the canvass. Transported with
10y at his success, he thanked the angel
u woman who had 80 favored him. In
vain he endeavoIed again to impart the
deality which existed in his imaginao
ion. He had 30 combined the thoughts
# the Madonna and of Lucy, that he
determined to discover the truth, and |
wrote the following billet to the young
,irl:
Tell meiif You are indeed an angel, if you
10 not wish to deprive of his senses the poor
rtist to whom you have consented to ap 4
rear this night, tell me if you are virgin
n a mortal
1t was part of the duty of the dowager
duchess to open the billets addressed to
,he young ladies confded to her charge. |
What was her establishment at reading
his epistlel
Horror I" cried she. 4" A child of 4
high family to violate her duty in seek.
ne 8 painter at midnight"
She rang and sent for the guilty one,
,ut her rage redoubled when Lucy, with
Ter customary gentleness, denied all
of the cause of her reproaches. /
The duchess, who expected to witness in
Ter great confusion or candid avowal,
would listen to nothing. The alarm
was given in the palace and it was de-
,ided that Lucy, tdisgraced, should be
'ent home TO her father.
Her prayers were of no avail; single
hight of respite was alone accorded to
,er, and she was compelled to sleep in
,he apartment of the duchess to avoid
urther scandal.
AT midnight, Lucy rose as before; the
duchess was aroused from her unguiet
'leep, and called all the ladies to witness
the confirmation of her suspicious. With
\ lighted fambeaux, the duchess. at
ended by o numerous suite, followed
Lucy, who traversed again the long hall |
and numerous passages and arrived at
The door of the monastery. Her culpar
oiiity could no longer be doubted: but
hey followed her even to the painting
ioOm, where she was already seated /