The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-01-06

poignant grlel at tne cruel separation,
realized that he was not in the room, nor
she in his dear embrace.
CHAPTER II.
The three years were nearly gone.
Katrina had waited and longed and
faithfully loved, as she thought. But
she had not been tried. There came to
Klopstag splendid artist, Herr Wolf
gang Mailer. Fifty years had whitened
his hair and beard, but only heightened
the warm, youthful color in his cheeks,
like hot-house roses midst December
SHOWS. His fame was almost equal to
that of Katrina's father. He had heard
of her beauty and of her fathers jealous
desire to perpetuate his genius in his
posterity by marrying her ito a great
artist since q male heir to his artistic
talent was denied him. The sutton was
gallant and witty and in every way an
attractive lover.
Herr Flamensbeck, said he, 81 I'M
derstand you propose a very trying test
to him who aspires to be your son-in-
law. But will accept it. If fail
shall lose only what do not now pos
sess; if l gain l shall gain what is well
worth a severer trial than this
" You know the conditions" said the
conceited, gruff, old painter. " 1t is
presumptuous in most to present them
selves as candidates"
" Yes, know them,n said the other,
stoutly; land they are very severe. You,
yourself, are witness and advocate and
judge.-ai in oue,N and your prids is res
tanned as hired attorney for you. New
ertheless, | will enter the lists. will
paint portrait of your daughter that
will make you confess me your rival.
" Do it," said Flamensbeck, land she
shall be yours"
When shall begnP''
Immediately"
"Imust have several sittings."
You can have them"
And so it was arranged that Katrina
should sit for her portrait.
Herr Mailer was 4 skillful artist, but
the prize which was at stake embarrassed
as well as stimulated him. His fear of
failure made him dissatisfied and anxious
and he frequently obliterated his work
and began again. He insisted that
Katrina should not know the object of
the sitting; otherwise she might battle
him. So her father trumped up some
excuse-his anxiety that the famous
painter should paint her portrait-and
she consented.
The artists handsome face attracted
her at the very first, and his vivacity, his
knowledge of the world, his wit and an
ecdotes amused her. On his part, he
found himself more and more interested
in her, and was pleased that his dissatis-
faction with his work would prolong the
agreeable sittings. The thought that
they would come to an end greatly dis
tressed him, and he eagerly sought ex-
cuses for multiplying them.
The MOUTH he would say, '1acks
the symmetry it should have | must
have one more sitting''
"But. Her Mahler,'' said Katrina, sit
will never be right, the way you 90 on.
To-day it is too much down on this side;
tomorrow it will be too far up; next day
it will be canted the other way. 1t is
game of see-saw that you play'
ut is a flexible mouth" he answered.
Zone day it says, my pretty owner is
most sweet and amiable;' the next it
says, she is coquetish and shy How
can l in one day catch all the express
sions of so changeable face?''
II thing you catch them and then let
them go, Herr Mailer" she replied,
archly, as if she saw through his ar
tifices.
''Yes, but I feel sure can catch
them again." he replied smiling, but not
denying her accusation.
''But do not understand why you
should want them at ALL There is an air
of mystery which both you and my
father keep"
Il want them-always," he said,
significantly. 'And whether / get
them upon canvas or not, want them
for myself, living; paIpable, changing
every day" 90
She understood him, blushed and cast
down her eyes.
"Ah!'' she said, with sigh in memory
of Max, which Herr MAILER supposed |
was for himself. "You must work a
You must first put them on
canvas, SO that no one can tell which is
Katrina and which is the portrait
hiOW IL, HC SslIl, tuu lCGllDO en- |
,ouraged to speak boldly, added: "That
IS what am trying to do now.'
Katrina's heart huttered. He was a
sutton! His fame would of itself give
life and beauty to the portrait when her
father comes to look at it which he would
not see in the work of an obscure artist.
'Ah, poor Max! dear MAXI she sighed
softly. ...
81 have many misgivings,,' he went
IN, sin spite of my lifelong experience.
Il could but count upon your help
She made him no proffer, and he
painted on in silence.
81 have itr' he exclaimed suddenly.
Il have it."
Katrina started, and looked eagerly at
he canvas.
''Not here; not here" he said, ''but''
tapping his forehead with the stem of
he brush-'here. [ shall need your
i'd"
calais! what can / do?'
81 will tell you" And he did.
She agreed to help him, and Herr
MAILER announced to the great painter
hat next day he would be ready to stake
Ill his happiness and his hopes upon the
portrait of his daughter. He was very
'Xultant and confident now that he had
secured her cooperation. And poor