The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-09-03

pr.0r. d told you be belonged no
longer 10 tie world; but that does not
sgniiy-n
-He j. lviag, ThenI must know
him.
30 what cnd7 lie has renOunced
al that belongs 70 this lhe-he has
nothing more 70 do With the world
Let bin dc IN peace"
aYou ask a strange thing Of me.
father. When God lights the sacred
Gre Of gcuirs in . hunaa soul. Il Is not
that g mar Be hidden under : bushel
and 70 out IN darkness. L should ac-
complish is divine mission and give
/ ughi 20 other men. Tell nc the mon
assery where this great artist hides
/ himself l viii seek him out he
nust be giTca back 70 his country,
I What glorious fame awaits himf'
And. +" said the prior IN low voice,
what 4 be should refuse itg
III he should. ! shall apply 20 the
Pope. who honors mo with bis friend
shlp. and perhaps his Holiness may
I con vince him
..Ah. you sec was right in refusing
70 give you hls name. or that Of the
/ monastery 10 which he conceals him
self"
Then. father" cried Rubens. q
| fash mounting 70 his brow, perhaps
the Pope aud the king may induce you
% break your silence. shall see tha
s; be done. ~
"Ol. no. no. you vii not DO thil
thing. Senior RuOcnsl' exclaimed the
monk. ut will be wrong-ve-y wrong
Take the picture. il you like. but leav'
him. who is 90 rest. in peace to thi
. end I speak in the name Of God
Yes, I have known this great man a
| Won call him-this wretchcd blind NOR
tal. as call him-loved him, comfort
al him. redeemed him from amid tn
waves Of earthly passions and miserie
where be was drowning. There was
time when be had forgotten God. Not
he IS very near 20 eternal Dlessednes.
1 Glory, fame. DO you know Of create
ones than those 20 which he aspires
| WHIST richt have you 10 seek to milan
Z once more with earthly vanities sol
in which there now only burns the lOy
Of God? DO you know the anguish
the bitterness. the supreme disillusior
which led him 20 q realization of IL
utter vanity Of all things here below
Would you drag him back into Il
heart Of the fray when he is so near {
, / final triumph
, "But this is 20 rcn0unce inmorta
. ityr'
, 1T IS 20 aspire 90 win l.
: "Aud with what right do you plaC
, yourself between this man and Ia
world Let me speak 70 him-let bin
! decide
! "Wlth the right Of an older brothe
, OF teacher, Of faiher-for | am q
that TO him-I repeat do it in ii
Z 4 name Of God. Respect my right as yc
1 hone for the welfare Of your soul. -
And drawing his cowl over his heal
, the monk glided swiftly up the churc
"Master, said one Of Rubcns' p
pus, who. during the foregoing conve
B.. satou. had been attcntively scrutini
Is Ing tho priOrs features, did 1t n
strike Won shat there was a singul
resemblance between the old friar II
, the dead monk in hat pictureP'
/. 'TrJ'y, you are right" said oil in
q breath
a subtract the wrinkles and Il
"a beard, and the thifiy years which, {
.r master holds, have elapsed since I
ii picture was painted. and | think '
n Shall find that he was right when
said the dead monk was the pOrtr;
"a Of the artist himself, and, morcov'
,r tina. Il IS the work Of none other CHI
n- the prior OF this convent
Do Bu1ons. somber. shamed. and dee
10 w moved. looked after the rctreatil
b. form Of the old man. Before disu
us poaring the monk turned. and crossi
Of his arms on his chest bowed low 10 I
M painter.
1T is ho-ycs, yes, murmured I
0s bcns. Come. let us go. That man
be right What Is the greatness that
no have rs compared to hisP Let him {
V- In peace
.ly Aud with o last look at tho wond
ful canvas he loft the church and
a paired 90 the palace. where he was
he dine with tho King and queen.
ch Three days later Rubens. alone a
unattended, made his WAY back to
M modest chapel, once more TO see
nd wonderful picture and TO speak TO
artist.
III But the painting no longer hung
mo its place.
In the nave of the chapel stood
w bier. and around IL kne,t all the me
mt beers Of the community, chanting
I office Of the dead.
ire The master approached. On the b
I'D lay the prior.
To-. 'Ho was a great painter" said
6o bens, after o long pause, filled by ms
IN. mixed emotions. "Now is the ii
nm when he looks most like his work.