Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-06-04

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twist the band of his trousers without re-
plying.
'Ah, you don't choose to answer" said
Murillo, pulling his ear.
No one. master, no one," replied the
trembling Sebastian, with eagerness.
THAT Is falsea' exclaimed Murillo.
"No one but p>e, | swear to you, master"
| cried the mu1atto, throwing himself on his
knees in the middle ofthe studio and hold
| ing out his little hands in duplication be-
| fore his master.
Listen to me-" pursued Murillo. 81
wish to know who has sketched this head
of the Virgin and all the figures which my
| pupils find every morning here on coming
TO the studio. This night, in place of GO
| ing to bed, you shall keep watch; and if by
tomorrow you do not discover who the
culprit is you shall have twenty-five
strokes from the lash. You hear-I have
said it; now go and grind the colors; and
you, gentlemen, to work"
From the commencement till the termi-
| nation of the hour of instruction Murillo
was too much absorbed with his pencil to
| allow word to be spoken but what re-
| garded their occupation, but the moment
| he disappeared the pupils made ample
amends for this restraint, and as the I'M
known painter occupied all their thoughts
| the conversation naturally turned to that
subject.
Beware, sebastian, of the LASH" said
Mendez, land watch for the culprit, but
| give me the Naples yellow"
You do not need it, Senior Nendez.
You have made it yellow enough already.
| And as to the cuprit have already told
! you that il is the Zombi'
Are these negroes fools or asses with
their Zombi;" said Gonzalo, laughing,
pray, what is a Zombi,"
"Oh, an imaginary being, of course. But
! take care, Senior Gonzalo," continued Sc
bastian, with mischievous glance at his
easel, for it must be the Zombi who has
| stretched the left arm of your st. John to
such a length that, if the right resembles
! it, he will be able.to unite his shoestrings
without STOPPING"
do you know gentlemen" said Isturitz,
as he glanced at the painting, that the re-
marks of Sebastian are extremely just, and
much to the point>"
"Oh, they say that negroes have the face
of an ape and the tongue of a parrot" re-
joined GonZaio, in tone of indifference.
with this distinction" observed Ferdi-
nand, that the parrot repeats by rote,
while Sebastian has judgment in his re-
marks
Like the parrot, by chance" returned
Gonzalo.
who knows" said Mendez, who had
not digested the Naples yellow, that from
grinding the colors he may one day aston
ish us by showing he knows one from an
others"
ITO know one color from another and to
know how to use them are two very diff
ferent things replied Sebastian, whom
the liberty of the studio allowed to join in
|
truth obliges US to confess that his taste
was so exquisite, his eye so correct, that
many of them did not disdain to follow the
advice he frequently gave them RESPECTING
their paintings. Although they sometimes
amused themselves by teasing the little
mulatto, he was great favorite with them
all; and this evening, on quitting the
stTdio each giving him a friendly tap on
the shoulder counseled him to keep strict
watch and catch the Zombi for fear of the
lash.
1t was night, and the studio of Murillo
the most celebrated painter in Seville-this
studio, which during the day was so cheer.
sul and animated-was now silent as the
grave. \ single lamp burned upon a mar
bic table. and a young boy, whose sable
hue harmonized with the surrounding
darkness, but whose eyes sparkled like
diamonds at midnight, leaned against an
easel. Immovable and still, he was SC
deeply absorbed in his meditationS that
the door Of the studio was opened by one
who several times called him by name and
who, on receiving no answer, approached
and touched him. Sebastian raised his
ewes, which rested on tall and handsome
negro.
why do you come here, father:o said
ne in a melancholy tone.
ITO keep you company, Sebastian"
There is no need, father; l can watch
alone"
But what if the Zombi should Gomez"
Il do not fear him." replied the boy
With pensive smile.
He may carry you away, my son, ant
then the poor negro Gomez will havenS
one to console him in his slavery"
"Oh, how sad-how dr,adfulit is to be {
slaver' exclaimed the boy, weeping bit
terly.
at is the will of God, replied the negro
with an air of resignation.
"Godr' calculated Sebastian, as he raiset
his eyes to the dome of the studio, through
which the stars glittered. God ! pray
constantly to him, my father land he viii
4 one day listen to mel, that we may NJ
longer be slaves; but go to bed, father, go
, 60, and l shall go to mine there in tha
corner and / shall soon fall asleep. Coco
! night, father; good night"
Are you really not afraid of the Zombi
Sebastians"
MY father, that is a superstition of oul
country. Father Eugenio has assured IN,
that God does not permit supernatural be
il gs to appear on earth"
! ''Why, then, when the pupils asked yor
who sketched the figures they find her,
every morning, did you say it was tn,
Zombi?''
To amuse myself father, and to max,
hem laugh; that was all"
t Then good night, my son." And hav
| ing kissed the boy the negro retired.
: The moment Sebastian found himsel
: alone he uttered an exclamation of JOY
: Then, suddenly checking himself, he said:
twenty-five lashes tomorrow if do no
| tell who sketched these figures, and per
/ | hans more If l do Oh my God come Il