San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-07-15
MURILLO'S SLAVE.

| my alur' Ana the IrrJIe mufaJco threw
himself upon the matwhich served him for
a bed, where he soon fell fast asleep
Sebastian awoke at daybreak; it was
only o'clock; any other boy would prob
ably have gone to sleep again. Not so
Sebastian, who had but three hours he
could call his own.
Courage, courage, Sebastian he eX-
claimed, as he shook himself awake; three
hours are thine-only three hours! Then
profit by them, the rest belong to thy mas
ter, slave Let me at least be my own mas
ter for three short hours. To begin, these
figures must be effaced." And Selling a
brush he approached the Virgin, which,
viewed by the soft light of the morning.
dawn. appeared more beautiful than ever
"Eiface this!' he exclaimed. "Etface this!
No; will die frStl Efface this-thcy dare
not! Neither dare |. No--that head-she
breatheS-She speaks-it seems as if her
blood would flow if should offer to etface
it, and that | should be her murderer. No,
no, no: rather let me finish it,"
Scarcely had he uttered these words
when, Selling Il palette, he seated himself
at the easel and WAS soon totally absorbed
st his occupation. Hour after hour passed
unheedad by Sebastian, who was too much
engrossed by the beautiful creation of his
pencil, which seemed bursting into life, to
mark the flight of time.
"Ano5her touchr' he exclaimed. "a
soft shade here; now the mouth. Yes
there! 1t opens those eyes; they pierce me
through! What forehead! What deli
cacy! Oh, my beautiful" and Sebastian
u hal h, pla TO-.
got his dreaded punishment-all, all was
obliterated from the soul of the youthful
artist, who thought of nothing, saw moth
ing, but his beautiful picture.
But who can describe the horror and
CONSERVATION of the unhappy slave when,
on suddenly turning round, he beheld all
the pupils, with his master at their head,
standing beside him.
Sebastian never once dreamed of Justify
ing himself, and, with his palette in one
hand and his brushes in the other, he hung
dewn his mead, awaiting in silence the
punishment he believed he justly merited.
For some moments a dead silence pre-
vailed, for if Sebastian was COMPOUNDED at
being caught in the commission of such
fragrant crime, Murillo and his pupils were
not less astonished at the discovery they
had made.
Murillo, having with a gesture of the
hand imposed silence on his pupils, who
could hardly restrain themselves from Civ
ing way to their admiration, approached
Sebastian and, concealing his emotion,
said in a cold and severe tone, while he
looked alternately from the beautiful head
of the Virgin to the terrified slave who
stood like statue before him:
"Who is your master, Sebastian"
"You," replied the boy, in a voice scarce
ly audible.
II mean your drawing master?" said
Murillo."
"You, senor," again replied the trem-
bling slave.
st cannot be; never gave you lessons"
said the astonished painter.
But you gave them to others, and ]
listened to them," rejOined the boy, EN-
boldened by the kindness of his master.
and you have done better than listen,
you have profited by them" exclaimed
Murillo, unable longer to conceal his ad
miratiOn. Gentlemen, does this boy
merit punishment or reward?"
At the word punishment" Sebastian's
heart beat quick; the word reward" gave
him little courage, but fearing that his
ears deceived him he looked with timid
and implOring eyes toward his master.
"A reward, senOrr' cried the pupils in
breath.
That is well; but what shall it be?"
Sebastian began to breathe.
'ren ducats, at least" said Mendez.
"Fifteen!" cried Ferdinand.
NO" said GOnzalO; "a beautiful new
dress for the next holiday"
Speak, Sebastian" said Murillo, look
ing at his slave, whom none of these re
wards seemed to move. Are these things
not to your taste? Tell me what you wish
for. | am so much pleased with your beau
tiful composition that will grant any re-
quest you may make. Speak, then; do not
be afraid"
"Oh, master, if dared"- And Sebas-
tian, clasping his hands, fell at the feet of
his master
1t was easy to read in the half opened
lips of the boy and his sparkling eyes some
devOuring thought within which timidity
prevented him from uttering.
With the view of encouraging him, each
of the pupils suggested some favor for him
to demand.
ASK gold, Sebastian"
ASK rich dresses, Sebastian"
Ask to be received as pupil, Sebastian"
\ faint smile passed over the cOunte-
nance of the slave at the last words but he
hung down his head and remained silent
Ask for the best place in the studio"
said Gonzalo, who, from being the last
come pupil, had the worst light for his
easel.
Come, take courage" said Murillo,
gayly.
"The master is so kind today" said Fer
dinG.d half aloud, II would risk some
thing-ask your freedom, Sebastian"
At these words Sebastian uttered cry
of anguish, and raising his eyes to his mas