The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1891-01-09

and with such an air of condescension,
moreover, that Ribera was Immediate
II reused from his abstraction; rising
10 his full height he replied, all his old
pride visible In his flashing eve and
curled lip:
Neither wealth nor power. nor
aught that i wont to inspire others
with awe. could humble me or cause
me to lower my gaze; and il you be-
held my embarrassment IL was from nc
other cause than my intense admira-
ton of one of the Creators most beau
tiful masterpieces
ms eve met Insll oI the ioveIy Laura,
and in her blushing cheeks and droop-
ing lashes it could not escape him that
Panolfo's daughter participated in his
feelings. The spell of enchantment was
upon them, and before either had ex-
changed speech the mute language of
the eye assured each that they were
loved. Uneonscieusly Panolfo fed the
flame; for the more eondescendingly
he played the patron TO the artist, the
more sympathetic grew Laura's
chances, and the more anxious she APP
peared to atone for the pain Of humil-
iation oceasioned by her fathers man
ner.
They tell me, SIR, began the mer-
chant, THAT you are not wanting in
talent, but that you are poor and in
need of work | have always taken
pleasure in fostering the arts, so we
win see whether you deserve ones
patronage.
Ribera bit his lip and bowed--it was
all he could trust himself to do. Laura
noticed the scarcely hidden play of his
features. and to smooth the rising storm.
said sweetly:
You are a stranger here, sir?"
Her voice seemed to touch every
chord in the painters heart. His brow
grew smooth again as he replied:
II was born in Spain, signora, near
Valencia. / have been in Rome,
Venice, Florence, and Parma; in every
place / have visited ! have left traces
of my work behind me; wherever the
divine art of painting fiourishes there
have gathered honey as bee from
summer flowers. / am now settled at
Naples, and never intend TO leave it, !"
with meaning glance at Laura.
What induces you. sir painter, to
give this city your gracious prefer
ence?" with n sneering smile.
Although Ribera felt the blood slow
" rising to his face, he managed to
answer calmly That is secret,
signor."
s.You are too curious, father, said
Laura, throwing a little oil on this in
eipient conhagration. "Signor Ribera
doubtless wishes you to infer that he
IoUeS"
Yes, signor. said Ribera, Il love.
and With an ardor that viii last for my
life!n
"A truce to this fencing, impatient
" said Panolfo. Let us come TO
business. Come, my good sir, are
You minded to earn fiye-and-twenty
dueats? But You have not yet in
formed me what branch of Your art YOU
pursue?"
Tell me only" said Ribera. s.what
you think of ordering
~ sign T0T ma lCdreroonS ~
This was too much. Ribera moved
as if TO rise. but an imploring gesture
from Laura restrained him; his anger,
however, was so great that he could
not find words TO say whether or not he
accepted this proposal.
Are you not inclined for it?" said
Panolfo. ..Why it would be the finest
possible opportunity Of making your
self known, and if you have any talent
You could have no better way of show
ing it to the public. Do something de-
cent for me, and all my fellow mer-
chants win give you commissions forth
with"
..Will YOU trust the choice of sub
iect to me?a said Ribera. with sudden
animation. lon no other condition
will | undertake Your commission"
'.Well, replied the merchant, II
have confidence in Your taste; do what
YOU like for me.
And what price do You stipulate
for?" asked Ribera, with a smile of
bitterness.
AS l told you before, five-and-
twenty ducats; and that. according TO
my notion, Is paying the thing well.
Y ou need only make a beginning, and,
if am satisfied, | will let you paint
my portrait too. and double the
amount. You see, | know how to do
things"
My thanks to you.7 cried Ribera.
rising to his majestic heighth. Had
you left it to me, should have said five
hundred dueats as the price; but only
ask to fix the picture | shall paint foi
you for one single day over the door of
Your house and it shall not cost You so
much as a breath You are in the
I L
and | seize the opportunity that pre-
sents itself You may give it out pub
licly, signor, that YOU have concluded
a good bargain with the first painter in
Naples. In a short time we shall
meet again. Adieu, signor. Fare
well, signora.
Ribera slowly withdrew As he
! fingered moment beneath the win
dow of the room he had just quilted. a
purse fell at his feet. 1t contained
/ five hundred ducats, and a slip of pa
| per on which was written in delicate
| characters, My hand and fortune for
the first painter in Naples"
A few DAYS after the occurrence
narrated above, large crowd was as
sembicd in front of Panolfo's house.
Every one was pointing toward it or
elapping his hands. aud asking the
name of the artist who, during the pre-
| ceding night, had erected as sign the
magnificent picture of the Martyrdom
of St. Bartholomew. The enthusiasm
of the throng soon manifested itself in
\ vehement clamor. Never till then had
such subject found such an interpre-
ter; never till then had the pencil of
mortal man scared to so high degree
! of expression and power.
! The news soon spread over the town,
/ and the crowd in the square grew so
large at last that the viceroy himself
! became anxious to know the reason.
| Accompanied, therefore, by his favor
| ties, he repaired to the spot opposite
/ the house of Panolfo, and, seized with
! astonishment and admiration at the
sight, cried aloud:
/ t-Who naiptpd this naastarniacap