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


''Ah, you don't choose to answer" said
Murillo, pulling his ear.
mo one, master, no one" replied the
trembling Sebastian, with eagerness.
THAT is falseH exclaimed Murillo.
mo one but me, swear to you. MASTER"
cried the mulatto, throwing himself on his
knees in he middle Cfthe studio and hold
ing out his little hands in supplication be-
fore his master.
Listen TO me-" pursued Murillo II
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 60
ing to bed, you shall keep watch; and if 10y
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 20 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 a word 70 be spoken but what re-
garded their occupation, hut. 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
Mcndez, land watch for the culprit, but
give me the Naples yellow"
. You do. not need it, Senior Mendez.
You have ME it yellow enough already.
And as TO the culprit have already told
you that it is the Zomb."
Are these negroes fools or asses with
their Zombi" said Gonzalo, laughing.
PRAY, what is Zomhi:'
"Oh, an imaginary being. of course. But
take care, Senor Gonzalo," continued Sc.
bastian, with a misChicvOus glance at his
easel, for il must he the ZOmbi who has
stretched the left arm of your St. John TO
such length that, if the right resembles
it, he will he able to unite his shoestrings
without STOPPING"
"Do you know, gentlemen" said IstUritZ,
as he glanced 1T the paiuting, 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 TIE tongue of parrot" re-
joined Gonzal9 in a 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
GonMlo.
'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
other?"
WNn0 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
the conversation of the pupils; and the
truth oblices us to confess that his taste
was so exquisite, his eye so correct, that
many Of them did not disdGin 20 follow the
advice be frequently gave them respecting
their paintings. Although they sometimes
amused themselves by teasing the little
mulatto, he was great favorite with them
all: ard this evening, on quitting the
stTdic, each giving him 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
'ul and animated-was now silent as the
grave. A single lamp burned upon mar
de table and a young boy, whose sable
hue hurmoniHed with the surrounding
darkme s., but whose eyes sparkled like
diamonds at midnight, leaned against an
easel Immovable and still, he was so
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
eyes, which rested on tall and handsome
negro. ,.. , . ....
why do you come here, father?" said
be in a melancholy tOue. ......
ITO keep you company, Sebastian"
There is no need, father; ! can watch
alone" r-..-
But what if the Eomhi should Gomez"
81 do not fear him." replied the boy,
with a pcusive smile.
He may carry you away, my son, and
then the poor negro GoucH will have no
one to console him in his slavery"
"Oh, how saG-how dreadful It is TO be a
SLAYER exclaimed the boy, weeping BIZ
terly.
lit is the will Of God" replied the negro.
with an air Of resignation.
"Godr' calculated Sebastian, as he raised
his eyes to the dome Of the studio, through
which the stars glitlered. God! pray
constantly to him, my father (and he will
one day listen to mel, that we may nc.
longer ne slaves; but 50 to bed, father, go,
60, and | shall 90 to mine there in that
corner, and shall soon fall asleep. Good
night, father; good night" ..-.. o..
"Are you really not afraid of the Zombi,
SebastianT ..
MY father, that is n superstition of our
country. Father Eugenio has assured me
that God does not permit supernatural be
ings to appear on earth.
"Why, then, when the pupils asked you
who sketched the figures they find here