Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-06-04
MURILL0'S SLAVE.

One beautiful summer morning, about
the year 1850, several youths of Seville APP
preached the dwelling of the celebrated
painter Murillo, at which they arrived
nearly at the same time After the usual
salutations they entered the studio Muril-
10 was not yet there, and each of the pupils
walked up quickly to his easel to examine
if the paint had dried, or, perhaps, to ad-
mire his work of the previous evening.
pray, gentlemen" exclaimed Isturitz,
angrily, (which of you remained behind in
the studio last night?"
what an absurd question: replied Cor
dova. Don't you recollect that we all
came away together"
This is a foolish jest, gentlemen" an
swered Isturitz. Last evening l cleaned
my palette with the greatest care, and now
il is as dirty as if some one had used it all
night"
Look" exclaimed Carlos. Here is a
small figure in the corner of my canvas,
and it is not badly done. | should like TO
know who it is that amuses himself every
morning with sketching figures, some
times on my canvas, sometimes on the
walls. There was one yesterday on your
easel, Ferdinand"
lit must be Isturitz," said Ferdinand.
Gentlemen" replied Isturitz, Il pro-
test
You need not protest" replied Carlos.
I'VE all know you are not capable of
sketching such figure as that"
cat least" answered Isturitz, II have
never made a sketch as bad as that of
yours; one would think you had done it in
jest"
And my pencils are quite wet" said
Gonzalo, in his turn. Truly, strange
49, L. -.
do you not think, like the negro, Go
mez, that it is the Zombi who comes and
plays all these tricks" said Isturitz.
Truly" said Mendez, who had not yet
spoken, being absorbed in admiration of
the various figures which were sketched
with the hand of a master in different
parts of the studio. If the Zombi of the
negroes draws in this manner he would
make beautiful head of the Virgin in my
Descent from the Cross
With these words Mendez. with a care
less air, approached his easel, when an ex-
clamation of establishment escaped him,
and he gazed in mute surprise on his can
vas, Oh which was roughly sketched a
most beautiful head of the Virgin; but the
expression was so admirable, the lines so
clear, the contour so graceful, that, COM
pared with the figures by which it was en-
liant had descended among them.
"Ah, what is the matter?" said a rough
voice. The pupils turned at the sound,
and all made respectful obeisance to the
great master
Look. Senior Murillo: lookr' exclaimed
the youths as they pointed TO the easel of
Mendez.
"Who has painted this; who has painted
this head, gentlemen" asked Murillo eag-
| eFly SPEAK, tell me. He who has
sketched this Virgin Will one day be the
master of us all. Murillo wishes he had
done it. What touch What delicacy!
What skill Mendez, my dear pupil, was
it you'"
full tone.
''was it you. then, Isturitz or Ferdinand
or Carlos?"
But they all gave the same reply as
Mendez.
sit could not, however, come here with
out hands" said Murillo impatiently.
81 think, sir" said Cordova, the young
est of the pupils, that these strange pict-
ures are very alarming; indeed, this is not
the first unaccountabe event which has
happened in your studio To tell the
truth. such wonderful things have hap
pened here one scarcely knows what to be-
ieve."
What are they." asked Murillo, still
lost in admiration of the head of the Virgin
by the unknown artist.
According to your orders, senor," an
swered Ferdinand, I'VE never leave the
studio without putting everything in order,
cleaning our palettes, washing our brushes
and arranging our easels; but when we
return in the morning, not only is every
| thing in confusion, our brushes filled with
paint, palettes dirtied, but here and there
| are sketches beautiful sketches, to be sure
| they are(-sometimes of the head of an
| angel, sometimes of a demon, then again
| the profile of a young girl or the figure OF
an old man; but all admirable, as you have
seen for yourself, senior"
This is certainly curious affair, gen
tlemen," observed Murillo; but we shall
| soon learn who is this nightly visitant.
Sebastian" he continued, addressing a
little mulatto boy about fourteen years old,
who appeared at his call, did not desire
you to sleep here every nightt"
Yes, MASTER" said the boy with timid-
| ity.
"And have you done sot'
Eyes, master"
"Speak, then: who was here last night
and this morning before these gentlemen
| came? Speak. slave, or shall make you