San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-07-14
MURILLO'S SLAVE.

One beautiful summer morning, about
the year 1890, several youths of Seville ap-
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
Iowa. Don't you recollect that we all
came away tOgether?"
"'Chis is foolish jest gentlemen" an
swered Isturitz. Last evening | cleaned
my palette with the greatest care, and now
it is as dirty as if some one had used it all
night
Took" 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"
at must be Isturitz," said Ferdinand.
gentlemen" replied Isturtz, Il pro-
test'--
you need not protest" replied Carlos.
I'VE all know you are not capable of
sketching such figure as that"
"At 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
things go on here during the night"
"Do you not think, like the negro, Go
mez, that it is the ZOmbi who comes and
PLAYS all these tricks?' said Isturitz.
"Cruly," said Mendez, who had not yet
spoken, being absorbed in admiration of
the various figures which were sketched
witty the hand of a master in different
paris of the studio, ''if the ZOmbi of the
negroes draws in this manner he would
maze beautiful head of the Virgin in my
DECENT from the Cross"
With these words Mendez, with a care
less air, approached his easel, when an ex
clarnatiOn 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
OK ressiOn was 50 admirable, the lines so
clear, the contour so graceful, that, com
PAL ed with the figures by which it was en-
cir, led. it seemed as if some heavenly Wis
itant had descended among them.
"Ah, what is the natter said a rough
voice. The pupils turned at the sound,
an1 all made respectful obeisance to the
great master.
look. Senior MurillO; lookw exclaimed
the youths, as they pointed to the easel OF
MeIdez.
who has painted this: who has painted
thin head, gentlemen" asked Murillo Gag
erlr Speak. tell me- He who has
skeched this Virgin will one day be the
master of us all. MurillO wishes he had
dore it. What a touch What deicacy
What skill Mendez, my dear pupil, was
itJou'"
mo, senor," replied Mendez in a sorrow
ful tone.
Was it you, then, Isturitz or Ferdinand
or Carlos"
Isut they all gave the same reply a.
Mendez.
1T could not, however, come here with
out hands," said Murilo impatiently.
Il think, sir" said Cordova, the young
est of the pupils, that these strange pict
ur.-s are very alarming; indeed, this is no
tn, first unaccountable event which ha
happened in your studio. To tell tn
trith, such wonderful things have HAP
peued here one scarcely knows what to be
lieve."
"What are they5" asked Murillo, still
lott in admiration of the head of the Virgi
nv the unknown artist.
According to your orders, senor," an
gwered Ferdinand, I'VE never leave tn
studio without putting everything in order
To be continued tomorrow.