Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-06-04

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
brush he approached the Virgin, which,
viewed by the soft light of the morning
dawn, appeared more beautiful than ever.
"Efface this" he exclaimed. "Etface this!
No; will die first Efface this-they dare
notl Neither dare l. No-that head-she
breathes-she speaks-t seems as if her
blood would flow if should offer to efface
it, ana that l should be her murderer. No,
no, no; rather let me finish it"
| Scarcely had he uttered these words
when, seizing palette, he seated himself
at the easel and was soon totally absorbed
at his occupation. Hour after hour passed
UNDECIDED by Sebastian, who was too much
engrossed by the beautiful creation of his
pencil, which seemed bursting into life, to
mark the flight oS time.
Another touch.' ne 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
forgot the hour, forgot he was slave, for
got his dreaded punishment-all, all was
obliterated from the soul of the youthful
W no vi bOtuluS, saw
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
down his head, awaiting in silence the
punishment he believed he justly merited.
For some moments a dead silence pre-
vailed, for If Sebastian was confoUnded 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 a statue before him:
''Who is your master, Sebastian"
you" replied the boy, in a voice scarce
ly audible.
Il mean your drawing master:" said
Murillo.",
You, seror," again replied the trem-
bling slave.
lit cannot be; l 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 10 conceal his ad-
: miration. Gentlemen, does this boy
: | merit punishment or reward?"
t At the word punishment" Sebastian's
: heart beat quick; the word tJreward" gave
2 him a little courage, but fearing that his
) ears deceived him he looked with timid
: | and implorirg eyes toward his master.
/ "A reward, senorr' cried the pupils in a
2 breath
/ THAT is we'll; but what shall it be-"
t Sebastian began TO breathe.
2 Ten ducatS, at least" said Mendez.
Fifteen cried Ferdinand.
. "No,N said GonZalo; "a beautiful new
: dress for the next holiday"
= Speak, Sebastian" said Murillo, look
2 | ing at his slave, whom none of these re-
: wards seemed 10 move. Are these things
2 not to your taste> Tell me what You wish
, for am so much pleased with your beau
e tiful composition that ! will grant any re-
l quest you may make. Speak, then; do not
D be afraid"
7 ''Oh. master. If dared And Sebas-
tian, casping 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 utterilg.
/ With the view of encouraging him, each
of the pupils suggested some favor for him
to demand.
b ASK gold, Sebastian"
ask rich dresses, Sebastian"
Ask to be received as pupil, Sebastian. u
. a faint smile passed over the counte
nance of the slave at the last words, but he
4 hung down his head and remained silent.
0 ASK for the best place in the studio,
said GonZalo, who, from being the las,
a come pupil, had the worst light for his
: easel.
Come, take courage" said Murillo
}, gayly.
1.-The master is so kind today said Fer
4 dinand half aloud, Il would risk some
b thing-ask your freedom, Sebastian
Y AT these words Sebastian uttered a CRY
i of anguish, and raising his eyes to his mas
o ter he exclaimed, in a voice choked with
, sobs:
I THE freedom of my father-the freedom
1 of my father"
And thine, also" said Murillo, who, nc
/ longer able to conceal his emotion, threw
his arms around Sebastian and pressed
r him to his breast
q Your pencil" he continued, shows
: that you have talent; your request proves
that you have a heart; the artist is com
n plete. From this day consider yourself no,
e only as my pupil, but as my son. Happy
e Murillo! have done more than paint
have made a painter"
e Murillo kept his word, and Sebastian
Gomez, better known under the name O
:. the Mulatto of Murillo. became one of tn,
most celebrated painters in Spain. There
f may yet be seen in the churches of Sevill,
,. the celebrated picture which he had beer
: found painting by his master; also St
t Anne, admirably done; a holy Joseph
: which is extremely beautiful, and others O
n | the highest merit-New York Ledger