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

The SIGN FAINTER.
One morning, more than two hum
5 dred years ago, a painter stood before
his SaseIs IN a garret in Naples, abb
serbed in earnest contemplation of a
work he had just completed
II know well enough. said he, with
his hand 20 his brow, sthat there is no
lack of genius here. might even lay
AAFne down at once and die, and my name
fould be rescued forever from obliv-
don.
Ribera had tasted the full bitterness
Of genius unrewarded, and stern pov-
erty had been his lot. Had he chosen
to lower his ideal and paint for the
taste of those whose only idea of pie
ture consisted In that it should be of
great size and contain plenty of bright
paint, he might have coined money.
s But scorning this Ribera remained
poor and proud.
He was still in the full glow of en-
thusiasm, when the door of his studio
opened. and a little, shriyeled old
dame shuffled In. bearing a wooden
trencher with very spare meal upon.
it. and laid it down upon one side.
But finding that the painter took no
notice of her, she at last tried to make
him conscious of her presence.
when heard you talking so loud
" as came up stairs, she said, II
thought should find a real customer
here. But I don't wonder no one viii
buy such picture as that" she con-
tinued. pointing disdainfully at the
canvas on the easel; for it must be re-
marked that old Beatrix shared the
prejudice of many of her masters
critics.
1T is truly lamentable, good Bea-
tTix, that II does not please thee, said
Ribera, patting her gently on the
shoulder.
1T is much more lamentable to think
That YOU are minded to die Of hunger, =
replied the old dame. ..Seanty as Your
saner Is today. / only hope you may
as good tomorrow; but before
-l1at en- happen You must give me the
means, for mine are all gone. And
vet you viii always be saving that you
could be rich If you liked Why have You
not finished that portrait for the Coun-
tess Of Verona? 3 lady who would
iairly have covered the canvas with
goldsfor you, and secured for you the
patronage of the viceroy himself. It
might have been the making of you,"
Don't talk TO me of that woman,
t1faaIf,7X SAID R1flfeTa WITH OEaSfllrf
- contempt, with her modish face
and her lack-luster eve. All, if / had
the young girl to copy whom / met
awhile ago, I would have painted her
sxith ecstasy
s.Yon are fool, said the old serv-
ing-woman; t'happily for You, your
friends have not lost their wits, but
have been thinking far more of your
welfare than YOU yourself have. Come,
2gess yourself now, and go and find
Christopher Panolfo; he is waiting
you.
Who is this manpg
0ne of the richest merchants in
lies"
II know him not
But he knows you well. They have
en- talking to him about you; he has
excellent opinion of your talents, and
ants 70 order a picture of you. This
4as good as ready money; viii you
eject this too, as well as the rest
NO. certainly not" said Ribera-
Ifthis PanoIfo is a Judge, and will
ke the trouble to come to me, he Will,
Eond all doubt, set respectable
ice on this masterpiece before us"
What! you viii not even call upon
mp
Ribera coolly turned to the window
I'd shrugged his shoulders.
mo? This is past all bearing cried
satrix. with the greatest Indignation,
she planted herself before him with
almost threatening air. II tell you
inly, you must go to Panolfo."
ibera shook his head.
All, I see, continued she. II must
you to obedience This shows a
q heart, Ribera. Though 1 made
a angry at first by speaking i'll of
sur painting, you must forgive me,
90 to Panolfo. Here is your
~ds and here your hat, which be-
you immensely when you just
it a little on one side, so. You
de your jerkin beneath your
for it IS a little too shabby to
open daylight. !"
altering on, as if she would
=. Beatrix waited only till
finished attiring himself,
vusting him out of the
him one more volley of
as he descended the
s--=frive at the other end
wn ask for the merchant
Mind you do not forget his
lives in the grand square
sosite the palace of the
are ye well, and bring me
good news You can"
Pano1fo's house, two of
conducted Ribera into a
sed apartment, which af-
rb view Of the spacious
ing it, and of the blue
in the distance, A
andee, corpulent, with
4r cast of countenance,
i Al