San Saba County news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1874-19??, 1892-05-06


read 'Juana, regina" and under
meath ran the other, Felipe. rex.
The king by marriage found in his
wife's sketchbook numerous and varied
portraits of a remarkably handsome
knight. Sometimes he was portrayed
as victorious hero; then as a pray
ing pilgrim; and again as a kneeling
lover. This truly handsome face must
have occupied the queens fancy, for
it was often depicted, and in man.
ner strikiugly conscientious and ar
dent One could see at a glance that
the heart had assisted the hand
The visage was not that Of King
Felipe. The face was wholly IN
known to him. Perhaps it was mere
ly an ideal vision of youth such as APP
pears to maidens in romantic dreams
a supernatural being This was Fe-
lipe's first conjecture as he gazed up.
on the pictures; but upon further re-
hection his conception of them be-
came less innocent He was seized
with jealousy, and jealousy and re-
venge 90 hand in hand in Spain. An
inquiry sent to the grand inquisitor
anent the original OF the sketches a
wink to the argus-eyed officers of the
and the information was
not long in coming. The man with
the handsome, knigntly countenance
the full red laughing lips the large
luminous eyes underneath the thick
dark. bold eyebrows was-so the
grand lnquisitor informed the king
Don Jayne d'Avila. mariana
At that time which is
the Spanish term for a pig-Ua~
knight AMI
apostate Although pI
were strongly suspects
and. consequently bitter
despite the fact that Il
flower and the glory OF t
celebrated for
their chiv
ment and their bravery
was not impossible that
Avila bore no particular
TO the pictures in the q
book but he was a mar
wealihiest Spanish nobl
time. This was enoughf
OF the inquisition-
There lived in CASTLE -. ..,,y- "
renowu. His reputation was not
by creating a new school OF
the painting of valuable masterpieces
but by his wonderful quickness and
accuracy in sketching portraits His
name was Luis de Lucero but he was
known among his confreres as Fapres-
to the Rapid King Felipe sent FOR
Fapresto.
Master said the king. you are
to make several sketches Of a living
The person will be al
your disposal for two hours. How
many copies can you deliver IN that
timer"
..As many as your majesty COM
mands-"
mo fiattery, Imprimis I am moi
as majesty and secondly
and artist can not be commanded.
Shall you be able to make ten good
portraits of the face within two hours.
If you receive a compensation of ?. 0)C
picayunes per copy?"
The painters greedy eyes glIttered.
If your majesty crave pardon,
but ! find the appellation just-if il
please your majesty to honor me with
4. 900 picayunes for each drawing
shall guarantee to make fifteen
copies.
Good You shall have the sum;
but if the face you are to delineate
change from time to time and the ex-
pressions vary constantly. will it moi
confuse you? Remember the coun-
tenance will not be an ordinary one
on the contrary, it is to be an extra
ordinary. a remarkable face"
oh. your majesty. an outre face
Is ever fascinating study 1t is some
thing for which real artist yearns.
II such a subject await me l shall
gladly portray it for less money-say
8. 600 picayunes."
fSilencel One does not bargain
with servants in the Escurial 60 to
the alynazil's chamber You will
there receive material for your work.
In the chamber they handed the
artist the necessary material and re
quested him to step into a closed Sc
dan For a long time he was car
ried through echoing halls and cor
ridors Finally the carriers stopped
in what the artist surmised mus
either be a room with low ceiling OF
one which was thronged with people,
for the echoes ceased
The doors of the sedan we're opened
and Lucero stepped out At the first
glance he recognized the place. AL
though he had never been there be.
fore. yet any child in Spain would
have known 1t for mothers and
nurses had often recited to the little
ones under their care terrible tale:
OF this awful chamber.
The ceilings walls, arches and pill
lars were covered with black cloth
from the huge pillars were
massive rings and chains bearing the
peculiar rust that accrues from dried
blood. In the corner lay iron tongS
scissors. queer shaped spoons ham,
mers. screws and other strange OBJ
jects- In the rear. upon a slight
elevated platform. sat several sepul
chral. mute figures attired in heavy
black. their faces covered with d
cloth of the same hue At one side
the weak. trembling flicker OF q
candle intensified the gloom AND
horror OF the place. 1t was the
of the inquisition.
After the artist had arranged his
material the parsonage at his side
gave an authoritative sign to the grand