Los Angeles herald., 1892-04-06
HIS "MAJESTY."

Juana, the wife of King Felipe, pas
sionately loved the art of painting, and
practiced it with admirable results. 1t
was Of course rumored that the poor
queen had become deranged, and that
this artistic application was diversion
suggested by physicians. 1t is certain,
however, that her highness became a
consummate artist. Her perception
was keen and her hand true; an inter-
esting face, seen but once, she could de-
pict in shape readily recognizable both
in feature and character.
One day it pleased her royal husband
to scan the album wherein the versatile
hand of the queen had sketched from
her rich fancy and reproduced scenes
from her charming surroundings.
At that time, let it be understood,
Juana alone was addressed as "Your
Majesty" Her spouse, in consequence
Of being the offspring of foreign
sovereign, was addressed as "Your High
ness," and upon all official documents
requiring both signatures one read,
Guiana regina" and underneath ran the
other, "Felipe, rex" This king by mar
riage found in his wife's sketchbook
numerous and varied portraits of re-
markably handsome knight. Sometimes
he was portrayed as a victorious hero;
then rs praying pilgrim, and again as
kneeling lover. This truly handsome
face must have occupied the queens
fancy, for it was often depicted, and in
a manner strikingly conscientious and
ardent. One could see at glance that
the heart had assisted the hand.
The visage was not that of King Fe-
lipe. The face was wholly unknown to
him. Perhaps it was merely an ideal WIS.,
ion of youth such as appears to maidens in
romantic dreams-a supernatural being.
This was Felipe's first conjecture as he
gazed upon the pictures. but upon fur
ther reflection his conception of them
became less innocent. He was seized
with jealousy, and jealousy and revenge
go hand in hand in Spain. An inquiry
sent to the grand inquisitor anent the
original of the sketches, wink to the
argus eyed officers of the inquisition and
the information was not long in coming.
The man with the handsome knightly
countenance; the full, red, laughing lips;
the large, luminous eyes underneath the
thick, dark, Bold eyebrows was-se the
grand inquisitor informed the king
Don Jayne d'Avila, a marrano.
At that time marrano-which is the
Spanish term for pig-was a maraud-
ing knight and generally an apostate
Although proselytes they were strongly
suspected Of heresy and consequently
bitterly prosecuted, despite the fact that
they were the flower and the glory of
the Andalusian nobility, celebrated for
their valor in tournament, their chivalric
department and their bravery in battle
1t was not impossible that Don Jayne
dAvila bore no particular resemblance
to the pictures in the queens sketch
book, but he was marrano and the
wealthiest Spanish nobleman of the
time. This was enough for the judges
Of the inquisition.
There lived in CASTLE an artist of re-
His reputation was not achieved
by creating new school or 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 Fapresto the Rapid. King
Felipe sent for Fapresto.
MASTER" said the king, "you are to
make several sketches Of living coun-
tenance. The person will be at your dis
position for two hours. How many
copies can you deliver in that timer"
"As many as your majesty COM
"No flattery! Imprimis, am not ad-
dressed as Majesty and, secondly, an
artist cannot be commanded. Shall you
be able to make ten good portraits of the
face within two hours if you receive a
compensation of 1900 picayunes per
copy?"
The painters greedy eyes glittered.
"If your majesty crave pardon, but
I find the appellation just-if it please
your majesty to honor me with 1000
picayunes for each drawing, Ishall guar
antee to make fifteen copies"
Ou olldiA AdfO OAO QUILL Out
If the face you are to delineate change
from time to time and the expressions
vary constantly, will it not confuse your
the countenance will not be
an ordinary one; on the contrary, it is
to be an extraordinary, remarkable
face"
"Oh, yo ar majesty, an outre face is
ever faacinating study! It is some
thing for which real artist yearns If
such subject await me l shall gladly
portray il for less money-say 5000
"Silence! One does not bargain with
in the Escurial. Go to the AL
yuazils chamber. You will there re-
csive material for your work"
In the chamber they handed the ar
tist the necessary material and request
cd him to step into u closed sedan.
For long time he was carried through
echoing halls and corridors. Finally
the carriers stopped in what the artist
surmised must either be room with
low ceiling or one which was thronged
with people, for the echoes ceased.
The doors of the sedan were opened
and Lucero stepped out. At the first
glance he recognized the place. AL