The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-03-29
HIS MAJESTY"

Juana, the wife Of King Felipe, pas
sionately loved the art of painting, and
nracticed 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
ccnsu1r5nate 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, m consequence
of being the offspring of a foreign
sovereign, was addressed as Your High
ness" and upon all official documents
requiring both signatures one read,
"Iuana regina" and underneath ran the
other, 'sFehpe, rex" This king by mar
riage found in his wifes sketchbool1
numerous and varied portraits of a re-
maEksably handsome knight. Sometimes
he was portrayed as victorious hero;
then as praying pilgrim, and again as
a kneeiing lover. This truly handsome
face must have occupied the queens
fancy, for 1t was often depicted, and in
a manner .strillingly 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 If was merely an ideal Wis
ion of youthsuch asappearsto maidens in
romantic dreann5--a supernatural being.
This was Felipes first conjecture as he
gazed upon the pictures, but upon fur
ther reflection bis ocdlception Of them
became less innocent. He was seized
with ieaiOusy, and jealousy and revenge
go hand In hand In Spain. An inquiry
semitic the grand inquisitor anent the
original OF the sketches, o wink to the
argus eyed officers of the inquisition and
theinformation was not long in coming.
The;man with the handsome knightly
countenance; the full, red; laughing hips;
tn large, luminous eyes underneath the
b x, dark, bold eyebrows vase the
grand inquisiSor infarn1ed the king
Don Jayne d'Av1a, a tnarTano.
At that time a naaTrano-which is the
Spanish term for q pig-was a maraud-
ing knight and generally an apostate.
Although proselytes they were strongly
suspected Of hefesy and consequently
bitterly prosecuted, despite the fact that
they were the flower and the glory of
the Andaiusian nobility, celebrated for
their valor in tournament, their chivalric
department and their bravery in battle.
1t was not impossible that Don Jayne
d'Avila bore no particular resemblance
TO the pictures in the queens sketch
book, but he was marrano and the
wealthiest Spanish noblemSn of the
time. This was enough for the judges
Of the ineuisition.
There lived in CASTLE an artist of re-
nown. His reputation wasnot 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 Fap-esto the Rapid. King
Felipe sent for Fapresto
Master" said the king, "you are to
make several sketches of living coun-
tenance. The person VIII be at your dis
position for two hours. How many
copies can you deliver IN that timer
las many rs your majesty COM
mands."
NO fattery! Impripnis, ! 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 2,o00 picayunes per
copy?"
The painters greedy eyes glittered.
IF your majesty crave pardon, but
find the appeilation just--if it please
your majesty 10 honor me with 1000
picayunes for each drawing, shall guar
antee to make fifteen copies"
If the face you are TO delineate change
from time TO time and the expressions
vary constantly. viii il not confuse your
Remember, tue countenance will not be
an ordinary one; on the contrary, it is
10 DO an extraordinary, 8 remarkable
face"
''Oh, your majesty, an outre face rs
ever fascinating study. 1t is some
thing for which a real arti.t yearns If
such subject await me l shall gladly
portray it for less money-say 5000
picsyunes.
silence! One does not bargain with
servants IN the EScuriai. Go to the AL
yEazifs chamber You VIII there re-
ceiSe material for ySar work.
n the chamber they LANDED the ar
fist The neT@ssfry material ana request
ca MIN TO step into a closed seday
or a long time he was carried throI,ob
ecHoins halls and corridors. Finally