The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1892-06-02

lish, on what would o,hsr~ise be 90 to
erplic .ble mystery 10 you. leel that you 4
tso hsve rish, 10 srptc, 81 me some 81,
plsnstion Of nv strange eoosse. for
several months have been hard ., sots
upon 90 ideal bead. the origin oi which
cspno, give you ae,il you hsve read fur
iher. From the Gre, touch OF my brush /
10 the canvas my mind seemed TO be 10
spired spd my band guided by some
unseen and upknc~n power Uoder the
inaueoce of,bs nntnownpcuer wrought
day iu spd day ont, feeling pei'her ~esr''
ness nor safety. and often wishing tbst
there we're no more night thst might
reach the ri rious consumms,ion the soon
er. Slowly my ideal grew 10 beauty and
expression. As II nssred completion, II
became almost 40 object OF worship to me.
| vas carried swsy with be feeling that
the dream OF my life was to be realized
How toiled. The gray dawn daily broke
upon my preparations Tor work and the
evening twilight caught me straining my
ewes to accomplish few touches Never
did colors blend mere hsrmoniously. New
er did brushes work more deity. Never
did the skill Of tho hand execute more
perfectly the thought Of the miod or the
purpose OF the will. No flower ever grew
TO perfection more naturally. or developed
into blushing delicaoy or glowing splen.
dor more spontaneously. 1t Was labor in
deed labor srduous aud unremitting. bnt
II was the labor Of impsssioned and al
most transporting love. Al last 1t was
finished. | could do no more to It, !
trem bled to put another to;ch 10 it lest
| should mar its marvellous, it's entrsnc'
ing, its supernsl lovel,uess.
A. stood there on the afternoon gsz
ing rspturously upon it. it seemed vision
from heaven. There could be no doubt OF
it. NV NJ sterpiece would give me the
fame bad all my Ii 70 coveted. Criticism
would stand dissrmed before ii, Not
possible line Of grace was wanting; not q
tint or shade could lend il further charm
| Then knew that 1t was not that bad &C
compisbed the work before me-tbst
from conception to completion. from the
fret stroke TO the last. nv hand had been
guided by some invisible power and my
brain inspired by some supernatural 10.
telligeuce. All along had realized that !
WAS under magic spell, that could not
resist and, that had neither will no'
wish to bresk. Yet never until that awei
some moment had been completely over'
whelmed with the strange and blessed
consciousness.
AZ the time passed on, the picture be
came part OF my very being. Away from
| it ives uneasy. restless, moody, as if my
hearts best love and idol we're absent
could not comprehend my own feelings III
regard TO it. II dominated me entirely.
II epslsved me. In vain attempted new
tack, or CROPPED for new ideal, Palette
and brush grew distssteiul to me. pain
ted only t, wipe out what had painted
, before. knew not what to do with my
. self, and queried sometimes whether
3 really were myself. And yet the conscious
D ness of my peiect sanity was never strong
er or more real.
Things wore on YEARLY in this cad way
s for some time. My very health was yield
. ing TO the oppressive weight and power o.
my inexplicsble passion. One day as Il ga
, sszlug intently on that face OF faces
whether 10 the body or out OF the body
g could scarcely tell, the thought flashed
d upon me thst | was infAtuatde with
y picture, su lido Of my own creation. 9 con
o crete fiement OF the imagination, and tn
ipfstustion was spelling me. Ill contin
o ned to indulge in it, the luxury woul'
e ruin me. must arouse myself and bres
y away from it.
a Never mortal man resolved more stoutl
or struggled mt re- nightly, or failed NOR
com ple,ely. My resolution proved rop
10 of sand. Ny very Efforts only served
" entsnele me mere helpessly 10 the mesbe
b. Of nv infstustion. l had no friend
De whom l could tell my strange story,
~ unfold my feelings.
" grew morbid. and yet preferred m
=. wretchedness to sll the charms OF socle'
- and all the pleasures Of the world. close
- , nv studio and shut myself up in solitud
." The rumor went abroad that had left n
country. II was even reported in the p'
80 pers thst bsd gone to Psris TO pnrs'
nv art. Ia the retirement OF my room
- to which | bad removed my traps from
studio. l brooded Alone with that almf
10 divine face, could do nothing but wO
on ship and adore.
- One week sgo stood in front OF 1t
=, the early twilight. was watching 1t ss
N faded like a summer sunset, when snddt
:. ly. out Of the growing dusk it spoke to u
No human voice wss ever more audible
" more certsin. Bnt suchs voice Was ne'
heard by mortal man before. 1t Was mi
heavenly than the beauty of the face i~t
Il thrilled me TO the very center OF
10 soul. and threw me into an ecstscy OF b
t,hc excitement The voice tod me u
IT was only the painted semblsnce o
spiritusl being far more beautiful.
tbat that spiritual being was the CONF
- men. Of my souls desires. my real,
IN only possible love, whom ! could o
NEE, aud know and enjoy forever by
ing thst the voice wss Der voice, and
~ her hand and inspiration bad euided
10 portrsyite 1t upon INST rial csnvss--
very likeness. ~ 1t wss possible for II V
M. 90 expressed. II did not suggest 70
tbst | should SEEK to realize the irni'
.,..t and ali coufroIIiuG passion