The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-11-09

10 o., COIue rlcu enough, ne ue-
H:yM yeS sired, like all truly inspired
E HASNlt painters, to make the tour
(1eS of Italy. He took with him
NN9M several letters of introduc-
20 ton, ore of which did him
w good service, if not for the
acquisition of fame, at least for the
knowledge of love.
Immediately after the entertain
ment made for him by his friends of
the academy, he went to the palace
of the Duke of Orr. This nobleman
received him very graciously. in the
manner of a great lord who stands in
the presence of a man of genius.
Greuze's arrival was most happily
timed. The duke had a lovely daugh-
ter whose only dream was of art;
she must have a master. Greuze
would meet the need as well as any
other.
When he first saw Letftia, the
ertist asked himself if the lesson
would not be for him, for she was
r.ature's masterpiece. The lesson
proved good for them both. Genius
comes from the heart" Greuze had
already said to himself On more than
one occasion, but never had said it
so truly as now. He loved Letitia as
an angel in woman's form, she had
so much of grace, divine and human.
He did not love alone; the souls of
master and pupil had bloomed on the
same day, like two roses in the same
sunbeam. AS yet it was scarcely
love that existed between them, but
rather that ineffable emotion which
rises like incense from the earth to
God.
q nfh ha
soon to pass away; it was but a
glance, smile, a tear, and nothing
more; but do not these make I'D hap
piness? Greuze felt that this love
could be but brief dream. 1t was
born Of folly, and must die before the
chill OF reason. A poor devil of a
painter could but lose his time in
adoring the Princess Letitia.
But loves time is never lost Now.
since kings no longer wed with shep-
herdesses, GreuZe felt that only one
wise course was open to him, to leave
the palace of Orr-thus taking away
from Letitia her love, her regrets and
tears. He took refuge in solitude,
seeking to escape the image of Lett
tia; but her face smiled everywhere
before his eyes like an enchantress.
At the first stroke of his brush Lett
tia appeared by magic on his canvas;
when he walked alone, memory sum-
moned the young princess to his side.
One day, when, perhaps to shut out
from his eyes Letitia's sweet face,
he was sketching a virgins head, the
Duke Of Orr made him a visit.
"Are you not coming again to the
palace?" he asked. "My gallery is
deserted. My daughter put away
her brushes when she lost her master.
Come back, come back! Since you
went away I have enriched my collec-
tion by two heads of Titan. My old
uncle would like copies of them by
Letitia; come then, and help her
again."
The next day Greuze returned to
the palace, pale and trembling at the
mere idea Of meeting the young girl
cnce more. But that day he did not
see her. Letitia had fallen ill with
the grief of not seeing her master
again. He began alone the copy of
Titan. On the following day, as he
was dreaming before his work, Lett
mysterious air, bidding him follow
her.
Greuze obeyed like a child. He
came into a room darkened by heavy
curtains of damask; at the first
glance he saw Letitia in the shadow,
lying languidly on couch. AL
though pale as death, she blushed
deeply when Greuze entered. She
offered her hand in silence; he fell
on his knees to kiss it, The princess
grew radiant; she raised her head, |
and bestowed on Greuze a sweet look
from the most beautiful eyes in the
world.
'.AbuGreuze, love you. Do not |
me as an enthusiast; I love |
kuze knew not
y kissed Lett