The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-04-24
"This picture was paintes

one has known him. His very name Is for
gotten--his name, which ought to be i'm.
mortal; his name which would have out
shone mine. Yes, mine, PADRE" added
the artist, with noble pride, "for you must
know that am Peter Paul Rubens."
At the sound Of that name, whose re
nown, associated as 1t was with 100 sacrct
paintings, had penetrated even to the mon
astery, the pallid cheek of the prior flushee
lightly, and his dim eyes were fixed on tn
strangers face with as much veneratioI
as surprise
"Ah, you know me" exclaimed Rubens
with boyish satisfaction. THAT delight
my soul. So you will be the less of pri,
with mel Now, then, will you sell me the
painting?"
"You ask for the impossible, respond
ed the prior.
swell, then, do you know of any other
works of this unfortunate genius? Can
you not recall his name? Will you tell mc
when he died:"
"You have not understood nright," re.
piled the priest. Il told you that the au.
thor of this painting did not belong to the
world. but that does not signify, precisely,
that he Is dead"
ooh, he lives, he livesr" exclaimed all
"For what. The unhappy man has re-
nounced the world. He has nothing in
common with men-nothing. Therefore,
/ implore you, let him die in peace"
"Oh!" said Rubens, with enthusiasm.
"That cannot be, padre. When God lights
In soul the sacred fire of genius, he does
not intend that the soul shall be consumed
in solitude, but that it shall fulfill its SUBJ
lime mission by Illuminating the minds
of other menl Give me the name of the
monastery where this master Is hidden,
and will go to look for him and restore
him to his sphere. What glory awaits himp'
"But if he should refuse?" asked the
prior timidly.
"If he refuses, will have recourse to
the pope, whose friendship honors me, and
the pope will convince him better than /.
"The pope!" exclaimed the prior
"Yes, padre, the pope, repeated Rubens
"Be assured, ! would not tell you the
name of this painter even If remember
ed it. shall not tell you in what convent
he has sought refuge"
"Well, then, padre, the king and the
pope will compel you to tell it, /" responded
Rubens in tone Of evaporation. Il
will see that they do"
"Oh, pray do notr' exclaimed the priest
"You will do wrong, Senor Rubens. Take
the picture, if you wish, but leave its au-
thor in peace. / speak to you in the name
of God Yes, I have known, have loved,
/ have consoled, have redeemed, l have
saved from the sea of passion and misfor-
tune, shipwrecked and suffering, this mas
ter as you call him, this kind and misera-
BILE mortal, as / call him, yesterday for
gotten by God and by himself, today near
supreme felicity.
"Glory! Do you know of anything
greater than that to which he aspiresi"
"By what right do you wish to revive
in that soul the flame Of earthly vanity
when there burns in his heart the mex
tinguishable fire of devotion! DO you
think that this man before leaving the
world, before renOuncing riches, fame,
power, youth, love and everything that
fills mankind with pride, had not under
gone sharp conflict with his own hearth
Can you not divine the disenchantment,
the bitterness, which he must have borne
before he understood the falseness of hu-
man affairs? And you would bring him
back to the fight when he has triumphedy"
''But he is renouncing Immortality"
cried Rubens.
mo; he aspires to Immortality" re-
turned the priest.
''What right have you to interpose be-
tween this man and the world? Let me
talk with him, and he shall decide" said
Rubens hotly.
Il have the right of an elder brother,
of teacher, of "a father, all of which / am
to him. / say again do it in the name
of God. Respect that holy name, for the
love of your own soul" Thus speaking,
the monk covered his head and walked
away.
LET US go, said RubenS II know
what must do"
Maestro" exclaimed one of his pupils,
who during tho preceding conversation
had been intently looking now at the can
vas, then at the priest, 'do you not think
that this old monk Is very like the dying
man in the picturey'
"JOve! You're rightr' exclaimed tho
pupils.
"Take away the wrinkles and beard and
make allowances for the 30 years which
the painting shows, and you will see that
the maestro was right when he said that
this dead monk was at the same time the
portrait and work of living priest. Con-
found me, if the living monk is not the
padre prior!" said the youth who had
spoken 1rst.
In the meanwhile Rubens, gloomy,
ashamed and profoundly moved, saw the
old man move away. The prior, crossing
his arms on his breast, saluted him just
before he disappeared.
1T was he. Yes" cried the artist "Oh,
let us go'' he added, turning TO his pI-
pills. "This man is right! His glory is
worth more than mine. Let him die in
peace"
Throwing n last glance Mt the canvas
which had I'd moved him, he left the
church and went TO the palace, where their
majcsties honored him by an invitation TO
dinner.
Three days later Rubens returned en-
tirely alone TO that humble chapel, tsssir
GUS of contemplating once more the marvel
ous painting and even of speaking to its
presumed author. But the picture was not
In its place. Instead he found that there
was coffin on the floor of tho principal
nave of the church. 1t was surrounded
by all the brotherhood Of monks, chanting
the requiem for the dead. The artist
drew near to look at the face of the dead
man and saw that il WAS tho nasIrc ,ricr