Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-06-29

A rich merchant led Murillo the illus
trious painter, one day to the marketplae,
OF Seville, and, pointing out to him
young girl Of 16, of the gypsy race, asked
him to do her portrait
The gypsy girl was so beautiful and look
ed so picturesque, in the midst of the
baskets of fruit she was Offering for sale
that the painter did not hesitate to accept
the commission.
| II you can paint the picture in q
months time" said the merchant, ''you
may name your own price for it,"
| Murillo promised the portrait for the end
OF the month and asked 100 golden Philips,
which the merchant agreed to.
Murillo glanced once more at the features
ana form OF his beautiful model, and then
went to see her relations, to ask their per-
mission for the young girl to sit to him.
The gitana s relations consisted of a very
bad looking man, who was her uncle. and
very good looking man, in every sense
OF the word, who was her cousin. The ar
list talked with them for some time, and
ON taking leave of them, shook hands cor
daily with the cousin. To the uncle he
was somewhat colder, for he had discover
ed that he was selfish and ayaricious
man.
Murillo had sitting the very next day.
and the first stroke of his brush already
announced a masterpiece when the mer-
chant entered his studio.
The head will be admirable, ," said the
purchaser, in half patronizing tone.
~ am glad 1T pleases you, replied Mu-
rlllo; particularly as have made up nv
mind toask you rather more than the sum
originally named"
But I told you to mention your own
price" expostulated the merchant. You
said 100 Philips, and agreed to give them
to you. do not think you ought to de-
mand more than that amount now"
II am very sorry" said Murillo, "but
IND that will be impossible to let you have
the picture for less than 600. If you do
not like to give SO much, there has NOT
been much time lost yet, and you will be
able to get some other artist to execute the
commission. But really l shall be Obliged
to give it up unless you can afford 10 re-
munerate me for my trouble
AS Tor atfording it, returned the mer-
chaht, you know that l am not poor but
the sum is large one. After all, will
not dispute with you about 500 Philips.
1t is great deal of money for you to re-
celVe, but it is not much for me to give"
View the matter as you please said
Murlllo philosophically, "only let me have
the money!
you shall have the 6oO,' said the
merchant, with something like sigh. II
VIII sign an agreement with you for that
amount this evening"
Why not at once?" suggested Murillo, |
since you are resolved to give it,
Who knows" answered the merchant
Perhaps this evening you will be more
reasonable in your Demands
"Oh, you are not decided then, - said
the painter.
Eyes, am decided" replied the pur-
chaser. "But 1 prefer not to sign aDv
agreement until this evening"
In the evening Murillo informed the
gravely and coolly that he could
not accept 600 Philips, but that he must
have 1000.
VI course the merchant refused point
blank in the first instance. Then he hest
'ated, offered ZOO, 500, 900, and at last
agreed to give the full 1,000 This time
ormal agreement was signed.
At the end of the month the portrait
was finished. When the merchant came to
AXE it away, he found the original stand .
ng before it in full dress, as If on the
point OF starting for some fete. By her
side We're her uncle and cousin. also in
Holiday costume, and especially the cousin.
Who had evidently got himself up for some {
'ery important OCCASION
The rnarpho 1,t IL +bo 4 onn I'll
AS soon as Murillo had received the u
money and put it away carefully in port 8
OHIO, he opened q side door in his atelier,
no from the adjoining chamber entered =
priest and two witnesses.
The merchant thought he must be dream Il
1g. p
olr,'' said Murillo at length, "while II
gu were bargaining with me about the a
orotalD OF that young girl you were bar 81
aiming with her relatives for the young
III herself, whom you had already sold to
pirate to be carried into slavery. You a.
eed not deny it; your protestations would o.
IN vain, for heard all that was going II
l from the cousin. The uncle Thought at M
st that he had better accept my offer
ian yours, and as the young people were
ready betrothed to one another Thought
would be good idea to marry them and =
axe You pay the dover. You know now N
nat am going to do with the thousand =
hllps. The uncle would not hear Of the "
atoh being arranged for 100 and wanted n'
y. II you had signed the agreement for -
y when proposed it at first, you might :,
III have gained the day, but Providence N
IS on one side and made you blind. You "
mt TO the uncle, and finding, as you ve
ought, that he had received some higher All
for the poor child, who was sacrificed o.
rough you to pirate and through this
ate to Turkish pasha, you increased 70
ur offer to the avaricious guardian who Bu
standing there SO coolly at the present nv
'ment, but who has now given us his II
70 beyond the possibility of recall. AS NO
uncle had now prospect of getting a
ger sum than he had originally expect Ju
from you, he explained to me that 1t
uld not answer his purpose to behave ser
an honest man unless l in INV, turn cas-
reased my offer. This, through your On
srality, was enabled to do, and at last %
'hout telling you of his intention, he re, wit
yea 10 reject your proposition and to ac- car
mine. Here is the priest; here are the rad
nesses. Imagine, If you can, that YOU fro
resent the friend, and all will be com.
'e have deprived you of the model, Jao
you will still have the portrait. Send Eli
the pasha If you think he would like Spr
ne marriage was celebrated without
her delay.-New York News. II