The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-22


finally wrote to the great artist, 81 may
some day be able to paint your portrait"
And how the students laughed at the
naive little American, how they jollied
her and leased her! The people talk of it at
By now, while Miss Klumpke, within the
great chateau, looks wistfully at the seal
ed doors which guard the treasures of
her friend. The legatee is now alone in
the Chateau de By on the edge of the
forest of Fontainebleau, just over the
way from Barbizon. In the midst of all
this is Anna Klumpke, the cause of dis
putes and suspicious. She declines to talk
OF the friendship she holds sacred. Yet,
through the oak trees, out through the
great paved court yard float stories of
Anna Klunpke's hold upon Rose Bon
heur. Strangely enough, no unkind tale
is told. According to them all, it was
some time in 1887 that the corner stone of
friendship which promises to become
historic was cemented Even then Anna
Klumpke was not unknown to fame. She
had exhibited in the salon a picture call
ed THE Knitting Girl" 1t had been
praised, and the young girl had returned
for a season to America.
Whether she first sought Rosa Bonheur
or whether Rosa Bonheur sought her is
discussed hourly in the beautiful wood
land country where the simple people
who loved the great painter are grieved
to see the gate that leads into the
chateau, renowned through years for its
Inequalities, closed and barred
The recall the coming of Anna KIumpke
two years ago. They listen with bated
breath, quite as Elsa might have heard
the mysterious tale of Lohengrin's origin,
to this one or that who among them
saw her drive up through the struggling
streets.
She had been invited by the great ar
fist to spend the summer. All the village
of By knew this. They knew that their
beloved mistress, who for years and years,
ever since the death of her faithful
friend. Nathalie Micas, had lived alone,
secluded sad, tifhid as her own deer, was
now welcoming to her hearthstone an I'M
known. They knew this and rejoiced.
Perplexed, astonished, mystified, they re-
joiced. They saw a bent and worn wom-
an gradually rejuvenated They saw
young, fair-haired companion. tall, ath-
letic. with buoyancy in her step and en-
thusiasm in her bearing, bringing to the
old place new life.
Straightway the transformation began.
No longer did Rosa Bonheur sit idly,
listless. Her dear friend, Nathalie Micas,
was dead-Nathalie who for forty-five
years she had loved as a sister. Madame
Meas was dead, too. What was there
| left?
relatives dead, some dispersed and needed
| in distant homes of their own, she was
| living in isolated sadness
| Then the people of By, the people who
loved her, saw an amazing sight They
| saw the revival of courage and ambition
| Somber pessimism fled before the bless
| ings of companionship. Rosa Bonheur
began to make plans for trips, for re-
newed work, for larger studio. She
| had in contemplation when she died an
| immense canvas representing a number
| Of fiery horses led by one man trampling
| down great fields of wheat and forcing
| the grain out of the ear. At seventy
| seven a friend had come to rejuvenate
7 the heart, the talent of Rosa Bonheur.
The California girl had come to spend
the summer. She stayed two years. She
would have stayed always had her friend
| lived How long will she remain now in
| the chateau" The people of BY are ask
| ing that question. SO are the relatives
| who are iocking to the ueighhorhood
| During the two years that preceded Ro-
| sa Ronheurs death Miss Klumpke refused
| every order that could take her awa5