The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1901-08-30
MURILLO'S SLAVE
30 e.
Account For His Father
and Himself.

One beautiful summer morning, about
approached the dwelling of the cele-
brated painter Murillo, at which they
arrived nearly at the same time. After
the usual salutations they entered the
studio. Murillo was not yet there, and
each of the pupils walked up quickly to
his easel to examine if the paint had
dried or perhaps to admire his work Of
the previous evening.
"Pray, gentlemen" exclaimed Istu-
ritz angrily, (which of you remained
behind i'm the studio last night?'
What an absurd question: replied
Cordova. Don't you recollect that we
all came away togcther:"
'This is foolish jest, gentlemen"
answered Isturitz. Last evening l
cleaned my palette with the greatest
care, and now it is as dirty as if some
one had used it all night"
''Lookw exclaimed Carlos. Here is q
small figure i'm the corner of my can
vas, and it is not badly done. l should
like to know who it is that amuses him.
self every morning with sketching fig!
ures sometimes on my canvas, some
times on the walls. There was one yes.
terday on your easel, Ferdinand"
at must be IsturitZ," said Ferdinand
Gentlemen" replied Isturitz, 81 pro.
test
You need not protest" replied Car
los. 1--WE all know you are not capable
of sketching such figure as that"
cat least" answered IsturitZ, 81 have
never made a sketch as bad as that OF
yours. One would think you had done
it in jest"
"And my pencils are quite wet" said
Gonzalo IN his turn. "Truly, strange
things go on here during the night"
'Do you not think, like the negro
Gomez, that it is the Zombi who comes
and plays all these tricks?"- said Istu
ritz.
'Truly," said Mendez who had moi
yet spoken, being absorbed in admira
tion of the various figures which wer,
sketched with the hand of a master il
different parts of the studio, eff tn,
Zombi of the negroes draws In thi.
manner he would make a beautifp
head Of the Virgin in my .Descen
From the Cross"
With these words Mendez, with !,
| careless air, approached his easel
| when ali exclamation of astonishmen
| escaped him, and he gazed in nut,
surprise on his canvas. on which wa
roughly sketched most beautiful hea,
of the Virgin. But the expression wa
| so admirable, the lines were so clear
the contour was so graceful, that, com
pared with the figures by which it wa
| encircled. it seemed as if some heaven
ly visitant had descended among them
| "Ah, what is the matter" said
sound, and all made a respectful obei
sance to the great master.
Look, Senor Murillo, lookw exclaim
ed the youths as they pointed TO tn
easel of MendeZ.
''Who has painted this? Who ha
painted this head. gentlemen?" aske
Murillo eagerly. Speak. Tell me! Ii
who has sketched this Virgin will on
day be the master of us all. Murill
wishes he had done it. What touch
What delicacy! What skill Mende;
my dear pupil, was it you?"
mo. senor," replied Mendez in a So
rowful tone.
"Was it you, then, Isturitz, or Ferd
nand, or Carlos?'
But they all gave the same reply a
MendeZ.
1T could not, however, come heI
without hands," said Murillo impatien
:y.
81 think. SIR" said Cordova, the YOU
gest of the pupils, that these strang
pictures are very alarming. Indeed tn
is not the first unaccountable ever
which has happened in your studio. I
tell the truth, such wonderful thing
have happened here one scarcely know
what to believe"
What are they?" asked Murillo, sti
lost in admiration of the head of Il
Virgin by the unknown artist.
, According to your orders, senior
answered Ferdinand, I'VE never lea'
the studio without putting everythiI
in order, cleaning our palettes, waShiI
our brushes and arranging our easel
but when we return in the morning n
only is everything in confusion, o,
brushes filled with paint, palettes din
led, but here and there are sketches
beautiful sketches, to be sure, they a
sometimes of the head of an ang'
' 81 fl,nv. in,