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Onein the year 1550 the beautiful Mary Van de Werve was seated in

her father's house in a richly sculptured arirl had

apparently just returned from church, as she still held in her hand a

rosary of precious stones, and her hood lay on a chair near her She

seeht which filled her heart

with a sweet anticipation, for a slight smile parted her lips, and her

eyes were upraised to heaven as if iainst the wall behind her hung a picture froreat in in prayer,

whilst she was still ignorant of the sublime destiny that awaited her

The artist had lavished upon this masterpiece the enius, for the ie seemed to live and think It

charmed by the beauty of feature, the majestic calm of expression, the

sweetness of the smile, the look full of love cast fro reseirl seated beneath in almost the same attitude In truth, the

youthful Mary Van de Werve was as beautiful as the poetical representation

of her patroness She had the sah calhtful, revealed a keen sensibility and a tender,

loving soul; her golden hair fell in ringlets over a brow of marble