Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-05-20
ISCELLA N Y
A Model Wife.


A Model Wife.
A pleasant little Forentine story reached IN
the other day. One of our famous America
sculptors, residing in that beautiful city, whith
er all the genius of England and America seem
to tend, was one day seated in his studio q
work on Apollo-for which, by the way, h,
might stand SIS model himself-when his at
tention was attracted by a tremendous tramp
ling of horses in the court yard. He looked ou
the window, and beheld a magnificent carrriag
with outriders drawn up before his door. Pres
emily gentleman claimed admission to his stu
dio, and announced himself as tine Prince di b
-.- He came to give the sculptor larg'
commission. His daughter, who had beer
struck by some statues of the American thai
she had seen, wished to set to him for her bust
She was then below in the carriage Was th'
sculptor at leisure2 Price was no object-al
that was necessary was to crafty his daughter
who was an invalid.
The sculptor expressed his willingness tC
begin the work instantly, and the Prince making
a sign to his lackeys from the window, the,
proceeded to lift lovely girl, who seemed q
bout eighteen, out of the carriage, and bore hel
in their arms carefully up the stairs to the ar
lists studio. The sculptor could not repress {
look OF surprise at this curious mode OF locomo
ton, particularly as the lady did not bear the
slightest trace of illness in her countenance.-
The Prince interpreted his glance and replied
to it.
"My daughter has been paralyzed in all he
limbs" he said, 'for the last two months. 1t il
sad thing. She has had all the medical aid il
Florence, but without avail"
The sculptor looked again at the invalid
Nothing more beautiful in face could have beer
dreamed of by Phidias A face like Cenci's be-
fore it was clouded with memory Of crime
masses of rich, lustrous, auburn hair framing s
clear, pale face, with deep blue eyes swimming
beneath fringe of the silkest black lashes.-
Through her delicate muslin robe the contour o
diviuely moulded form was indicated, and
when the young Signorina cast upon the sculp
tor rapid glance, soft as starlight, piercing a:
electric fire. he felt his heart leap with q mystic
rious presage of some indefinable catastrophe.
She sat- The sculptor worked at his mode
like one inspired, and pang struck his heart as
the hour for her retiring came. The Prince
and his lackeys bore her again down stairs in
their arms. The carriage door closed on her
the horses swept through the gate. The sculp
tor did no more work that day.
Tomorrow she was to come again. He lay
awake all night dreaming of her. Then he
would shudder, and say to himself, sit is moi
love, but pity that feel. She is a paralytic! y
The next day the same scene was repeated with
this difference, that the Prince, having seen his
daughter posed by the artist, excused himself
on the plea of business engagement, saying that
he would return in time to conduct his daught
er home. Poor girl although the sculptor was
q model of manly beauty, her deplorable condi
ton was, in her fathers opinion, a safeguard a
aganstany ofthe dangers which might otherwise
be anticipated. lie left the room,and drove away
in his carriage. a silence ensued. The sculp
tor dared not look at his model, but worked 9
way on his clay image without raising his eyes
Still silence. Then it seemed as if sigh
rustic had filled the room. A small white hant
stole across his mouth, and q burning kiss wa
printed on his forehead. With almost a shrek
he leaped to his feet, and there with blushe
crimsonng her pale cheeks and alabaster neck
knelt the paralytic girl, with her beautiful eye
imploring pardon.
II saw you a long time ago. she said, Gan |
Italian woman when she love knows no hal
measure) ''and l loved you. My father wa
very strict with me. could not move withou
being watched. 1t was impossible for me to NEE
you or see you. feigned paralysis. For tw'
months have scarcely moved. In his pity TO
my condition, my father relaxed his Surveillance
OF my motions. He gratiied every wish, and
as an invalid, excited no suspicion by desiring
to become your sitter. have said that low
you. If you do not return my love, can onl.
die"
What answer made the Americana We nee'
not inquire; only, when the Prince di B
returned, he found nothing in the studio but
clay model of his paralytic daughter. The orig
ina was nowhere to be found. A few days al
forwards, in small town of France, the Floren
tine Princess sunk her nobility in the name Q
an American sculptor.