New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-05-04
A Model Wife.

A pleasant little Florentine story reached me the
other day. One of our famous American scplptors,
residing in that delightful cy-whither all the genius
of England and America seems to tend-was one day
seated in his studio at work on an Apolo-lor whch,
by the way, he might stand as model himself-when
his attention was attracted by a tremendous tramp
ing of horses in his courtyard. He looked out the
window and beheld magnificent carriage, with out
riders, drawn up before his door,. presently gen
tleman claimed admission to his studio, and an
nounced himself as the Prince di B. He came to
give the sculptor large commission. His daughter,
who had been struck by some statues OF the Amerl-
can that she had seen, wished to SIT TO MIN Tor her
bust. She was then below in the carriage. Was the
sculptor at leisure? Price was no oeject-al that
was necessary was to crafty his daughter, who Was
an invalid
The sculptor expressed his willingness TO commence
the work instantly, and the Prince, making sign to
his iackeys from the window, they proceeded to lf
lovely girl, who seemed about eighteen, out OF the
carriage and bore her in their arms carefully up the
stairs to the artists studio The sculptor could not
repress look of surprise at this curious mode OF loco
motion, particularly as the lady did not bear the
slightest traces Of illness in her countenance The
Prince interpreted his glance and replied to it.
"My daughter has been paralyzed in all her limbs"
he sad " for the last two months. 1t IS sad thing
She has had all the medical aid in Florence, but
without avail"
The sculptor looked again at the invalid Nothing
more beautituln face form coufhave been dreamed
by Phidias. face like Cenci's before twas clouded
with the memory of crime, masses OF rich, ustrous
auburn hair, framing clear, pale face, with deep
blue eyes swimming beneath fringe OF the sllklest
black lashes. Through her delicate muslin robe the
contour of divinely moulded form was Indicated,
and when the young Sgnorina cast upon the sculptor
rapid glance soft as starlight piercing as electric
fire. he felt his heart leap with mysterious presage
of some inde6nable catastrophe.
She sat- The sculptor worked at his model like
one inspired and pang struck his heart as the honr
for her retiring came. The Prince and his iackeys
Laro how Jpxr cfa irs i'm
riage door closed her, the horses swept through
the gate. The sculptor 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 not love- but pity that feel
She is a paralyticw
The next day the same scene was repeated, with
this difference, that the Prince having seen his daugh
ter posed by the artist excused himself on the plea OF
business engagement, saying that he would return
in time to conduct his daughter home. Poor girl
although the sculptor was model os manly beauty
her deporable condition was, in her fathers opinion
safeguard against any OF the dangers which ne
might otherwise have anticipated. lie 6tt the room
and drove away in his carriage
A silence ensued. The sculptor dared not look al
his model, but worked away on his clay image with
out raising his eyes. Still silence. Then it seemed
as if slight rustic had filled the room. small
white hand stole across his mouth, and burning kis
was printed on his forehead. With almost shriel
he eaped to his feet, and there with bushes crimson
ing her pale cheeks and alabaster neck, knet thu
paralytic girl, with her beautiful eyes mplorng par
! don.
az saw you long time ago." she said, ian Italian
woman, when she loves, knows no half measure,
"and loved you. My father was very strict will
me-. could not move without being watched
was impossible for me to meet you or see you
| feigued paralysis. For two months have scarce
moved. In his pity for my condition my father re
Taxed his surveillance Of motions. He gratifed ever
wish, and, as an invalid excited no suspicion by de
string to become your sister. have said that Low
you. If you do not return my love, can only die.
What answer made the American? We need no
inquire only, when the Prince di b returned, h
found nothing in the studio but clay model Of hi
paralytic daughter. The original was nowhere to b
| found. A few days afterwards, in a small town o
France, the Florentne princess sunk her nobility il
| the name of an American sculptor.