Mariposa Democrat., 1857-08-13
An italian Girls Ruse.

me the other day. One of our famous Ameri-
can sculptors residing in that delightful city,
whther all the genius Of England and Ameri-
ca seems to tend, was one day seated in his
studio at work on an Apolo-for which by the
wav, he might stand as a model himself-when
his attention was attracted by a tremendous
tramplng of horses in his court yard. He
looked out Of the window and beheld mag
nifcent carriage with outriders drawn up be-
fore his door, Presently gentleman claimed
admission to his studio, and announced him
self as the Prince di B.. lie came to give
the sculptor large commission. His daughter,
who had been struck by some statues of the
American that she had seen, wished to sit to
him for her bust. She was then below in the
carriage. Was the sculptor at leisure? Price
was no object all that was necessary was to
crafty his daughter, who was an invalid.
The sculptor expressed his willingness to
begin the work instantly, and the Prince ma
king signs to his lackeys from the window,
they proceeded to lift a lovely girl, who SEEM
ed to be 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 locomotion, particularly as the
lady did not bear the slightest trace of illness
in her countenancc. The Prince interpreted
his glance and replied to it.
"My daughter has been paralyzcd in all her
limbs for the last two months" he said. at
is a sad thing. She has had all the medical
aid in Florence but without avail"
The sculptor looked again at the invalid
Nothing more beautiful in face or form could
have been dreamed by Phydias A face like
Cencfs before it was clouded with the memory
of crime; masses Of rich, lustrous auburn
hair, framing clear pale face, with deep blue
eyes swimming beneath fringe of the silkiest
black lashes Through her delicate muslin
robe her contour of a divinely moulded form
were indicated, and when the young Signorina
cast upon the sculptor rapid glance, soft as
starlight, piercing as electric fire, he felt his
heart leap with mysterious presage of some
indefnable catastrophe.
She sat The sculptor worked at his model
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
not love but pity that feel. She is paralytic!"
The next day the same scene was repeated,
with this difference, that the Prince having
seen his daughter placed 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 of manly beauty, her
deplorable condition was, in her fathers opin-
ion a safeguard against any Of the dangers
which he might otherwise have anticipated
He left the room, and drove away in his car
riage. A silence ensued. The sculptor dared
not look at his model, but worked away on his
clay image without raising his eyes Still
silence. Then it seemed as if slight rustic had
filed the room A small hand stole across his
mouth, and burning kiss was imprinted on
his forehead. With almost shrek, he leaped
to his feet, and there, with bushes crmsoning
her pale cheeks and alabaster neck, knelt the
paraytic girl, with her beautiful eyes imploring
pardon.
81 saw you long time ago." she said, Gan
Italian woman when she loves knows no half
measure, "and loved you. My father was
very strict with me. could not move with
out being watched. 1t was impossible for me
to meet you or see you. ! feigned paralysis.
For two months have scarcely moved In
his pity for my conditionny father relaxed his
surveillance of my motions. He gratilied every
wish. and as an invalid excited no suspicion
by desiring TO become your sitter. have
said that love you. If you do not return my
love- can only die" H
What answer made the American? We need
not inquire, only when the Prince di B.. re-
turned he found nothing in the studio but
clay model of his paralytic daughter. The
original was nowhere to be found A few
days afterward, at small town of France the
Florentine Princess sunk her nobility in the
name of an American sculptor.
A FALLEN SENAToR.-The Hon. Barker Bur-
nell, formerly State Senator from Nantucket,
Mass, is now in the chain gang at Valparaiso,
having been sentenced for robbing the mall
He may be seen daily in the streets of that city
with ball attached to his leg, working with
his fellow convicts. lie was indicted several
wears since for embezzling the funds of the
Nantucket Bank; but escaped the punishment
due to his crime bv leaving his country. Mr..
Burnell was formerly well known in this State.
BoRIYG THROUGH QUARTz-An exchange
paper SAYS "The artesan well now being
&c