Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-06-12
The Model Wife.

. | IL.
/ A pleasant little F1orentine story
reached me the other day. One OF
| our famons American sculptors, resi-
/ ding in that delightful city, whittier
all the genius of England seems to
tend, was one day seated in his studio
at work on an Apollo--for which, by
the way, he might stand as model
himself-when his attention was at
tracted by a tremendous tramping OF
horses in his courtyard. He looked
1 out the window, and beheld mag
nifcent carriage, with out-riders
drawn up before his door. Presently
a gentleman claimed admission to his
studio, and announced 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 American that
she had seen, wished to sit to him for
her bust. She was below in the car
riage. Was the sculptor at leisure ?
Price was no object-all that was
necessary was to crafty his daughter,
WIZ Nds dil III diiO
The sculptor expressed his willing
ness to begin the work instantly, and
the Prince makiug a sigh to his lack
eys from the window, they proceeded
to lift a 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 represshis surprise
at this curious mode Of locomotion,
particularly as the the lady did not
bear. the slightest trace of illness in
her countenanse. The Prince inter-
preted his glance and replied to it,
"My daughter has been paralyzed
in all her limbs" he said, "for the last
two months. 1t is sad thing. She
has had all the medical aid in Flor
ence, but without avail"
The sculptor looked again at the
invalid. Nothing more beautiful in
face or form could have been dream
ed Of by Phidias. Aface like Cenci's
before itswas clouded by tho memory
of crime, masses of rich lustrous,
auburn hair, framing q clear, pale
face, with deep blue eyes swimming
beneath fringe of the silkiest black
lashes. Through her delicate muslin
robe the contour of divinely moul-
ded form was indicated, and when the
young Signorina cast upon tho sculp-
tor rapid glance, soft as starlight,
piercing as eclectric fire, he felt his
heart leap with mysterious presage
Of some indefinable catastrophe.
She sat. The sculptor worked at
his model like one inspired, and a
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, tho horses swept
through the gale. The sculptor did
40 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
'1tis not love, but pity that I feel.
one ls paralytic.
"The next day tho samo scene was
enacted, with this difference, that the
prince having seen his daughter seat.
cd 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 mod
ol OF manly beauty, her deplorable
condition was, in her fathers opinion,
n safeguard against any dangers
which might otherwise have antici-
pated. He left the room and drove
away In his carriage A silence en-
sued. The sculptor dare not look at
his model, but worked away on his
clay image without raising his eyes.
Still in silence. Then Il seemed as IL
q slight ruille had filled the room. A
small white hand stole across his
mouth, and burning kiss was prin-
ted on his forehead. With almost n
shrek ho lcapcd TO his feet, and there,
with bushes crimsoning her pale
checks and alabastcr neck, knolt the
paralytio girl, with her eyes implor.
ing pardon.
III saw you q long time ago" she
said, IAN Italian woman when she
loves knows no halfmeasuro, J and i
loved you. Ny father was very strict
with me. ! could not move without
being watched. II was impossible
for me 10 meet you or see you. /
feignod paralysis. For two months
| have scarcely moved. In hispity for
my condition my father relaxed his
surveillance Of my motions. He
gratiflod every wish, and, as an inva-
lid, excited no suspicion by desiring
to become your sister. ] have said
that / love you. If you do not re-
turn my love can only die.
What answer made the American ?
We need not enquire only, when the
Prince di B. returned, he found
nothing in the study but clay model
of paralytio daughter. The original
was nowhere 10 befound. A few days
afterward, in n small own in France,
the Florcntine princess sunk her no
bility in the name Of an American
sculptor.
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