Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-05-02
A MODEL WIFE.

a MODEL WIFE
pleasant little Forentine story reached me,
the other day. One of our famous American
sculp,ors, residing in that delightful ciiy With
er all the genius of England and America 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 atten-.
tion was attracted by tremendous uampling
OF horses in his courtyard. lie looked out Of
The window and beheld magnificent carriage.
with Ouiriders drawn up before his door. Pres
emily gentleman claimed admission to his stu
dlo, and announced himself as the Prince dc
-. lie came TO give the sculptor large
commission. His daughter, who had been
struck by some statutes Of the American that
she had seen, wished 10 sit TO him for her bust
She was then below in the carriage. Was the
sculptor at leisure
Price was object all that was necessary
was TO crafty his daughter, who was an invalid,
The sculptor expressed his willingness 10 be-
gin the work instantly, and the Prince making
sign to his ackcys from the window, they
proceeded TO lift lovely girl, who seemed about
eighteen, out Of the carriage and bore her in
arms carefully up the stairs 10 the artists studio.
The sculptor could not repress look ofsurprse
a: this curious mode Of lpcomoiion, particularly
as the lady did not bear the slightest trace of i'll
ness in her counenance. The Prince inter-
pre,ed his glance and replied it. "My daugh-
tor has hse" naraiyz-d i" oil her limbs" he
said "for the last two months. 1t is a 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 the face or form
could have been dreamed by Phidias.
A face like Cecils before il was clouded with
the memory of crime; masses of rich luslrous
auburn hair, framing clear, pale face, with
deep blue eyes swimming beneath fringe of
the silkiest black lashes.
Through her delicate muslin robe the con-
tour of divinely moulded form was indicated,
and when the young Signorna cast upon the
lptor rapid glance, soft as starlight, pierre
ing as electric fire, he felt his heart leap with
a mysterious presage of some indefnable eatas-
irophe.
She sat and the sculptor worked at his mod
el like one inspired, aud pang struck his heart
as the hour for her retiring came.
The Prince and his lackeys bore her again
down slnils III t'elr arms he carriage-uOor
closed on her, the horses swept through the
gate. The sculptor did no more work that day.
Tomorrow she was 10 come again. lie lay
awake all night thinking of her. Then he
would shndder, and say 10 himself, at is moi
love but pity that feel. She is paraytic."
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 daughter home. Poor girl although the
sculptor was model of manly beauty, her de-
plorable condition was, in her fathers opinion
a safeguard against any Of The dangers which
he might otherwise have anticipated. He left
the room, and drove away in his carriage. A
silence ensned The sculptor dared not look
at his model but worked away on his clay i'm
age without raising his eyes. Still silence.
Then it seemed as il slight rustic had filed
the room. small white hand stole across his
mouth, and a burning kiss was printed on his
forehead. With almos. shrek he leaped to
his feet, and there, with bushes crimsonng her
pale cheeks and alabasier neck, knei The para
lytc girl, with her beautiful eyes implorng par
don.
81 saw You long time ago." she said Gan
Italian woman when she loves knows no half
"and loved you. My father was
very strict with me. could not move with
out being watched. feigned paralysis For
two months have scarcely moved. Ia his
pity for my condition my father relaxed his sur
veillance Of my motions. He gratfed every
wish, and as an invalid excited no suspicion
by desiring TO become your sitter. have said
that loved you. If you do not return my love
| can only die"
What answer made the American We
need not inquire, only when the prince dc
B--relurned, he found nelhing in the studio
but a clay model of his paralytic daughter
The original was nowhere 10 be found
A few days aiterward, in small town of
France the Florentine princess sunk her nobil-
ily in the name of an American sculptor.