The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-05-14
A MODEL WIFE.

|
full city, whittier all the genius of England
seems to tend, was one day seated in his
studio at wark on an Apollo-for which,
by the way, he might stand as model
himself-when his attention was attracted
by tremendous trampling Of horses in
his courtyard. lie looked out of the win
dow, and behell q magnificent carriage,
with outrders drawn up before his door.
Presently a gentleman claimed admission
to his studio, and announced himself rs the
Prince di B. lie came to give the
sculptor a large commission. His daugh-
ter, who had been struck 10y 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 scul ptor at
leisure? Price was no ol.jcct-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
making sign to his lackoys from the win
dow, they proceeded to lift 2 lovely girl
who seemed about eighteen, out of the car
riagc and bore her in their arms carefully
up the stairs to the artists studio. The
, sculptor could not repress a look Of surprise
at this curious mode of locomotion, partic-
f ularly as the lady did not bear the slightest
trace Of illness in her countcnance The
Prince interpreted his glance and replied
, to it:
"My daughter has been paralyzed in all
S her limbs" lie said, "for the last two
Y months. 1t is a sad thing. She has had
all the medical aid in Florence, but without
avail"
: The sculptor looked again at the invalid.
y Nothing moro beautiful in face or form
$ could have been dreamed by Phidias. a
!, face like Ccnci's before it was clouded with
y the illeiiory Of crime, masses Of rich, lus.
G trous auburn hair, framing clear, pale face,
It with deep blue eyes swimming beneath a
fringe of the sikicst black lashes. Through
her delicate muslin robe the contour Of a
:. divinely moulded form were indicated, and
- when the young Signorina cast upon the
:. sculptor lapid glance, soft rs starlight
:, piercing as electric fire. he felt his heart LEAP
" with a mysterious presage of some indie.
IN finable catastrophe.
49, She sat. The sculptor worked Mt his
al model like one inspired, and pang struck
~ his heart rs the hour for her retiring came
II The Prince and his lackeys bore her again
:, down stairs in thei. arms. The carriage
4 door closed on her, the horses swept through,
:. the gate. The sculptor did no more work
,t that day.
o, Tomorrow she was to come again. lie
20 lay awake all night dreaming of her. Then
i, he would shudder, and say to himself, 1t
is not love, but pity that I feel She is q
y. paraytic!"
of The next day the same scene was repeat
o. ed, with this difference, that the Prince hav.
e. ing seen his daughter poised by the artist
Il excused himself on tie plea Of a business
y. engagement, saying that lie would return
l. in time to conduct Ills daughter home
10 Poor girl, although the sculptor was a mod
i. el Of manly beauty, her deploraLle cond
~ tion was in her fathers opinion, safeguard
70 against any of the dangers which he migh
otherwise have anticipated. lie left thu
room, and drove away in his carriage A
silence ensued: The scul ptor dared no
y, y, look at his model, but worked away on Iii
~ clay image without raising his eyes. Still
80 silence. Then it seemed rs if Sigh
~ :" ruffe had filled the room. a small Whit
~ hand stole across fis mouth, and burning
- kiss was printed on lsis forehead. Witt
w ", almost a shriek, he ieaped to his feet, ant
~ there, with bushes crimsoniug her pal
:, checks and alabaster neck, knet the para
~ u: lytic girl with her eyes imploriug par
y" don.
~ II saw YOU long tine ago." she sale
w ian Italian woman when she loves know
"e ~ no half measure) "and loved you. NJ
~ father was very strict with me. could nc
c~.S ~ move without being watched. 1t was in
~ ~ possible for ms to meet YOU or see you.
. ~. feigpcd paralysis. For two months has
~ y: scarcely moved. In his pity for my cond
ton my father relaxed his surveillance
wv my motions. He gratifed every wish, ant
70" as an invalid, excited no suspicion by d
az" az. string to become your sister. have sal
''' that love. If you do not return my low
>'s I can only die"
o." What answer made the Americana W
', ',e need not inquire; only, when the Prince
'ne w B returned, lie found notbipgsip' Il
''eS studio but clay model Of his pasaiyt
'ao daughter. The original was nowhere
Va be found. A few days afterwards, in.
ae' tsmall town of France, the Florepiae Phi
~" cess sunk hes nobility IN the name Of I
1aV American scafptor. Jsd9s -