The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-04-14
A Romance in Art Life.

oue VI our IaInous American sculp-
tors, residing in the delightful city Of Flo.
renee, whittier all the genius OF England
and America seems to tend, WAS one dar
seated in his studio, at work on an Apol.
lo--for which, by the way he might stand
as a model bimselt--wheu his attention
was attracted by tremendous trampling
OF horses in his court yard. He looked
out OF the window, and bebeld mapni.
tieen: carriage with outriders drawn up
before his door. Presently a gentleman
claimed admission 10 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 statutes Of the Amer.
lean that she had seen, wished 10 sit to
him for her bust. She was then below in
the carriage. Was the sculptor at leis.
urel Price was no object-all that was
necessary was to crafty his daughter
who was an invalid.
The scul ptor expressed his willingness
to begin the work instantly; and the
Prince, making q sign to his lackeys from
the window, they proceeded to lift a love.
ly girl, who seemed about eighteen, out
OF the carriage, and bore her in their arms
carefully up the stairs to the artists stu
dio. 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 countenance. The Prince interpreted
his glance, and replied to il.
Ny daughter has been paralyzed in all
her limbs he said, Tor the last two
months. 1t is sad thing. She has had
all the medical aid in Florence, but with.
out avail
The sculptor looked again at the inva.
lid. Nothing more beautiful in face or
torn could have been dreamed by Phi
dias. A face like Cenci's, before It wns
clouded with the memory of crime
Masses Of rich, lus,rous auburn hair, fra.
ming clear, pale face. with deep blue
eyes swimming beneath fringe of the
silkiest black lssbes, Through her deli.
cate muslin robe the contour Of divine.
y moulded form was indicated and when
The young Signorina cast upon the sculp.
tor a rapid glance, soft as starlight, pior.
cling as electric fire, he felt his heart leap
with a mysterious presage Of some inde-
hnable catastrophe. ..--
She sat. The sculptor worked at his
model like one inspired, and paug struck
his heart AS the hour for ber retiring came.
The prince and bis laekeys bore her again
down stairs in their arms. The carriage
door closed ON her. the horses swept
through the gate. The sculptor did no
more work that day.
TO morrow she was to come again.
He lay awake all night dreaming of her.
Then he would shudder, and say to him.
self, 1t is not love, but pity that feel
She is paralytic =
The next day the scene was repeated,
with this difference, that the prince, hav-
ing seen his daughter posed by tho artist,
excused himself on the plea OF bust
ness engagement. saying that he would
return in time to conduct his daughter
home. Poor girl although the scu ptor
was a model Of manly beauty, her deplo-
rable condition was, in her fathers opin.
ion, safeguard against any Of the dan
gers which he might otherwise have an
ticipated. He left the room, and drove
away in his carriage. A silence ensued.
The culptor dared not look at his model,
but worked away at his clay image with.
out raising his eyes. Still silence. Then
It seemed as If slight rustic had filed
the room. A small white hand stole
across his mouth, and burning kiss was
imprinted on his forehead. With almost
shrek he leaped to bis feet, and there,
with bushes crimsoning her pale cheeks
and alabaster neck, knelt the paralytic
girl, With her beautiful eyes imploring
pardon.
4 saw you long time ago. she said.
Gan Italian woman, when she loves, knows
no half measure). MY father was very
strict with me. I could not move without
being watched. 1t WAS impossible for me
to meet you or see you. feigned para
lysis. For two months I have scarcely
moved. In bis pity for my condition, my
father relaxed his surveillance of my mo-
tions. He gratiffed every wish, and, as
an invalid, | excited no suspicion by de-
siring to become your sitter. ] have said
that love you. II you do not return
my lo9e, I can only de-
What answer made tue American -
We need not inquire; only, when the
Prince di B returned, he found moth
ing in his studio but clay model Of his
paralytic daughter; The original was no.
where TO be found. A few days after.
wards, in q small town Of France the
Fiorentine Princess sunk her nobility IN
the name Of an American sculptor.