Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-06-02
HOW SHE WON HIM.

eI me the other day. One of our fa-
nous American sculptors, residing in
that delightful city whittier all the gen.
ius of England, 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 a model himself
when his attention was attracted by a
tremendous tramping of horses in his
count yard. He looked out the window
and beheld magnificent carriage with
outriders. drawn up befoTs his door,
Presently a gentleman claimed admis
sion to his studio and announced himself
as tie Prince Di G.. 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 10 him for her
bust. She was then below in the car
riage. Was the sculptor at leisure?-
Price was no object; all that was neces-
sary was 10 crafty lis daughter, who
was an invalid.
The sculptor expressed his willingness
to begin the work ins :anlly. and the
Prince made a sign TO his lackeys from
the window, they proceeded to lift a
lovely girl who seemed to be about eigh
teen, out of the carriage, 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 cur
ious mode Of locomotion, particularly as
the lady did not bear the slightest trace
of illness in her countenance. The
Prince interpreted his glance aud re7li
ed TO it.
my daughter has been paralized in
all her limbs" he said, ''for the last two
months; it 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
form could have been dreamed by Phid-
las. A face like Cenci's before it was
clouded with the memory of crime; mas
ses of rich, lustiious auburn hair, fran
ing a clear, pale face, with deep blue
eyes swimming beneath fringe of the
silkiest black lashes. Through her deli
cate muslin robe the contour of divine
" moulded form was 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 a mysterious presage of some
indefnable catastrophe.
She sat. The sculptor worked at his
model like one inspired, and paug
struck his heart as the hour Of her re-
firing came. The Prince and his lack
eys 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 wolk that day.
Tomorrow she was to come again.
He lay awake all night dreaming OF her.
Then he would shudder, and say to
himself, at is not love. but pity, that l
feel. She is a paralyticl"
The next day the same scene was re
peated with this dilfernce, that the Prince
having seen his daughter posed by the
artist, excused himself on the plea of a
business engagement, saying that he
would return in time to conduct his
daughter home. Poor girl, although the
sculptor was a model of manly beauty,
her deplorable condition was, in her
fathers opinion. safeguard against any
of the. dangers which he might otherwise
anticipate He left the room, and drove
away in his carriage. A silence ensued.
The ulptor dared not look al his model,
but worked away on his clay image
without raising his eyes. Sill silence.
then it seemed as il slight rustling had
filed The room. A smal. white hand
stole across his mouth, and burning
kiss was printed on his forehead. With
almost a shrek, he leaped to his feet.
and there, with bushes crimsoning her
pale check and alabaster neck. knelt the
paraIylic girl. with her beautiful eyes
imploring pardon.
81 saw you long time ago." she
said, an Italian woman when she loves
knows no half measure,) "and l loved
you. Ny father was very strict with me.
l could not move without being watched.
It was impossible for me to meet you or
see you. Ifeigned paralysis. For two
months have scarcely moved. In his
pity for my condition. my father relaxed
his surveillance of my motions. He graf
iied every wish, and as an invalid l ex-
cited no suspicion by desiring to become
YOUR sitter. have said that loved you.
If you do not return nv love, can on
ly die"
What answer made the American? -
We need not inquire. only when the
Prince Di G. returned, he found |
nothing in the studio but clay model of
his paralytic daughter. The original
was nowhere to be found. A few days
afterwards, in a small town of France,
the Florentine princess sunk her nobility
in the name of an American sculptor.