, 1859-11-17

Une OF our famous American aculptors, re-
siding iu the delightful city Of Florence, With
er all the genius Of England and America seem
to tend. was one day seated in his studio ut
work on an Apollo, for which, by the way, be
might stand as model himself, when his atten-
ton was attracted by tremendous trau1ping
Of horses i'll his courtyard. He looked out OF
the window md beleld magnificent carriage
with out riders drawn up before Lis door. Pres
ently gentleman claimed admitsance to his
studio, aud announced himself as the Prince de
u. He came to give the sculptor large COM
mission Ills daughter, who had been struck bv
some statutes OF tie American that she had
seen, wished to sit 10 him for her bust. She WIS
then below in the casriage--was the sculptor at
leisure: Price was no object; all that Was
necessary was to crafty his daughter, who was
an inyalid.
The sculptor expressed his willingness to be-
GIN the work instantly, and the Prince making
a sign to his lackeys, from the window, they
proceeded to Lift q lovely girl, who seemed
about eighteen, out Of the carriage, and bore
her in their arms carefully up the stairs. The
sculptor could not repress look Of surprise at
the curious mode Of locomotion, rs the lads did
not bear the slightest truce Of illness in her
countenancc- The Prince Interpreted his glance
aud replied to it:
My daughter has been paraly.ed in all her
limbs" he said, "for the last two months. 1t
il a sad thing. She has had all the medical aid
in Florence, but without avail"
Tue sculptor looked again at the invalid.
Nothing more beautiful in the face or form
could huyc been drca,nud b.; phidias. 4 face
like Cenci's before II WAS clouded by the mem
ory Of crine-masses Of riclI, lustrous auburn
hair, framing clear, pale face, with deep blue
eyes swimming beneath fringe Of the silkiest
black 1ashes. Through her delicate muslin robe
the contour Of 4 divlnely moulded form was in
dicated, md when the young signora cast upon
tue sculptor rapid glance, soft rs starlight,
piercing as electric fire, he felt his heart leap
with mysterious prcsage Of some indefnnble
catastrophe.
She sat. The sculptor worked ut his model
like one inspired, and a pans struck his heart
rs the hour Of retiring came. The Prince and
his lackeys bore her again dorm stairs in their
arms. Tie carriage door closed on her, aud the
horses swept though the gate. The sculptor
did no more work that day.
Tomorrow she was to come agein. lie lay
awake alt night dreaming Of her. Then be
would shudder and say to himself, alt is not
lore but pity that feel: she is para!ytlc!"
The next lay the same WAS repeated with this
difference, that The Prince, having seen bis
daughter posed by the artist, excused himself
on the plea Of business engagement, sa5ing
that he would return in time to conduct his
daughter home Poor grill although the sculp-
tor wns model Of manly beauty, her deplora-
bic condition was, in her fathers opinion, a
safeguard against nny of the dangers which be
might otherwise have anticipated He 1eit the
room and drove away ia lis carriage. A silence
cnsued. The sculptor dared not look at his
model, but worked away Mt his clay image
w..hout raising his eyes; still silence. Then
it seemed as Il u rustic had filed the room
4 small white hand stole acsos his mouth and
burning kiss was imprinted on his forehead.
With almost shrek, be leaped to his feet, aud
then, with bushes crimsoning her pale cheeks
and nlabaster neck, knels the paralyetic girl,
with her beautiful eyes inploring pardon.
II saw you long time ago." She said. Tan
Italian woman, when she loves, knows no
half mcasure). "Ay father vas very stric.
with me. could not move without being
| watched. 1t was impossible for me to meet yoI
| or see you. feigned paralysis; for two mouths
| hare scarcely moyed- In his pity for my con.
di.ion my father relaxed his Surveillance Of my
motions be grati6ed my every wish, aud as an
invalid excited no suspicion By desiring to be.
come your sitter. hare said that love you;
| If you do not return mr. lore, l can only die.'
What answer made the American, We need
not enquire, only when the Prince de B. return.
ed, he found nothing but a clay model of hi.
pa.alytic daughter. The original was no where
10 be found. 4 few days afterwards, in a small
town in france, the Florentine Princess sunk
her nobility in the name Of an American scnlp
for.