Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1859-12-20

Isculptor large commission His dnught.
| er, who had been struck by some statues
of the American that she had seen, wished
to sit to him for her bust She was then
below in her carriage Was the sculpt. T
ut leisure? Price was no object; 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
giving sign to his lackeys from the win
dow, they proceeded to lift q lovely girl,
who appeared about eighteen. out of the
carringe, and bore her in their arms care
fully up the stairs. The sculptor could
not repress look of surprise Mt the curious
mode of locomotion, as the lady did not
bear the slightest trace of illness in her
conntennncc. The prince interpreted his
surprise, and immediately replied toit:
Sly daughter has been pnr0lvzcd in all
limbs" he said, "for the last two months:
it is sad thing. She has had all the
medical aid to be had in Florence, but tu'po
avail"
Tbs sculptor looked again at the invalid.
Nothing more beautiful in the face or form
could have been dreamed of by Phidias.-
a face like Cenci's before it was clomded
by the memory of crime-masses of rich,
lustrous auburn hair, framing u clear. pale
fringe of the silkicst black lashcs.-
Through her delicate muslin robe, the
contour of Il divtnely-moulded form was
indicated; and often the signorita cast upon
the SculptorarNpidg glance, softas starlight,
piercing us the elcctrOus presage of some
indetinablc catastrophe.
She sat. The sculptor worked at his
model like one inspired, and pang struck
his heart as the hOnr for retiring cumc.-
The prince and his lackeys bore her again
down stairs i'll their arms The carriarc-
door closed on her, and the horses swept
through the gate. The sculptor did no
more work that day.
Tomorrow she was to come again. lie
lay awake all night, dreaming of her,
Then he would shuddcr and whisper to
himself:
"It is not love, but pity, that feel; she
is a paralytic! -
The next day the same was repeated,
with this diffcrencc-that the prince cx-
cused 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 deplornble
condition was, in her fathers opinion, Il
safeguard against amy of the dangers which
he might otherwise have anticipated. He
left the room and drove away in his car
riagc. y silence ensucd. The sculptor
dared not look at his model. but worked
away ut his clay image without raising his
eyes; still silence. Then it seemed as if
slight rustic had filled the room. a
small white hand stole across his mouth.
and a burning kiss was imprinted upon his
forehead. With almost shrek lie lcapcd
to his feet, and then, with bushes Grim
soning her pale check and alahastcr ewes,
implored his pardon.
81 saw you long time ago" she said.
An Italian woman, when she loves. knows
no half measure.) ''My father was very
strict with me. | could not move without
being watched. 1t was impossible for me
to meet you or see you. ] fcigncd paraly-
sis; for nearly two months have scarcely
moved. In his pity for my condition. my
father relaxed his surveillance Of my mo-
tions; he gratificd every wish, and, as an
invalid, L excited no suspicion by desiring
to become your sitter. l have said that
love you: you do not return nv love. |
can only die"
What answer the American made we
need not enquire; only, when Prince dc
B returned he found nothing but a
clay model of his paralytic daugher! The
original was nowhere to be found. y few
days afterwnrd, in small town in France.
the Florentime princess sunk her nobility
in the nnmc of the American sculptor.