The Shasta courier., 1860-03-17
A Romance in Art Life.

| One of our famous American sculptors resid-
ing in the delightful city of Florence, whittier
all the genius of England and America seem to
tend, was one day seated in his studio at work
on an Apollo, for which, by the way, he might
stand model himself, when his attention
was attracted by Il tremendous trampling of
horses in his courtyard He looked out of the
window and beheld magnificent carriage with
ouriders drawn up before sis door. Presently
a gentleman claimed admitfance to his studio,
and announced himself as the Prince de B. He
came TO give the sclptor large commission
! His daughter, who had been struck by some
statues of the American that she had SEEN wish
ed to sit to him for her bust She was then be-
low in her carriage-was the sculptor at leisure
Price was no object; all that necessary was
to crafty bis daughter, who was an invalid
The sculptor expressed his willingness to be-
gin the work instantly, and the Prince making
sign to the lackeys from the window, they
proceeded to lifta 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 curl
Gus mode of locomotion, the lads did not
bear the slightest trace of illness in her counten-
ance. The Prince interpreted his glance, and
replied to it:
"My daughter has been paralyzed in all her
limbs" he said, 6 for the last two 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
Nothing more beautiful in the face or form
could have been dreamed by Phidias A face
like Cenci's before it was clouded by the mem
ory of crime-masses of rich, lustrous auburn
hair, framing clear pale face, with deep blue
eyes swimming beneath a fringe of the slkiest
black lashes. Through her delicate muslin robe
ba ofa 1i,ipelr- oJ Enr,,
dicated, and when the young signorina cast up
on the sculptor a rapid glance, soft starlight,
piercing as electric fire, he felt his heart leap
with a mysterious pressage of some indefnabe
catastrophe.
She sat. The sculptor worked at his model
like one inspired, and pang struck his heart
as the hour for retiring came. The Prince and
his lackeys bore her again down stairs in their
arms. The carriage door closed on her, and the
horses swept through the gate. The sculptor did
more work that day.
To-mormow she was to come again. He lay
awake all night dreaming her. Then he would
shudder and say to himself, at is not love, but
pity that feel; she is IA paralytic."
The next day the same repeated, with this
difference, that the Prince, having seen his
daughter posted 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 sculp-
tor was a model of manly beauty, her deplorabe
condition was, in her fathers opinion, safe
guard against any OF the dangers which he might
otherwise have anticipated. He lett the room
and drove away in his carriage. A silence en-
sued. The sculptor dared not look at his model
but worked away at 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 burning
kiss imprinted on his forehead. With al
most shrek he leaped to his feet, and then
with bushes crmsoning her pale cheeks and
alabaster neck, knelt the paralytc girl, with her
beautiful eyes imploring pardon.
I" saw you a 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
feigned paralysis; for two months | have
scarcely moved. In his pity for my condition
my father relaxed his surveillance of nv mo-
tions; he gratifed every wish, and, as an inva-
Id excited no suspicion by desiring to become
your sitter. have said that love you if you
do not return my love, can only die.r
W hat answer made the American we need not
1 inquire, only, when the Prince de B. returned he
/ found nothing but clay model of his paralvtic
4 daughter. The original was nowhere to be
found. A few days afterwards, in a small town
in France, the Florentine Princess sunk her no.
/ bollty in the name of an American SCULPTOR.