Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-05-05
QDblio Statesman,
From London Society.l
THE MODELS STORY.

obtained was through the influence of
little lady whose name l have already mem
tioned-hIary WyllfOrd. Within two years
after had left the doctors establishment
he had received colonial appointment;
and when he left his native country, deep
ly beloved and regretted by his old pupils
(whose pious tribute to his worth finally
took the form of silver inkstand), Mary
came up to town to live with her mother, q
young and1still handsome widow, of eight
and thirty, who had just returned from the
Continent. had often felt some surprise
that Mrs. Wyllford should have voluntarily
separated herself for SO long a time from
her child but Mary now made no secret OF
the fact that her mother had been in very
poor circumstances, and that, as her uncle
the doctor had kindly offered to take charge
of her, Mrs. Wyllford, unwilling to be-
come further burden on her brother-in-
law, had accepted the situation of compan-
ion to a lady who was travelling abroad.
The unexpected death, however, of dis
tant relative, had not only placed them
henceforth beyond the reach of want, but
actually would insure for Miss Mary very
pretty little fortune by the time she came
of age. r..... + n.....- ..- ..
The first thing the good little girl did af-
ter they had settled in their new house was
be very agreeable and accomplished wo-
man, to let me paint her portrait. l have
studied many heads since Mrs. Wyllford
sat to me, but never remember one with
which was more impressed at first sight.
Hers was beauty of which it might truly
be said that it improved with age. just as
the first autumnal tintS only enhance the
charms of what was last months summer
landscape, SO some faces, think, become
more interesting in middle life than in the
fullest bloom of youth. There was some
times a sweet sad smile on Mrs. Wyllford's
features, which told of patientsuflerin9 and
unwearying love through many year of
trial. did not know her history then, but
had heard that she had married as a school
girl, and that the union had been an unhap-
py one. Mary never mentioned her fathers
name to me, and took care toavOid sub
ject which knew would be painful to her.
She had now grown up a fine, fair-haired,
| rosy-cheeked girl of seventeen, and, alter
| the renewal of our acquaintance, confess
| that the boyish affection which felt for her
at school soon ripened into stronger pass
| ion. In short, fell in love with her, and,
| in the language of diflident suitors of the
| last century, had reason to hope that l was
not altogether despised. But how could /,
| a young tyro, just entering on my profess
/ ion, without prospect OF an inheritance for
| years to come, how could venture to make
| known my case without the possibility of
Offering her homeY AS the little pinator-
ed dependant on the doctors bounty, she
was an object of compassion but as the
heiress of five hundred pounds year she
might marry a man in some position-nay,
would probably now have many such low
ers at her feet. l was determined, at all
events, to defer saying word TO her on the
| subject until there was some prospect ol
my professional success. L was engaged on
picture which it was my wish to send to
| the ensuing Royal Academy exhibition,
If it were accepted, 1 thought might ven
ture to look for further commissions: and
the bright hope of Mary's love stimulated
me to increased industry.
The subject had chosen for illustration
| was the statue scene in the winters Tale, y
at the moment when Leontes stands trans
| fixed before Hermione, hardly daring to
recognize her as his living wife. had had
| great difficulty in procuring a model for
| Leontes but at last succeeded in engaging
| one through the assistance ofa brother artist,
4 who sent him to me one morning with a
letter of recommendation. He was a tall,
wellmade man, whose age perhaps was un-
| der forty-rather too young, in fact, for the
character he was to personate, If his hair,
which was turning prematurely grey, had
not supplied the deficiency. l gathered
from my friends letter that he had seen
better days-and, indeed, the moment he
entered my studio was struck by his ap-
pearance. His features bore all the evil
dence of gentle birth; and yet there were
marks of want and care upon them which
seemed incompatible with their refinement.
i His manner was particularly quiet and sub
dued, and, unlike most models whom had
Il engaged, he seldom spoke, even during the
short interval in which he was allowed to
rest from what is technically called the
''pose." .. ...r..
After few sittings he seemed to gain
confidence, and, finding | was interested
in him, gave me, one dark November morn
ing, while dense black fog obscured the
| light and rendered painting impossible, the
following account of hisl life:
"You are right, SIR" said he, sin suppos-
ing that was born in better station o.
life than this. I've been too proud
perhaps too toolishly proud-to own it tc
those who have employed me in this way
before; but there is something about you
which leads me to trust you with my secret
or, at least, that part of it which l dare tc
speak Of" l.1.a
Il assured him that would not betray hi
confidence, and he went on, his voice trem'
bling as he spoke: ans r-e ere7s.
81 was the only son of an officer in the
Indian army, who had married late in life
and at the time of my birth was living or
half-pay in the west of England. My moth
er died when l was ten years old; and my
father, who indulged me in every way as 8
child, dreading what he conceived to be
the bad influence of a public school, deter
mined to educate me himselfat home. The
motives which induced him to make this res.
olution were, no doubt, very good; but ex-
perience has since taught me that, in doing
SO, he made agrievous mistake. A private
education may, indeed, answer very well in
exceptional cases ;butas a rule,and particu.
larly when boys are waywardly inclined, il
is the worstof all systems. When 1 weni
to college, at the age of nineteen, had seer
nothing of the world. found myself sud-
denly emancipated from parental control
in the midst of dangerous pleasures which
had all the charm of novelty, and associa-
ting with companions whose example nc
experience had taught me to avoid. Nat
urally impulsive in my temperament,
was soon led away, step by step, into follies
and vices which had never learnt to see In
. their proper light. / soon became deeply
| involved in debt, and, much to my fathers
disappointment, left Oxford without taking
a degree. ".ToT tsu8 REL Lon
0He received me with GOODNESS, and even
| severity, and told me that if i ever hoped
to re-establish myself in his favor, / must
speedily reform my habits, and enter at once
on the study of the profession whichhe had
chosen for me. 1t was his wish that
should qualify myself for the bar; and with
this end in view, was placed in solicitors
office at III. 3D5E u-i5u
II can console entiously say that at this