Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-06-20
NO. %.
THE WIDOWS wHlEs.

fortune mere she appned Il dencat
cambria handkerchief to her eyes
''the loss. She could get no further
Her visitor bowed, with an air Q
respectful coincidence.
81 wish," continued the widow, g
wish to erect monument to the mem
ory of my poor husband. [ have cho
sen you to execute the order" Sh,
had become somewhat calmer.
The sculptor bowed again.
81 wish this monument to be SUI
perb-worthy of the dear companion
whom I have lost proportioned te
Ely-"
She was getting hysterical. Her Wis
itor handed her Il bottle of salts thai
stood convenient Oh the little work
table
The widow resumed, ''Spare no ex
pense. I would willingly consecrate
my whole fortune to his memory"
4 pause, Which the sculptor hesitat-
ed to break
81 should like" said the widow,
again coming to the point, ga temple
with marble columns, and IN the mid
die, upon PEDESTAL, his statue .
Here she swallowed sob.
81 shall do my best to fulfill your
wishes, MAN, said the man of art.
81 had not. however, the honor of
personally knowing the late Mr.. Bel
lair, and his likeness is indispensable
to the completion of the design.
Doubtless you have potrait of him.
The widow raised her rounded arm
and pointed to a magnificent portrait,
by one OF orr first artists.
can o1Fso;ro1,lo
visitor. Il need not ask you if the re-
semblance be striking"
''It is himself. Life is all that is
mine for his.' The handkerchief was
again in requisition.
4 will send for the portrait, ma m,
and I guarantee that the likeness shall
be exact"
''Send for the portrait - cried the
widow, with a stitled shrek; stake
from me my only consolation, mv only
happiness ? Never -
But, ma'am, it VIII only be for
little WHILE
"a little while IA age How
could | live without this ,iear image 2"
1t quits me neither day nor night ]
contemplate IL without ceasing through
ny tears. 1t will never be removed
out of this room, where [ shall pass
the remainder of miserable exist
ence."
The widow had worked herself up
to such itch of feeling that the
sculptor rose to ring the bell for as
sistance But she laid white hand
on his coat-sleeve, and he sat down
again.
''Then you will allow me, ma'am, to
come here to take a copy Of it? Be
not alarmed L shall not long invade
your solitude. A single sitting Will
uffica."
The widow agreed 10 this arrange
ment, and requested the sculptor to
the next day. But he had
1 previous order toexecute. She would
have leyeled the difficulty with gold,
but he stood firm.
"My word is pledged, he said, edo
lot, however, be troubled about the
lelay. I will work so diligently that
he monument shall be finished within
he time that another artist wouldlave
for consideration.
"You have been a witness of my sOr-
row." were the widows parting words;
you may imagine my impatience to
see the work completed Make yonr
)est haste; spare DO expense, and let
lie have Z masterpiece.
He had afterwards several letters 1e-
oeating these iniunctions.
At the end of three months the sculp-
or returned He found the widow
still in the deepest mourning, but her
heck was less pale, and there was a
slight tinge of coquetry III the arrange
ment OF her words.
"Now, ma'am," said the visitor, 81
IN at your disposal.
''Ah well, [ am glad to hear it,
,epIied the widow, with a gracious
smile
sI have sketched the statue and
shall only need one sitting to transfer
he resemblance. Permit ME to enter
your boudoir."
''And wherefore ?" inquired the
widow, with an air OF surprise.
ITO see the portrait
ooh will you walk into the draw
ng-room ? it is there you viii find ii
low."
Indeed p
''Ycs; there is much better light
han i'll the boudoir, where you first
.aw it.
Would you like to look at a sketch
,f the monument, n5a'aln?''
"Willingly. How grand What
'xquisite ornaments. Why, itS
,alace, this tumb.' cacla;mel the
widow
You told ne, ma'am, that it could
lot be too magnificent. [ have spared
I