Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-09-24
THE WIDO WIS WIN.

- - ~ ~ " - HAlh.
you know" said the widow. In n voioe
broken with sobs 1.-THE misfortune"-bere
she applied delicate cambria handkerchief
to her eyes-''the loss"-she could get no
further.
Her visitor bowed with an air Of respectful
coincidence.
II wish" continued the widow, "-I wish
to erect monument TO the memory Of nv
poor husband l have chosen you tc execute
the order She had become somewhat calm
or.
The sculptor bowed.
Il wish this monument to be superb
worthy of the dear companion whom / have
lost proportional 10 my"
She was getting hysteIical. Her visitor
handed her bottle Of salts that stood con-
venient on the little work table
The widow resumed. 'Spare no expense.
would willingly consecrate my whole for
tune to honor his memory"
pause, which the sculptor hestated to
break.
II should like, said the widow again. COM
ing to the point, "a temple, with marble col.
umns, and in the middle, upon pedestal, his
| statue"
Here she gulped down q sob.
Il shall do my best to fulfil your wishes
madame, replied the man of art. II had
not, however, the honor of personally know
ing the late Mr.. -, aud his likeness is in
disPensable to the completion OF the design;
doubtless you have portrait of him."
The widow raised her rounded arm, and
pointed to magnificent portrait by one Of
our first artists.
AN admirable painting!" said the visitor
Il need not ask you IL the resemblance be
striking"
ut is himself Life is all that Is needed.
Alb il could have given mine for his !"
The handkerchief was again in requisition.
II will send for the portrait, madame, and
l guarantee that the likeness shall be exact"
Send for the portrait !" cried the widow,
with stihed shrek, take from me my only
consolation my only happiness Never ="
But, madame, it will be only for q little
while"
"A little while An age! How could
live without this dear image? 1t quits me
neither day nor night contemp plate it with
out ceasing, through my tears. It will never
be removed out of this room, whers l shall
pass the remainder OF miserable existence"
The widow had worked herself up TO suoh
pitch OF feeling that the sculptor rose to
ring the bell for assistance. But she laid q
white hand upon his coat.sleeve, and he sat
down again.
Then you will allow me, madame, to
come here to take copy of ii? Be not alarm
ed shall not long invade your solitude.
single sitting will suffice"
The widow agreed TO this arrangement, and
requested the sculptor to commence the next
day. But he had a previous order to execute.
She would have leveled the difficulty with
gold but he stood firm.
MY word is pledged" he said. "Do not,
however, be troubled about the delay. will
work so diligently that the monument shall
be finished within the time that another art
ist would have requested for consideration"
You have been witness Of my sorrow,"
were the widows parting words you may
imagine my Impotence TO see the work COM
pleted. Make your best haste spare no ex-
pense, and let me have a chef d eupre."
de had afterwards several letters repeating
| these injunctons.
At the end of three months the sculptor re-
turned. He found the widow still in the
deepest mourning but her cheek was less
pale, and there was slight tinge of ooquetry
in the arrangement of her weeds.
Now, madame" said the visitor, II am
at your disposal"
"Ah we'll, am glad to hear it," said the
widow, with gracious smile.
II have sketohed the statue, and shall only
need one sitting to transfer the resemblance
Permit me to enter your private chamber"
And wherefore?" inquired the widow,
ITO see the portrait"
"Oh! will you walk into the drRwing-room
1t is there that you will find it now"
Indeed !"
| Yes; there is much better light than in
the room where you first saw it.
Would you like to see the sketch of the
monument2"
Willingly. How grand What exquisite
ornaments Why, 1t is palace, this tomb |"
| you told me, madame, that It could not
be too magnificent, | have spared no ex-
pense and here is an estimate of what the
monument will cost YOU"
Dear me !" cried the widow, after having
glanced at the sum total. at Is enormous !"
You begged me TO spare nothing"
Certainly l wish to do the thing hand
somely. Still, We ought to be rational"
well, this ia only the first sketch, There
is yet time to alter your intentions"
Very good. Suppose, then, We suppress
the temple, the columns-all the architecture,
In Shorthand content ourselves with the
statueP was too ambitious that will be
quite sufficient"
you shall be obeyed."
1T is decided, then. Nothing but the
statue"
A short time after this second visit the
sculptor fell dangerously i'll. He was Obliged
to suspend his labors and, having followed
the recommendation of his physician and
made tour of the continent, he presented
himself anew before the widow, who was now
in the tenth month Of her bereavement
This time there we're some roses among the
cypress the weeds we're fast disappearing.
The artist brought with him q little plaster
model Of his statue, which promised 70 be a
masterpiece.
"What do you think OF the ressm blanoe p
he said 10 the widow.
as 1t not little hAttered' My poor hus.