The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-03-03

| CHOW foolish | arm! Is it posi-
| bic am in love? No, it is not love,
| but pity, that | feel for her unfortu-
nate condition. She is paralytic!
Poor child She has the moulding OF
q Pysche, the fair face of the Cenci be-
! fore it was clouded with the dark
memory of crime. No, it is admira,
tion and pity that feel for this fair
!, but singularly unfortunate princess
| nothing more. !"
The next day the same scene was re-
| peated.
The prince came in and waited to
see his daughter comfortably settled in
the great velvet chair; then heexcused
himself on the plea OF an imperative
business engagement andwent away.
The princess sat motionless while
! the artist worked, and in the studio
there was only silence and a sweet lin
gering perfume of white lilacs. The
artist scarcely dared look at his
model, for at times he caught sud
den flash OF the purple eyes, and that
look that seemed to envelop him as if
| in a garment of fre-to dazzle his
sight and take away his breath and
confuse his already bewildered brain.
Thus passed day after day. She
was carried up to the studio in the
morning and taken away in the after
noon, her father anticipating no dam
ger; her deplorable condition he
thought safeguard against harm.
But matters were approaching a
crisis. One day, after the low rumble
of the wheels had died away, and the
| sculptor was working like galley
slave, his heart and brain on fire, a
silence ensued which was so deep that
it became embarrassing. He dared
him, therefore he worked on. Still
silence. Then slight rustic filled the
studio, breath of white lilacs was
waited up to the artists face, and he
felt his neck encircled by a warm arm.
The astonished man leaped to his
feet. AS he stood in speeches. amaze
Elent his eyes fell upon the princess,
who knelt before him, her snowy
hands pressed tightly over her heart.
The lovely face was appraised to his,
| and on it's pure, fair oval pink bushes
were coming and going. In her sweet,
soft tones she said:
"Ah, good signor, pardon me!''
Then she paused, and her breath
came in gasps.
He was silent; establishment had
rendered him dumb, and he could only
wonder what was coming next.
II saw you a long time ago-and I
loved you! My father is kind to me,
but he is also very stern. He watched
my every step, it seemed"
! AroIro che oy,1 ha o~,,11 ~
speak; this wondrous confession dazed
him.
II could not meet yon and my heart
was bursting. I at last formed des-
perate scheme; I would feign paralysis
may the Holy Virgin pard on the sin!
For two long months / have been as
you saw me, apparently helpless. My
condition brought me much sympa-
thy and my father relaxed his strict
surveillance. AS a helpless invalid un-
able to. walk I excited no suspicion
when made known my desire to be-
come your model. He at first wished
my old governess to accompany me,
but | declared that thus .hampered I
should be unable to pose, for she was
| ever prating OF decorum."
The artist stood like one petrifed.
He felt as it strong wine spanked in
his Veins instead Of the dull, slow
fluid that had hitherto coursed there.
He spoke no word-he could not
but stood looking down at the kneel-
I ing princess, whose cheeks were GRIM
soning beneath his glance, and whose
| eyes had great drops of crystal that
trembled on the long curling lashes.
"Ah, signor, do notfail me! Do not
think me bold and unwomanly!
When an italian woman loves she
knows no half measures have said
that love you! All, see my humil-
lty, when confess to you on my
knees! And now if you do not return
my possession I can only die" p.
What answer made the sculptor?
| Need we ask when his entire heart and
soul had gone out SO completely to
this wonderful princess who a short
time ago was a helpless cripple?
He raised the blushing and fearful
girl in his arms, pressed her close to
his throbbing heart and kissed her red
lips. =.
"My only love-my fair princess!''
"Ah, signor, what shall we do? If
my father finds us thus I must be
sent straight to the gloomy convent.
Oh, l dare not think of what will hap
pen!" she said, tremblingas she real.
lied the step she had taken. ...s
'Let us fly at once. There is not a
moment to lose! That alone can
save you from the wrath OF the
prince" he said.
"May our lady forgive me! But for
such love as mine one might we'll
throw the world away"
When the prince returned that after
noon he found the studio vacant. He
looked around with astonishment.
The great velvet chair was empty,
and there was nothing to remind him
OF his daughter but bit of cobweb
lace-her hnndkerchief-an q few
crushed petals of white lilac lying on
the carpet. Sculptor and model had
vanished as completely as though the
sea had swallowed them.
The proud and pompous prince flew
into violent passion; he TUNED and
swore vengeance on both. His idol