The Story of a Young Peasant Girl.

Auckland Star, Volume XIII, Issue 3704, 24 June 1882, Page 1 (Supplement)

The Story of a Young Peasant Girl.

A Paris journalist has discovered a real "Cinderella"in the person of the wife of an English millioniare, whose name he withholds from delicacy or other causes. About fifteen years ago the painter Herbert was executing his.fine portrait of the Duchess of Noailles. Ho was working at the same time upon an exquisite "genre" picture, in whose progress thcDuchcss took a great interest. It represented a young Italian girl of extraordinary loveliness. One day the Duchess said to the artist: •'lt is impossible that such a face should be a *mere painter's ideal. The orginal must sometimes come to your studio. I should like to see her." The lady was so charmed with the girl that she said to the painter: "If the rich give so much money to hang up a copy on their walla, what an ornament the original would be for any salon." The thought which she had thus struck out seemed to have fa«cinated her, and when the picture of the beautiful Italian "irl had found its way into Baron Rothschild's collection at Ferrieros in 1872, the original had developed into a woman of wonderful beauty. Her guardian kept a jealous cyo upon her numerous admirers, determining that if her Cinderella did not become a princess, sho would marry into a family of high social distinction. Meanwhile an Englishman of very creat wealth, who was visiting the house of Noailles, not'only fell deeply in love with the beautiful ward but gained her heart. Although he was not a noble, ho was a millionaire; the Duchess consented at last to favour his suit, and the English # suitor carried off tho ItalianCMe.vclla as his Wife. —"London Globe."