Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-09-11
THE BROKEN CUP.
Translated from the French


SeYres. One of the most precious of
these could have been found some years
ago at Venice, in the palace of the
Countess Ermina d'Erfeuil. It was of
old Sevres, pale and delicate, composed
of eight pieces; a tray holding a coffee
pot, cream cup, sugar bowl, and two
cups and their saucers; this was called
"deieuner tete-a-tete."
1t was considered marvel of taste
and beauty chef d'Wuvre admir-
able at the same time for the elegance
Of its form, the richness of It's deCOra-
tons, the exquisite charm ana incom-
parable merit of It's paintings. Each
piece showed the mark of its origin, the
date of its fabrication, and the signature
of its authors. The origin was indi-
Gated by two "L'5" opposed and inter-
laced, pointed In blue on the reverse of
the pieces; double IS" placed between
the two LIS" indicated the date of
1897. Some known signs attested that
the most celebrated artists of the time
had executed the divers paintings
which cOncurred to ornament these
works; the models were designed by La
guna, Laroche had painted the arabes-
ques, Lioux the flowers, Basic. the birds;
the landscapes of the medallions were
by Evans, and the figures by Assalin
and Pithon.
The Countess Ermina held this pOrce-
lain by inheritance from one OF her I'M
Giles, who had bought them at Paris
during the revolution. They were no
doubt portion of the pillage from some
of the great mansions, which had taken
place at that disastrous epoch. Among
the artistic treasures which the fair
Venetian possessed, this one was the
object of her especial prediction.
The Countess was one OF the most
distinguished women of Venice. She
was about twenty five years of age, per-
fectly beautiful, very rich, and of I'M
doubted virtue; and as to these advan-
tages she Joined the one of being free,
a1d showing no Discrimination to enter
into the bonds of matrimony, many
aspirants to her hand disputed the
preference. When these competitors
had each furnished proofs of his de-
votiOn, the lady made her chOice-the
Count Adriano d'Amalfi was to be her
future spouse. She could not have
chosen better, to have made at the same
time marriage Of convenience and in
clination, for there was between the
count and countess equality of fortune
and of station, and their personal advan-
tages were also equal; the Count Adria-
no was considered the handsomest
as Wei as the most fascinating cavaliers
of Venice.
The marriage was to have taken
place in a month. The Count came
Familiarity each day to the home of his
fiancee, and there passed the greater
part of his time. Blu; one of the happy
hours. so full of charm, was disturbed
by a sad accident. In wishing to ex-
anime more closely the delicate paint
ings of the dejeuner of Sevres, the count
had the misfortune to let one of the
cups fall, which was broken The count
ess uttered piercing cry, and fell faint
ing upon the sofa. When she recovered
herself it was only to show still more
violently her despair and anger. The
young man was in CONSERVATION at the
effects of awkwardness. Certainly, he
might have been astOnished to see the
fair Ermina so acutely sensitive to the
loss of material object, and, on seeing
her fury, he could have been simple
enough to have made some reflection
on the inconvenience of character so
easily impressed; but no, this accom-
plished lover was touched by one thing
only; the chagrin he bad caused the
woman he loved.
The broken cup left, it is true, a de-
plorable void on the porcelain tray,
where each piece was arranged for dis
play in way that made it impossible
for the loss not to be perceived, yet he
essayed to console and reassure her.
al will arrange it ALL" said he. 81
will lind cup equal to the one | have
destroyed, if have to 60 myself to
seek it in the mandatory at Sevres. .
"That IS what you had better do"
answered the countess, sharply, "and
90 quickly"
81 have still better project to pro-
pose to you. We will go together. We
will travel to Paris Immediately after
our marriage"
''Speak not to rue of marriage" said
the Countess Ermina, whose irritation
had reached It's height. Il will not
marry you until you have restored my
cup"
The count essayed to make her re-
woke this severe sentence, but his pray
ers were vain. The fair Venetian was
absolute in her WILL especially when it
bordered on the. ridiculous and eXOrbit-
ant. Finding 1t necessary to resign
himself, and, well disciplined as all
Italian lovers, he undertook the jour
ney which she had imposed upon him.
In order to serve for comparison, he
carried the remaining cup, carefully
wrapped in cotton, and solidly Enclosed
in box which was protected by plates
of steel in a manner that there was
nothing to fear from a shock or fall
He had not the thought of being able
TO have cup manufactured at SevTes
like the one he had destroyed, for he
well knew that that was impossible,
that they would not be able to produce
either the ancient work, the date or the
signatures of the artists. 1t was not a
counterfeit that he wished, nor an imi-
tation, nor one almost as fine; but he
hoped that there had been manufac-
tured at the same time OF those which
he possessed several pieces equal to
them, and that there might yet remain
some of them which he could pur-
chase. At all events, he was furnished
with full recommendations which ought
to smooth all difficulties.
He arrived at Paris full of hope, and
repaired Immediately to Sewers, where
bestowed his cup. They had nothing
like it to sell him; but they informed
him that two similar sets had been
made nv the order of Oueen Marie An