Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-01-26
The Broken Cup.

these could have, been found some years
ago at Venice, in the palace of the Coun-
tess Erminia d'Erfeuil. 1t was of old
Sevres, pale and delicate, composed of
eight pieces, tray holding cofee-pot,
cream cup, sugar bowl, and two cups
with their saucers; this was called a
dejeuner tete-a-tete.
1t was considered marvel of taste
and beauty chef d'eeuvre-admirable
at the same time for the elegance of its
form, the richness of its decorations. the
exquisite charm and Incompatible merit
of its paintings. Each piece showed the
mark of its origin, the date of its fabri-
cation, and the signature of its authors.
The origin was indicated by two els"
opposed and interlaced, painted in blue
on the reverse of the pieces; double
81" placed between the two "L's." in
dicated the date, 1889. Some known
|
artists of the time had executed the di-
vers paintings which concurred to orna-
ment these works; the models were de-
signed by I4agubee, Laroche had painted
the arabesques, Lioux the flowers, Castel
the birds; the landscapes Of the medal
lions were by Evans, and the figures by
Asselin and Pithon.
The Countess Erminia held this porce-
lain by Inheritance from one of her un-
cles who had bought them at Paris dur
ing 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 Venetian
possessed, this was the object of her es-
pecial prediction.
The Countess was one of the most dis
tinguished women of Venice. She was
about twenty-five years of age, perfectly
beautiful, very rich, and of undoubted
virtue and as to these advantages she
Joined the one of being free, and show.
ing no disinclination to enter into
the bonds of matrimony, many aspirants
to her hand disputed the preference
When these competitors had each fur.
nished proofs of his devotions, the lady
made her choice-the Count Adriane
d'Amalf was to be her future spouse
She could not have chosen better, to have
made at the same time marriage Of
convenience and inclination, for there
was between the Count and Countess
equality of fortune and station, and theil
personal advantages were also equal th,
Count Adriano was considered one of th'
handsomest as we'll as the most fascinat
ing cavaliers of Venice.
The marriage was to have taken plac
. in month. The Count came familiarl,
every day to the home of his fancee
2 and there passed the greater part of hi
time. But one of the happy hours, S
full of charm, was disturbed by a sa,
accident. In wishing to examine NOR
closely the delicate paintings of the de
y jeuner of Scvres, the Count had the mis-
y fortune to let one of the cups fall, whic
u was broken The Countess uttered
piercing cry, and fell fainting upon th
sofa. When she recovered herself
was only to show still more violentl
v her despair and anger. The youn
e man was in the greatest consternatio
a at the effect of his awkwardness. Ce
tainly, he might have been astonlshed |
:. y see the fair Erminia so acutely sensitiy
= to the loss of a material object, and, G
,e seeing her fury, he could have been sin
r. pie enough to have made some reflection
on the inconvenience of a character
D. easily impressed; but no. this accor
:. plished lover was touched by one thir
only; the chagrin he had caused Il
D. woman he loved.
The broken cup left, it is true, d
10 plorable void on the porcelain ira
le where each piece was arranged for di
= play in way that made it impossib
a for the loss not to be perceived, yet
essayed to control and reassure her.
an IL will arrange it ALL" said he.
so will find cup equal to the one l ha
re destroyed if l have to go myself to Sc
rs 1t in the mandatory of Sevres."
"That is what you had better do
answered the Countess, sharply .a
~ go quickly"
IT. 81 have still better project to pl
'e- pose to you. We will go together.
lis will travel to Paris Immediately afl
lis our marriage"
"Speak not to me of marriage" sa
"a the Countess Erminia, whose irritati
to had reached its height. Il will ney
?" marry you until you have restored /
ig- cup"
no The Count essayed to make her revo
this severe sentence, but his pray,
io' were in vain. The fair Venetian v
"a. absolute in her will, especially when
me bordered on the ridiculous and exor
ng tant. Finding it necessary to resi-
no, himself, and, being we'll disciplined
'"i are all Italian lovers, he undertook
journey which she had imposed W