Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-11-24
A PORCELAIN CUP.

anccS and some of which had passed through my own hands.
 As I was about to pass on the door of the shop opened, and who should come out but my friend Octave Ducrozcl, whom l had not seen for several months. The moment he saw me he came forward, and I noticed that he seemed annoyed, and that the hand he gave me trcmbled in way had never known before.
 What has happCncd:' 1 inquired of him. You look worried
 ''Oh, these women, these womcn"' he grOwlcd in a voice that seemed addressed to his own reflections rather than to me. Do not trust their promises; do not place any confidence in their vows. It's enough to make man blow his brains out"
 m sCc that you don't do that" said quietly, passing my arm through his. Il shall stick tn you like your own shadow"
 If you only knew" continued the poor fellow. And it is only five years ago. I was in love, head over ears in love. I loved with all the passion Nnd intensity of first love. IL WIS with n beautiful young girl at BatgnollcS. She was stay ing with her mother, and in order to re main by her side as long she lived she had refused many offers of marriage. Louise Audry was as lovely as she was no ble in her devotion tO her mother.
 You know how the heart loves to adorn the object of its affections with all the graCcs and charms imaginable. I was fortunate enough. too, to prove not dis pleasing to Louise and before long we had formed the delightful plan of uniting our dc>tinies and getting married. We decided tO wait two or three months be- forc taking the final step.
 '.UncxpcctCd events, however, caused n different disposal of our plans. Compelled to undertake q long journey, of which the termination seemed doubtful, l found my self obliged tn postpone the wedding until my rCtUrn. When We said gOodby, Louise gave me faithful pruIniS" to wait for me as long aS events might make necessary
 As token of my tender affection I begged her acceptance of an extremely beautiful porcelain goblet that had been left tO me by my grandmother, and which l cherished as the apple of my eye. Louise Was delighted to possess an article that would constantly remind her of me and promised mo that whatever might happen she would not suffer it to leave her possession.
 Those were her last wor,is. Shortly after they fell from her beautiful rcd lips l started on my journey.
 Four years passed, aS you know, be- fore I returned 10 France During that time was in the center of Africa con ducting explorations and practically cx- fled from the world, revolving no news and able [" send none,
 As soon .ls l arrived in Paris hurried 10 >cr Luuis,. tu whom had telcgraphcd rum MarS,.illcS. Alas, what cruel de caption was in store for me,
 The house she used to live in had been torn down and removed by the construc- tion of q new street. No one knew where Mime. Audry and Ter daughter had gone 10 live, and all my efforts to trace them were intellectual and vain.
 Several months have gone by since then without bringing any news to change the unhappy state of affairs.
 This morning, while looking through the shops to find birthday present for my sister, l went by chance into the shop where you hay" just met me.
 II examined first the numbcrlcss trim kcts displayed in the showcascs-the an cicnt jCwclry, the channels, worries, china sets, miniatures and masterpieces of the | arts of the gold and silvcrsmiths. Then the salesman placed in my hands some dainty figures in saxon china and called my attention to several graceful vases, ,JapanCSc brUnzcs and dainty articles of crockcry ware
 While searching thus for something | that would make q present littlu out of | the ordinary run l walked up and down l the shop in front of the showcases and let no corner escape my attention. In this way I found myself at length in front of a tall cas" with closcd glass windows, be- side which q young girl was sitting with som: embroidery work in her hands. i And ill this glass case. just about the 1 height of my eyes, what should I sec standing on q shelf behind the shining l glass pane hut the old porcelain goblet I had given to Louise, Yes, the very same it was, the exquisite piece of Scvrcs that l l with which so many tender memories and | associations were linked.
 | At first l was inclined to doubt my cyes but on looking closer it was no lon l ger possible, for l knew every detail of il l by heart, and l recognized them all be yond the possibility of being mistaken.
 "There was a wreath of flowers SO fine | ly and dclicatcly worked in with threads of gold and silver, forming n crown work in which aIternated harmoniously a l superb rose cluster, with leaves and buds and q bunch of dainty little flowers. red | and blue could not mistake it. There. | too, was the artistic mounting that knew | SO well, with the three bronze supports | representing the heads of animals pccring | forth out of dense foliage and chiscled by the hand of q master.
 My surprise speedily gave place to in | dignatiOn. as you may well understand.
 
 gem. linked with so many family tradi- tions and representing the faithfulness of my first love, exposed to the public eye of the chance and ordinary buyer!
 Tn spite of her solemn oath she had sold the goblet and forgotten me, who gave it to her. Oh, woman, woman. wom- Gn, all and always the same, you are the persOnification of inconsistency and the lieI
 Naturally, you will understand, had only one thought in my mind-to buy the goblet back again. asked the price
 An, monsieur answered the clerk, the precious objects in that case arc in the special care of Mime. Brunard, the prOprietress, and she alone attends to any business connected with them. Mime Brunard has just gone out, and can say nothing about them. Perhaps madcmoi selle has C1me instructions
 No answered the young girl thus addressed, putting down her embroidery and raising her eyes to me. Mother take. charge of all in the case, monsieur and have not even the key. My mother will return at 6 o'clock, and monsieur will perhaps look in again tonight
 II said that I would do so and left th' shop
 ..Eh bien, my dear Octave" said I, in terrupting my friend in his tale, we will both go there together, for do not near to leave your side until this matter ii cleared up.''
 Cleared up!" he exclaimed impatient ly. There's no clearing up about it. Tht solution is evident and obvious. I am for gotten, and my token has been throwT away and sold"
 Poor Octave. His heart was full of bit terness. Apparently disappointed and de ceiyed in his first love, he was ready tC curse the whole sex and to class them ont and all as false, faithless and cruel