The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-24
MARRIED HER FOOTMAN
DEVOTED SERVANT WON THE HEART
OF COUNTESS MARIE WYANOFF.
She Was the Favorite Of the CEar and
Sought After by Many, hut Select
ed Her Honest Attendant.
New York Journal.

New York Journal.
The beautiful woman whom Carolus Du-
ran enshrined in his picture. THE KISS, Is
the Russian Countess Marie Wyanon. she
has just astonished Europe by marrying her
footman. Behind the marriage is romance
of a most novel character. The countess
was wearied and perplexed by many rlcn
and noble suitors. Did she love any one OF
them? Did any one of them love her? She
could hardly tell. One day she caught the
footman surreptitiously kissing her por-
trait. She learned that he had been secretly
in love with her for years. Here. at least,
was man about whose devotion there could
be no doubt That settled it. She married
him.
The countess was born in Poland. whose
daughters are famous for their beauty. AT
the age of eighteen she married Count Wy
anoff, a Russian nobleman of fabulous
wealth. Among his many possessions he had
a palace near st. Petersburg and another in
Paris. All his riches he lavished upon his
young wife, whom he adored. She took the
fullest advantage of his generosity. She
wore the most splendid jewels at the Rus
sian court, which is probably the only
place in the world where one may see more
of them than at the Metropolitan Opera
House in New York. She had priceless col
lection of furs, including a set of Russian
sables that the Czarina herself might envy.
She had two hundred horses in her stables
and sleighs of every shape, size and style,
many being beautifully ornamented and
fitted with silver.
The countess was always a creature or
reckless generosity and unrestrained i'm
pulse. At the opera one night she threw a
necklace of three strands of great pearls
to a singer who pleased her. The countess
early developed a fondness for the society
of artists. Painters, musicians and actors
were welcomed at her board wherever she
might be. Naturally they showed a profound
artistic appreciation of a countess VINO was
amiable beautiful and inexhaustibly rich.
Their presence was a source OF annoyance
TO some of her aristocratic friends, but her
indulgent husband did not rebel AT last the
husband died and left his whole vast for
tune TO his wife. 1t included gold, silver,
copper, malachite, iron and coal mines, the
income of which is almost incalculable.
Among the countess's friends was Carolus
Duran, sometimes called 1.-The splendid Car
olus" the painter of beautiful and fashion
able women and the recipient of the largest
income earned by any living artist. he
first knew the Countess in the days when
he was painting works OF art simply, and
not portraits of fashionable women for the
largest sums Of money obtainable Inc
Countess is a perfect example OF blonde
loneliness, "a daughter Of the gods. dl-
Caroius Duran begged the Countess to pose
as model for him. After some modest pro-
| tests the Countess consented. When the
nature of the picture in which she was to
figure became more apparent to her sne
| made some further protests but again she
yielded. In doing so she only followed the
example of many great ladies or ancient and
modern times who have posed for artists
| in manner that would seem shocking to
The Countess Wyanoff enabled Carolus
Duran to paint his great picture, The
Kiss" the most inspired work he has ever
produced. 1t is full Of passion. grace. ten
derness and realism beautiful, fair haired
woman, with upturned face, Is about TO De
kissed by her lover. The fair-haired woman
of this picture is the most perfect portrait
of the Countess Wyanof ever painted. The
countess by no means confined herself 10 the
artistic society OF pas rS sine heysf
burg and taking the part in court festivities
to which her rank entitled her. After the
present Cars accession and marriage she
became lady of honor to the Czarina.
During all this time the countess was be-
sieged by innumerable suitors for her hand
Among them they possessed every Qualif1-
cation that could be considered desirable In
a husband. The fact is that she was EN-.
| barrassed by the number and quality OF
her admirers. Then a strange thing nap
pened. Among her very numerous suite or
servants was footman, young French
| man, dark-eyed, clean-cut and muscular.
The countess noticed that he was an ex-
cellent servant and singularly devoted TO
his duties, and that was all.
do footmen have feelings?" the countess
unused one day as she noticed the footman
| at work, and then turned once more 10
comb her Schipperke dog
The countess noticed another thing, and
| thought but little about 1t. Every day for
| a whole season she found a great bouquet
of violets. her favorite flower, upon her
| dressing table. She regarded it as the act
Of some thoughtful servant, and presumed
that the flowers were paid for out OF the
money which she allowed SO lavishly to her
| household. Suddenly great light broke
| in upon her. One afternoon she walked
| quickly and silently into the favorite room
| Of her palace There she saw the footman
passiona tely kissing her portrait in copy
of the great picture painted by Carolus
Duran Then she remembered his devotion,
| other things. She found out later that he
| had been wont to gaze upon her picture
| every day as IL he were enchanted.
| The man was aghast when he saw that
| diately banished from the presence which
| had been his only happiness for years The
countess had very different views Here
| she had discovered a man who really loved
| her. and was contented to do so even with
| out hope. Here was escape from her d.
| of the room the countess asked him, In
gentle tones. to stay. He did so. and being
| quickwitted. he saw that the happiness that
| he had only dreamed of was within his
| the countess. She consented willingly to an
| immediate marriage. The lovers went 10
Vienna. where the countess purchased for
her husband an estate which carries with 1T
| the title of count. He Is thus ennobled and
| will be received generally at European
1 to be very happy, and the husband has
| shown that he married his wife for love
| and not for money.
Il