The Broken Cup Page 2

  At length it came out in conversation with Monsieur Hautmartin thathe was not the giver of the beautiful flowers. Then who could it be?Marietta was utterly astounded at the unexpected discovery. Thenceforthshe took the flowers from the rock more kindly; but, further, Mariettawas--what maidens are not wont to be--very inquisitive. She conjecturedfirst this and then that young man in Napoule. Yet her conjectures werein vain. She looked and listened far into the night; she rose earlierthan usual But she looked and listened in vain. And still twice a weekin the morning the miraculous flowers lay upon the rock, and upon thestrip of paper wound round them she always read the silent sigh, "DearMarietta!" Such an incident would have made even the most indifferentinquisitive. But curiosity at length became a burning pain. Fourthvexation.

  WICKEDNESS UPON WICKEDNESS.

  Now Father Jerome, on Sunday, had again preached from the text:"Mysterious are the dispensations of Providence." And little Mariettathought, if Providence would only dispense that I might at length findout who is the flower dispenser. Father Jerome was never wrong.

  On a summer night, when it was far too warm to rest, Marietta awoke veryearly, and could not resume her sleep. Therefore she sprang joyouslyfrom her couch as the first streaks of dawn flashed against the windowof her little chamber, over the waves of the sea and the Lerinian Isles,dressed herself, and went out to wash her forehead, breast, and arms inthe cool spring. She took her hat with her, intending to take a walk bythe sea-shore, as she knew of a retired place for bathing.

  In order to reach this retired spot, it was necessary to pass over therocks behind the house, and thence down through the orange and palmtrees. On this occasion Marietta could not pass through them; for,under the youngest and most slender of the palms lay a tall young manin profound sleep--near him a nosegay of most splendid flowers. A whitepaper lay thereon, from which probably a sigh was again breathing. Howcould Marietta get by there?

  She stood still, trembling with fright. She would go home again. Hardlyhad she retreated a couple of steps, ere she looked again at the sleeperand remained motionless. Yet the distance prevented her from recognizinghis face. Now the mystery was to be solved, or never. She trippedlightly nearer to the palms; but he seemed to stir--then she ran againtoward the cottage. His movements were but the fearful imaginings ofMarietta. Now she returned again on her way toward the palms; but hissleep might perhaps be only dissembled--swiftly she ran toward thecottage--but who would flee for a mere probability? She trod more boldlythe path toward the palms.

  With these fluctuations of her timid and joyous spirit, between frightand curiosity, with these to-and-fro trippings between the house andthe palm-trees, she at length nearly approached the sleeper; at the sametime curiosity became more powerful than fear.

  "What is he to me? My way leads me directly past him. Whether he sleepsor wakes, I will go straight on." So thought Manon's daughter. Butshe passed not by, but stood looking directly in the face of theflower-giver, in order to be certain who it was. Besides, he slept as ifit were the first time in a month. And who was it? Now, who else shouldit be but the archwicked Colin.

  So it was _he_ who had annoyed the gentle maiden, and given her so muchtrouble with Monsieur Hautmartin, because he bore a grudge against her;he had been the one who had teased her with flowers, in order to tortureher curiosity. Wherefore? He hated Marietta. He behaved himself alwaysmost shamefully toward the poor child. He avoided her when he could; andwhen he could not, he grieved the good-natured little one. With all theother maidens of Napoule he was more chatty, friendly, courteous, thantoward Marietta. Consider--he had never once asked her to dance, and yetshe danced bewitchingly.

  Now there he lay, surprised, taken in the act. Revenge swelled inMarietta's bosom. What disgrace could she subject him to? She took thenosegay, unloosened it, strewed his present over the sleeper in scorn.But the paper, on which appeared again the sigh, "Dear Marietta!" sheretained, and thrust quickly into her bosom. She wished to preserve thisproof of his handwriting. Marietta was sly. Now she would go away. Buther revenge was not yet satisfied. She could not leave the place withoutreturning Colin's ill-will.

  She took the violet-colored silken ribbon from her hat, and threw itlightly around the sleeper's arm and around the tree, and with threeknots tied Colin fast. Now when he awoke, how astonished he would be!How his curiosity would torment him to ascertain who had played him thistrick! He could not possibly know. So much the better; it served himright. She seemed to regret her work when she had finished it. Her bosomthrobbed impetuously. Indeed, I believe that a little tear filled hereye, as she compassionately gazed upon the guilty one. Slowlyshe retreated to the orange grove by the rocks--she looked aroundoften--slowly ascended the rocks, looking down among the palm trees asshe ascended. Then she hastened to Mother Manon, who was calling her.

  THE HAT BAND.

  That very day Colin practised new mischief. What did he? He wished toshame the poor Marietta publicly. Ah! she never thought that every onein Napoule knew her violet-colored ribbon! Colin remembered it but toowell. Proudly he bound it around his hat, and exhibited it to the gazeof all the world as a conquest. And male and female cried out: "He hasreceived it from Marietta."--And all the maidens said angrily: "Thereprobate!" And all the young men who liked to see Marietta cried out:"The reprobate!"

  "How! Mother Manon?" shrieked the Justice Hautmartin when he came to herhouse, and he shrieked so loudly that it re-echoed wonderfully throughhis nose. "How! do you suffer this? my betrothed presents the youngproprietor Colin with her hat-band! It is high time that we celebrateour nuptials. When that is over, then I shall have a right to speak."

  "You have a right!" answered Mother Manon, "if things are so, themarriage must take place forthwith. When that is done, all will goright."

  "But, Mother Manon, Marietta always refuses to give me her consent."

  "Prepare the marriage feast."

  "But she will not even look kindly at me; and when I seat myself at herside, the little savage jumps up and runs away."

  "Justice, only prepare the marriage feast."

  "But if Marietta resists--"

  "We will take her by surprise. We will go to Father Jerome on Mondaymorning early, and he shall quietly celebrate the marriage. This we caneasily accomplish with him. I am her mother, you the first judicialperson in Napoule. He must obey. Marietta need know nothing about it.Early on Monday morning I will send her to Father Jerome all alone, witha message so that she will suspect nothing. Then the priest shall speakearnestly to her. Half an hour afterward we two will come. Then swiftlyto the altar. And even if Marietta should then say No, what does itmatter? The old Priest can hear nothing. But till then, mum to Mariettaand all Napoule."

  So the secret remained with the two. Marietta dreamed not of the goodluck which was in store for her. She thought only of Colin's wickedness,which had made her the common talk of the whole place. Oh! how sherepented her heedlessness about the ribbon; and yet in her heart sheforgave the reprobate his crime. Marietta was far too good. She told hermother, she told all her playmates, "Colin has found my lost hat band. Inever gave it to him. He only wishes to vex me with it. You all knowthat Colin was always ill-disposed towards me, and always sought tomortify me!"

  Ah! the poor child! she knew not what new abomination the maliciousfellow was again contriving.

  THE BROKEN CUP.

  Early in the morning Marietta went to the spring with the cup. Therewere no flowers yet on the rock. It was still quite too early; for thesun had scarcely risen from the sea.

  Footsteps were heard. Colin came in sight, the flowers in his hand.Marietta became very red. Colin stammered out "good morning, Marietta,"but the greeting came not from his heart, he could hardly bring it overhis lips.

  "Why dost thou wear my ribbon so publicly, Colin?" said Marietta, andplaced the cup upon the rock. "I did not give it thee."

  "Thou didst not give it to me, dear Marietta?" asked he, and inward ragemade him deadly pale.

  Marietta
was ashamed of the falsehood, drooped her eyelids, and saidafter a while, "Well, I did give it to thee, yet thou shouldst not haveworn it so openly. Give it me back again."

  Slowly he untied it; his anger was so great that he could not preventthe tears from filling his eyes, nor the sighs from escaping hisbreast.--"Dear Marietta, leave thy ribbon with me," said he softly.

  "No," answered she.

  Then his suppressed passion changed into desperation. Sighing, he lookedtowards Heaven, then sadly on Marietta, who, silent and abashed, stoodby the spring with downcast eyes.

  He wound the violet coloured ribbon around the stalks of the flowers,said "there, take them all," and threw the flowers so spitefully againstthe magnificent cup upon the rock, that it was thrown down and dashed topieces. Maliciously he fled away.

  Mother Manon lurking behind the window, had seen and heard all. When thecup broke, hearing and sight left her. She was scarcely able to speakfor very horror. And as she pushed with all her strength against thenarrow window, to shout after the guilty one, it gave way, and with onecrash fell to the earth and was shattered in pieces.

  So much ill luck would have discomposed any other woman. But Manon soonrecovered herself. "How lucky that I was a witness to this roguery!"exclaimed she; "he must to the Justice.--He shall replace both cup andwindow-sash with his gold. It will give a rich dowry to Marietta Butwhen Marietta brought in the fragments of the shattered cup, when Manonsaw the Paradise lost, the good man Adam without a head, and of Eve nota solitary limb remaining, the serpent unhurt, triumphing, the tigersafe, but the little lamb gone even to the very tail, as if the tigerhad swallowed it, then Mother Manon screamed forth curses against Colin,and said: 'One can easily see that this _fall_ came from the hand of thedevil.'"

  THE TRIBUNAL.

  She took the cup in one hand, Marietta in the other, and went, aboutnine o'clock, to when Monsieur Hautmartin was wont to sit in judgment.She there made a great outcry, and showed the broken cup and theParadise lost. Marietta wept bitterly.

  The justice, when he saw the broken cup and his beautiful bride intears, flew into so violent a rage toward Colin that his nose wasas violet-colored as Marietta's well-known hat-band, He immediatelydespatched his bailiffs to bring the criminal before him.

  Colin came, overwhelmed with grief. Mother Manon now repeatedher complaint with great eloquence before justice, bailiffs, andscribes.--But Colin listened not. He stepped to Marietta and whisperedto hen "Forgive me, dear Marietta, as I forgive thee. I broke thy cupunintentionally; but thou, thou hast broken my heart!"

  "What whispering is that?" cried Justice Hautmartin, with magisterialauthority. "Harken to this accusation, and defend yourself."

  "I have naught to defend. I broke the cup against my will," said Colin.

  "That I verily believe," said Marietta, sobbing. "I am as guilty as he;for I offended him--then he threw the ribbon and flowers to me. He couldnot help it."

  "Well!" cried Mother Manon. "Do you intend to defend him? Mr. Justice,pronounce his sentence. He has broken the cup, and he does not deny it."

  "Since you cannot deny it, Mr. Colin," said the Justice, "you must paythree hundred livres for the cup, for it is worth that; and then for--"

  "No," interrupted Colin, "it is not worth that. I bought it at Vence forMarietta for a hundred livres."

  "You bought it, sir brazen face?" shrieked the Justice, and his wholeface became like Marietta's hat-hand. He could not and would not saymore, for he dreaded a disagreeable investigation of the matter.

  But Colin was vexed at the imputation, and said: "I sent this cup onthe evening of the fair, by your own servant, to Marietta. There standsJacques in the door. Speak, Jacques, did I not give thee the box tocarry to Mother Manon?"

  Monsieur Hautmartin wished to interrupt this conversation by speakingloudly. But the simple Jacques said: "Only recollect, Justice, you tookaway Colin's box from me, and carried what was in it to Mother Manon.The box lies there under the papers."

  Then the bailiffs were ordered to remove the simpleton; and Colin wasalso directed to retire, until he should be sent for again.

  "Very well, Mr. Justice," interposed Colin, "but this business shall beyour last in Napoule. I know this, that you would ingratiate yourselfwith Mother Manon and Marietta by means of my property. When you wantme, you will have to ride to Grasse to the Governor's." With that, Colindeparted.

  Monsieur Hautmartin was quite puzzled with this affair, and in hisconfusion knew not what he was about. Manon shook her head. The affairwas dark and mysterious to her. "Who will now pay me for the brokencup?" she asked.

  "To me," said Marietta, with glowing, brightened countenance, "_to me_it is already paid for."

  MYSTERIOUS DISPENSATIONS.

  Colin rode that same day to the Governor at Grasse, and came backearly the next morning. But Justice Hautmartin only laughed at him, andremoved all of Mother Manon's suspicions by swearing he would let hisnose be cut off if Colin did not pay three hundred livres for the brokencup. He also went with Mother Manon to talk with Father Jerome aboutthe marriage, and impressed upon him the necessity of earnestly settingbefore Marietta her duty _as_ an obedient daughter in not opposingthe will of her mother. This the pious old man promised, although heunderstood not the half of what they shouted in his ear.

  When Monday morning came Mother Manon said to her daughter: "Dressyourself handsomely, and carry this myrtle wreath to Father Jerome; hewants it for a bride." Marietta dressed herself in her Sunday clothes,took the myrtle wreath unsuspiciously, and carried it to Father Jerome.

  On the way Colin met her, and greeted her joyfully, though timidly; andwhen she told him where she was taking the wreath, Colin said: "I amgoing the same way, for I am carrying the money for the church's tenthsto the priest." And as they went on he took her hand silently, and bothtrembled as if they designed some crime against each other.

  "Hast thou forgiven me?" whispered Colin, anxiously. "Ah! Marietta, whathave I done to thee, that thou art so cruel toward me?"

  She could only say: "Be quiet, Colin, you shall have the ribbon again;and I will preserve the cup since it came from you! Did it really comefrom you?"

  "Ah! Marietta, canst thou doubt it? All I have I would gladly give thee.Wilt thou, hereafter, be as kind to me as thou art to others?"

  She replied not. But as she entered the parsonage she looked aside athim, and when she saw his fine eyes filled with tears, she whisperedsoftly: "Dear Colin!" Then he bent down and kissed her hand. With thisthe door of a chamber opened and Father Jerome, with venerable aspect,stood before them. The young couple held fast to each other. I know notwhether this was the effect of the hand-kissing, or the awe they feltfor the sage.

  Marietta handed him the myrtle wreath. He laid it upon her head andsaid: "Little children, love one another;" and then urged the goodmaiden, in the most touching and pathetic manner, to love Colin. Forthe old gentleman, from his hardness of hearing, had either mistaken thename of the bridegroom, or forgotten it, and thought Colin must be thebridegroom.

  Then Marietta's heart softened under the exhortation, and with tears andsobs she exclaimed: "Ah! I have loved him for a long time, but he hatesme."

  "I hate thee, Marietta?" cried Colin. "My soul has lived only in theesince thou earnest to Napoule. Oh! Marietta, how could I hope andbelieve that thou didst love me? Does not all Napoule worship thee?"

  "Why, then, dost thou avoid me, Colin, and prefer all my companionsbefore me?"

  "Oh! Marietta, I feared and trembled with love and anxiety when I beheldthee; I had not the courage to approach thee; and when I was away fromthee I was most miserable."

  As they talked thus with each other the good father thought they werequarreling; and he threw his arms around them, brought them together,and said imploringly: "Little children, love one another."

  Then Marietta sank on Colin's breast, and Colin threw his arms aroundher, and both faces beamed with rapture. They forgot the priest, thewhole world. Each was sunk into the other
, Both had so completely losttheir recollection that, unwittingly, they followed the delightfulFather Jerome into the church and before the altar.

  "Marietta!" sighed he.

  "Colin!" sighed she.

  In the church there were many devout worshipers; but they witnessedColin's and Marietta's marriage with amazement. Many ran out before theclose of the ceremony, to spread the news throughout Napoule: "Colin andMarietta are married."

  When the solemnization was over, Father Jerome rejoiced that he hadsucceeded so well, and that such little opposition had been made by theparties. He led them into the parsonage.

  END OF THIS MEMORABLE HISTORY.

  Then Mother Manon arrived, breathless; she had waited at home a longtime for the bride-groom. He had not arrived. At the last stroke of theclock she grew anxious and went to Monsieur Hautmartin's. There anewsurprise awaited her. She learned that the Governor, together withthe officers of the Viguerie, had appeared and taken possession ofthe accounts, chests, and papers of the justice and at the same timearrested Monsieur Hautmartin.