Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-01-13

Miss Croftop and soon became good
| friends, especially when, upon comparing
notes and tracing back the pedigree of the
1 Chelsea, We decided that at some time my
mothers and her fathers families must
have been closely allied. When we had
established this fact to our satisfaction,
| ventured to hint, as delicately as could,
my wish to possess the china then, as she
took no notice of my hints. was compelled
at last to ask her, point blank, if she would
sell it to me, fixing any price IN reason she
chose to. / found, az Wharton predicted,
that the good lsdy was obdurate, and there
| | sat for an hour, with the coveted articles
almost within grasp, Yet as far off as the
gates of heaven.
az did not, of course, despair entirely.
L must maneuver, thought; Il will have
it in time, by fair means or foul. l will
make myself very agreeable to her will
show her attentions. Some day may be
| able to render service, and her heart may
open with gratitude. and shall compass
nv desire To. day / could do no more, so
1 babe my newt found relative. as | cum
| ningly called her, an affectionate good-by,
asking permission to call on her again.
"'I shall be glad to see you at any time,
| MIR, Headley,' she said but we shall
never have any china dealings together, SO
you are fairly warned
| 81 went home feeling very mournful, and
for the rest of that day the four cups and
saucers, the cream-jug and the two dishes
were danaing before my eyes. l sat down
for an hour or more with my own portion
before me. How meager 1t looked now
I took the pieces out and rearranged the
cabinet, leaving blank spaces for those Il
coveted. / pictured the lovely appearance
the set would present when the whole Of it
was in my hands.
81 went to rest quite sorrowful, and the
cabinet, which only the morning before
seemed well filed, was now empty, or
nearly empty, in my eyes. It is a small
thing to say that | believe | dreamed Of
Miss Crofson and her china the whole
night. My honesty vanished as my eyes
closed. stole that china at least dozen
times. l secreted it in the most extraor-
binary places. buried it for safety and
to avoid detection, but the four cups seemed
endowed with life, and as fast as / covered
them up with earth would pop up in unex-
pected places. l committed other crimes
for the sake of that china. deliberately
murdered the unfortunate spinster, and
packed the articles which had urged
me to crime most carefully in bag. Then
the hue and cry was raised, and l knew
that men were pursuing me, but dare not
venture TO run, lest | should break those
fragile things for which / had endangered
my soul. 1t seemed to me infinitely pre-
ferable to swing on the gallows than to find
one of those exquisite cups in atoms. Even
when the morning came, and found that
the events of the night were only dreams,
my state was not very much happier. /
could not bear to look at my cabinet.
Something was wanting there, and until
the void l had created was properly filled
felt could find no pleasure IN my former
pursuits.
"You, although collector, may think
am joking, but l assure you I am not. 1
huugered, craved for that china, and felt
that, were it denied me, my dreams might
some day almost come true.
"After the interval of few days,
thought might venture to call upon Miss
Crofton once more. She received me kindly,
told me she was fattered by my paying her
another visit SO soon, and allowed me to
handle the china again. 1 must have been
dull company too. for although l replied
mechanically to her chit chat, my eyes
were ever turning to those four cups and
saucers, cream jug and two dishes. Miss
Crofton could see the bent of my thoughts,
| for she said ::
"'It's no use, Mr. Headley. will not
sell them, and l love them too much to
give away
"As she spoke thought struck me.
would take her to see the teapot, sugar.
basin and the other cups and saucers,
mourning, as it were, for their long lost
brethren. So / concealed my vexation, and
making an effort to smile, said
al am only admiring, Miss Crofton.
But should be SO pleased if you would
honor me by calling and looking at my lit.
tie collection. If so, will send the car
riage for you tomorrow
"She accepted the invitation, and the
next day came to my house. / took care
to have a choice little repast prepared, of
such things as middle-aged spinsters love,
| the room which held my treasures. All
the cabinets save one were open to her
view, but that one l had covered with a
dark cloth. After she had seen the con-
tents of the others 1 led her before this
| UHc, Anu al tncatIISal iuduuCIy WIN q
beating heart, lifted the veil and revealed
my teapot, sugar basin, cups and saucers,
| looking beautiful, but sorrowful, with the
spaces around them. 1 said nothing, think.
ing this mute appeal to her better feelings
would do more than any words of mine.
She saw the plot at glance, and laughed
long and loud, saying, as her merriment
subsidized
$50, Mr.. Headley. this is the meaning
of your hospitality; You expect me to pay
for my dinner with the china
81 protested it was only little hint to
show her how very anxious / was to pos
sess the remainder of the set, and then
told her seriously how necessary it was to
my happiness and peace of mind to zee
those vacant spaces filled.
"No appeal of mine would soften her,
and the four cups and saucers, the cream
! jug and the two dishes, seemed as far away
as ever. A. last che said decisively
So As you are SO bent upon it, l will be-
queath the china to you.
g. And may have to wait twenty years
for it. said sulkily, forgetting, in my
modification, not only politeness, but the
affection had expressed for my new.found
relative.
as good deal longer, hope, she re-
piled. But as you are 30 anxious, why
not pack up what you have and let me
take it back with me? You can see it all
in my cabinet whenever you like; and ]
dare say its being there will give me the
pleasure of your company more often
''But this plan did not suit me at all
and finding that my device Lad failed ut.
ter!y, l was obliged to conduct my visitor
to her home in frame of mind not the
sweetest.
ga week went by; but, try how ]
would, could not get that cursed china
out of my head, or resign myself to the
disappointment. | found myself growing
wore instead of better, and, as l fancied
my health was beginning to suffer, l de-
termined to run down to Brighton in the
hope of distraction. The weather was