The Portland daily press., 1883-01-13

hue ana cry was raised, ana L knew mat
men were pursuing me. But dare rot ven
tnre 10 run, lest should break those fragile
things Tor which had endangered my. soul.
ltseemed 10 me Infinitely preferable to swing
on me gallows than to lind one OF those ex-
quis'te cups IN atoms. Even when the morn
ing 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, anduntil the void had created was
properly filled L felt l could ind no pleasure
in my former pursuits.
You, although a collector may think am
joking, but assure you am nor. Munger
ed, lcraved for that china, and felt that,
were it denied me, my dreams might some
day almost come true.
After the interval OF lew days. thought
L might venture to call upon MISS Crofton
once more, She received me kindly, told
me she was BATTERED by my paying her an
other visit so soon, and allowed me TO hand-
lie the china again. must have been dull
company too, for although repllts mecb al
ically to her chit -chet, my eyes were ever
turning to those four cups and saucers,
creamj jug, and two dishes. Miss Crofton
could see the beat of my thoughts for she
said:
" 'lts no use, Mr.. Headley. l will not
sell them, and love them 100 much TO give
them away
"As she spoke a thought struck me. |
would take her to seesthe 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 eff
ort to smile, said:
am only admiring, Miss Crofton.
But | should be so pleased if you would hon.
or me by calling and looking at my collec-
ton. If so will send the carriage for you
tomorrow
"She accepted my invitation, and the next
day came to my house. took care to have
choice little repast prepared, of such things
as middlea aged spinsters love, and after we
.had discussed it led her to the room which
held my treasures. All the cabinets save
one were open to her view, but that one
had covered with dark cloth. After she
had seen the contents OF the others, l led
her before this one, and IN tneatrlcai man
her, with a beating heart, lifted the veil
ard revealed my teapot, sugar-basln, cups
and saucers, looking beautiful, put sorrowfui:
with the vacant spaces around them SAID
nothlng, thinking lnls mute appeal 10 her
better feehngs you'd 40 more IMAM any
words OF mine She saw the plot at glance,
and laup hed iong ana loud, saying, as her
80, Mr.. Headiey, thls is the meaning OF
your hospitality; you expect me TO pay for
my dinner Win Inc ehinafs
protested IL was only httie mint 10
snow her now very anxious was 10 possess
the remainder OF the set, and then told her
seriously now necessary II was TO my hap
piness and peace OF mind to see those void
spaces filled.
NO appear OF mine would soIten her, ana
the tour cups ana saucers, the cream-Jug,
aud the Two dlsnes, seemed as lar away as
ever. Al last she SAID oeclsively:
As you are so bent upon 1t, will be-
queath the china to you.
And l may have to walt twenty years
for It,, l said sulklly, forgetting, in my
mortillcatlon, not only pohteness, put the
affection had expressed for my new-found
relative.
"A good deal longer, nope, sue repled.
'B 1t as you are so anxious, why not pack up
what you have and let me take it back with
me? You can see 1t all in my cabinet when
ever 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 had failed utterly,
was obliged to conduct my visitor to her
home in frame of mind not the sweetest,
"a week went by; but, try how would,
could not get that cursed china out of my
head, or resign myself to the disappoint-
ment. found myself growing worse in
stead of better, and, as FAM led my health
was beginning to suffer, | determined to
RIM down to Brighton in the hope OF dis
tracuon. Inc Weather was nne; met sew
eral peasant Irlenos there ana AFTER day
OF TWO negan 70 MINK mat IN tlme l might
conquer .ne aosulu craving ior Wnat could
not oe lhlne. puI even as 1 was congratu-
iating myself on the partial recovery OF my
SENSES uteaheu d dream 30 horIiple, that
VI nlhu' 1 ea.heo tnaI MISS Groitoh
i MAJ reu-cneeseu, rougn-nnSered lass
nav pIoheai TWO VI tne cups. / saw ner 40
~ anu suIlereu agoAies rom tne signt, also,
70 nlahe lnatteis worse, sue put Inc precious
fragments lWhicn might nave oeen cemen.
.eoI IA neI uust-pah, WIN lne Ihtenlioh OF
onaomi ot t snsni aw w l9aly tnlnk tne
sIeatesC leellns VI pressure nau kuoWn ior
many days was 10 awake anu ma IL only
nullIe1 oaon W 'o"n JUG SAINT uays
lelI couio enuure tne unceftalnty, tne
S daa;r no ionger, anu .ha' W oo.ann my
uesLe' any saoitnI 800 Joutu nahe must De
maui so-uon lausn 100 mucn-l was
Ioeoiteu' upon ,ny lTIurl, " ASK MISS OroI-
t ton 70 oeeone Mrs. Heaaiey, ana theh upon
sle uay ~ m Ts 1'ie seseleu SCI Mouiu De
49, See, Ill, 'I " .I',u. wnele
e eoon' 10y, "nn9 "es JuoS enilly put
.uos = .,ou,, x,-o,+l4x, ,ro,,,o,. 80
tba china o,,id iI ~ | ,oina anu any ways
JUG enin" mouiu 'o inino.
You will scarcely credit it, but carried
out my resolution. Two days later was at
the fair splnster,s side, beseeching her to be
my wife. could not bring myself to pro-
Tess sudden passion for her; but told her
1 was tired OF living alone, and asked her to
snare my lot. SAD was Weil-to-do in the
world, ana promised TO Try and make her
future liie happy one; ana as, while speak.
ing, my eyes rested on the four cups and
saucers, the creaA-Jug, and the Two dishes, l
no doupG pleaded with snow OF terver
winch must nave CONSIDERABLY puzzled the
good lady Like sensible woman she ex-
pressed the greatest astonlshment.
-, Lei me understand you clearly, she
sag. 10 you mean 10 say you are IN love
VIII me!
u VIII make you good husband, l
replied, thinking as spoke how beautifully
modelled the handle OF the cream-jug was
and am sure you will never regret accep-
tlng my offer.
But do you really love me- she persis-
ted-.an old woman as amr
seventeen hundred and sixty | said
mentally, that must be about the date it
was made and then answered, looking at
tne -FOUR cups ana saucers, ana thinking OF
the vacant spaces at nome: L esteem and
| respect you hlghiy, dear MISS Crofton, and
am sure you Will make solitary home