Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-01-20

would pop up in unexpected places COM
mitted other crimes for the sake of that china.
| delberatively 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 knew
| that men were pursuing me, but l dare not
| venture to run lest should break those fragile
| things for which had endangered my soul. 1t
| seemed to me Infinitely preferable to swing on
| the gallows than to find one of those exquisite
| cups I'm 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 cab
| met Something was wanting there, and until
the void had created was properly flied / felt
/ could find no pleasure in my former pursuits.
You, although a collector NAV think I am
joking but l assure you am not. Ihungered I
craved for that china. and felt that were IL
denied me, my dreams might some day almost
come true.
AFTER the interval of few ;:.sys thought l
might venture to Gail upon Miss CrOfton once
more She received me kindly told me she was
:socrered 10y my paying her another visit so
sGon and allowed me to handle the china again.
must have been dull company. too for although
j replied mechanically to her cht-chat, my eyes
were ever turning to those four cups and
saucers. crcam-jug and two dishes Miss Croft
ton could see the bent of my thoughts, for she
said:
- Its no use, Mr.. Headley, / will not
sell them, and / love them too much to give
away
AS she spoke thought struck me. l 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 con-
cealed my vexatiOn, and, making an effort to
smile said:
81 am only admring. Miss Crofton. But
should be so pleased if you would honor me by
calling and looking at my little collection. II
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
middle-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 a
dark CLOTH After she had seen the contents of
the others l led her before this one and in
theat, ical manner, with beating heart lifted
the veil and revealed my teapot, sugar-basin,
cups and saucers, looking beautiful but sorrow
fnl. with their vacant spaces around them.
said nothing thinking 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 merri-
ment subsidized:
so. Mr.. Headley. this is the meaning of your
hospitality; you expect ME to pay for my dinner
with the china!'
II protested it was only little hint to show
her how very anxious l was to possess the re-
mainder of the set. and then l told her. seri-
0usly, how necessary 1t was to my happiness
and peace of mind to see those void spaces
filed.
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 At last
she said decisively:
LAS you are SO bent upon 1t. l will beuueath
the china to you
"'And may have to wait twenty years for
It, l said sukily, forgetting. In my mortifica-
ton. not only politeness but the affection 1 had
expressed for my new-fOund relative.
"a good deal longer. l hope she replied
But as you are so anxious, why not pack up
what you have and let me take 1t back with me?
\ gu 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 find
Ing that my device had failed utterly l was
obliged to conduct my visitor to her home in
frame of mind not the sweetest.
"A week went by; but. try how l would, |
could not get that cursed china out of my head,
or resign myself to the disappointment. found
myself growing worse instead of better and. as
fancied my health was beginning to suffer, I
determined to run down to Brighton in the hope
of distraction. The weather was fine; l met
several pleasant friends there; and after a day
or two began to think that In time might con-
quer the absurd craving for what could not be
mine But even as | was cOngratulating my
self on the partial recovery OF my senses 1
dreamed dream so horrible that l fell back
iOTIileT uuuea!tuy state OF nina. |
dreamed that Miss CrOftOns MAZDA red
Checked, rOugh-fngered lass-had broken two
OF the cups. l saw her do it. and suffered
agOnes from the sight; also, to make matters
worse. she put the precious fragments (Which
might have been cemented) in her dust nan.
with the intention of throwing them away. /
really think the greatest feeling of pleasure
had known for many days was to awake and
find it only dream.
Il hurried back to town the same day felt
could endure the uncertainty. the anxiety no
longer; and that to obtain my desire any sacri-
flee L could make must be made; sO-dOnt
laugh too much was resolved upon my re-
turn to ask Miss CrOftOn to become Mrs. Head
ley; and then upon the day of our marriage the
severed set would be reunited. True she must
be somewhere about fifty. while l was just
thirty; but from what had seen of her l be-
lieved she was very worthy woman; and any,
way. the china would be mine.
You will scarcely credit 1t. but carried out
my resolution. Two days later was at the fair
splnsters side beseeching her to be my wife.
could not bring myself to profess sudden pas
sion for her, but told her was tired of living
alone, and asked her to share my lot. said /
was well-tO-dO in the world. and promised to
try and make her future life a happy one; and
as, while speaking. my eyes rested on the four
cups and saucers. the cream jug and the two
dishes. | no doubt pleaded with show of fervor
which must have considerably puzzled the good
lady. Like sensible woman she expressed the
Let me understand you clearly she said
Do you mean to say you are in love with me?'
- will make you good husband re-
piled, thinking as spoke how beautifully mod
eled the handle of the cream jug was; and /
am sure you will never regret accepting my
Offer
'' But do you really love me? she persisted,
an old woman as am:'
Seventeen hundred and sixty / said men,
tally; that must be about the date It was
made;' and then answered, looking at the four
cups and saucers and thinking of the vacant
spaces at home: L esteem and respect you
highly, dear Miss CrOftOn, and l am sure you
will make a solitary home cheerful
80 Suppose said Miss CrOftOn acutely, Il
were to take the poker and demolish that china,
would YOU still repeat these flattering assn
RANGES Of affectiOn2'
"'Oh, please don't?' Icried. starting up as the
horrors Of my dream came back to me-
g Mr. Headley,' she said gravely, you will
pardon me saying SO, but sometimes 1 am
afraid yOu are not quite right in the head Is
there any insanity in your family!'
None at all, replied.
- Neither your father nor mother nor any
aunt nor uncle shown any tendency that way3'
Not the slightest
Very well; you had better go home now and
think quietly over what you have said to me-
70 cL