The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-11-14
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A CABINET SECRET.

From Al the Fear Round.
| made Robert HeadIeys acquaintance
in the auction-room. Having plenty of
time and occasionally few pounds to spare,
l have gradually contracted a love for bric-
a-brac, the pursuit of which enables me to
kill good many weary hours and to hoard
up, in the shape of old china, money which
would otherwise be frittered away on equal
ly useless but less valuable objects
Headley and I were among the most
regular attendants at Christie's, Sotheby's
and other auction-rooms, and, as during
the season of the sales we met somewhere
almost daily, our mutual taste soon led to
an acquaintance.
Headley was tall, gentlemaaly man of
about thirty eight, and evidently had stud
led the ceramic art deeply. He put me
right on several little matters, and once or
twice saved me from buying spurious pro-
ductions. As the true collector loves moth
ing better than to show his pet objects to
another who understands and appreciates
their beauties, it was not long before Head
ley asked me to pay him visit for that
purpose.
''Come early" he said; "then we shall
have time to go through the cabinets by
daylight. Afterward l will give you some
dinner
Headley's house was in a quiet square
in a good, if not the most fashionable, part
of London. found my host delighted to
see me, and painting to show his treasures
He was a genuine member of that species
known as 'Ethe enthusiastic collector" !"
whose passion for accumulating rarities
amounts to almost mania; and am bound
to say that his collection was one to be
proud of. I should tire the reader, ignor-
ant of those delicate distinctive subtleties
dear to a collectors heart, were to expa-
tiate upon the beauties of his old Dresden,
Sevres, Wedgwood and Bently, rosed-back-
ed Nankin, blue and white hawthorn pat
tern, etc., etc. l admired greatly, and
envied more.
The collections were arranged with great
taste, in suitable cabinets; and among the
many choice specimens, | think the one
that struck me most was a magnificent old
Chelsea tea-set. 1t occupied the centre of
one of the cabinets, with articles of lesser
value ranged around it, as though paying
homage to its superior worth. Leaving
out of the question the beautiful blue and
white decoration, the reticulated gliding,
and the artistic painting, the set was very
valuable from the fact that it was perfect.
Headley seemed pleased at the admira-
| - T o--,o-o.eoJ oDd oo1J NTH
"You, collector, may not be surprised
at hearing that I nearly bartered my hap
piness to make that set perfect.
I laughed, thinking he was joking, and
replied
II don't think 1 would go quite as far
as that; but I am sure my happiness would
be greater if owned it.
$50 would any mans be- Look at the
painting, the gliding, the shape, the color.
Feel the texture of it." he added, taking
the teapot from its velvet-lined nest, and
fondly caressing it with his long white
fingers; 'syou or I could tell in the dark it
was Chelsea by the softness of the paste. y
"N here did you get it from2"
~ had the teapot, sugar basin, two cups
and saucers first. They belonged to my
mother, and, as I told you, was nearly
paying too dearly for the rest of it. But
/ will tell you all about it after dinner, if
YOU would care to hear the story
The summer afternoon passed very
pleasantly among the old china, and al
seven o'clock we were summoned to the
dinner-table.
I was presented to Mrs. Headley, &
charming young woman of about twenty
eight She gave me cordial welcome
and the little dinner went merrily enough
We were served on old Oriental plates; the
spoons and salt-cellars were of the coveted
Queen Anne period, and the glass was rarC
old Venetian. Headley certainly had refined
and expensive tastes, and, it seemed, plenty
of means wherewith to crafty them.
When Mrs. Headley rose, she begged
us, pleasantly, not to inger too long, al
she was all alone.
'Your husband, has promised me thu
history of the Chelsea set, [ said, 'bu
under the circumstances, shall ask hin
to be as brief as possible
eff he does tell you, Mr.. Burke" sh'
said, laughing, ~ shall never, never for
give him, and it would be impossible TO
me to look you in the face again.
"My dear" said Headley, "my frien'
Burke is collector himself, and can sym
pathize with my weakness. 1 should neve
think of relating it, unless it were to
kindred spirit who will fully enter into m.
feelings"
After closing the door upon my fail
hostess, [ waited with some curiosity 70
the promised recital.
Headley commenced:
"Of course it is all a joke now, and
can we'll afford to laugh at it, but when tn
affair l am going to tell you of happene'
it was serious enough. The portion of tn
Chelsea set l owned at first belonged t
my mother; she inherited it from her faith
er, and there its history is lost. When
1 q II 4. "a