The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-07-25
LORD JOHNS BARGAIN,


shots OF driven game in the United King
dom. and of his consequent cntree into
many country houses where only brilliant
shots were welcomed. lcw.s also proud.
very proud. of Dis own perfect manners.
and plumcl himself, not without cause. oE
his iu-inuating address. II was on Iii
rcutation. however. as successful col
lector Of china that hc principally piIued
himself. and the trIt.nc sums which Dc
Fad paid for various article of vertu which
ornamental hi, rooms az the Albany
formed his iayorite theme Of conversation.
Indeed if an he said was true. and If all
the china was really genuine, he fully dc.
served an the congratulations which he
claimed
Nor dil hc fail 90 see how valuable were
the three FIRST mentioned qualifications in
their reference 20 this latter pursuit Many
"a cottager who would have refused 20 sell
his precious little Leirlooms 90 the travel
ing dealer was only to proud % part With
them, al perhaps % lower price. 60 a Lord
John-a Lord john. too, No spoke So
prettily and made himself SD agreeable. il
was Grand 20 think that some little figure
or cup and saucer which had stood am
noticed in the cupboard should take IFS
place. as tho sollc. foudly imagined would
DE the ease, among the priceless gems ol
StoucyLurt abbey.
Johns presence. too. no so many sporting
places gave him opportunities for admis-
sion into the interiors of cotjagers' and
Keepers houses which might hot otherwise
have been obtained. 1t is not given t.
every one % be = district visitor, tax col
loctor or school attendance officer, and
without such or similar professions it, is not
easy TO gain au introduction unlimited
10 the homes Of the poor lord John
however, had special privilege. aud
De- lost no opportunities Ot arailIug Alm
self Of the facilities offered by shooting
luucheous I'm farm houses or keepers
LODGES on the different propertie- over
which he shot.
4 few winters ago my broiherin-law
came to shoot at my nome, Pen owen
court. In Noumouth,hire Knowing a5
did how unlavorable the bags even on ml
best days compared with the slaughter Or
which John was accustomed. I had bad
some hesitation in inviting him iHc
such am out oi jLe way part of tho world.
lie had heard, however, Of the wonder
ful stand at Eaetiield coppicc, said To- b,
perhaps themost difficult sporting I'm Eng
land, and was anxious To- try hi, hand az
our "rocketcrs" had no possible Obicc
ton. and lac was invited for three days
shooting
\ sad and mysterious calamity, however
in connection with the death OF ono OF tie
bca.cr5 happened the frs. day, and the uu
happy incident prevented MS from carry
Ing out tie week S programme.
Guests who have no resources 10 occupy
them when sport fails are naturally dill
cult TO entertain. and consequently was
not altogether sorry when my visitors.
with the exception of Lord John, decided
upon taking their departure the m0rnin.
which succeeded the catastrophe.
lie. however. remained, and i'm tlg
course of the afternoon announced his III
tcntion of going up 10 the keeper. house
where he had luucE,l the previous day
and of course / offered 10 walk there with
him Rather % my surprise he seemed o.
have no particular desire for my society
and 1 BEGAN 20 wonder If his projected
...ti'.,'1''aIT..i,.to ,rL'cb p,,.s r.o,,. "a
iv 49, - a. an,. ,,fe Je-"rn,inrJ - ac
',.,,,''..,. I;', and ~. tl.. wan, ,,as mai.
n cnnGdaut Of lis lord.hip's intentions.
ON tbs Dreviou. DAY be had noticed two
china figure, on The Keepers chimney
niece. and though. with "a connoisseur's
natural suspicion, be- had at the time done
nothing 10 attract general attention o.
Them he now confessed that he had every
reason To believe that they were old Drcs
den. lie imagined them 10 be Of great
value and had determined % pick them ur
ms ,boerl, "a. rould have usyerotlii.
Len oI,io T., make nm nv mind about Tire
,.,or,Iit,. If s1cl, "a troraeJiu, buf thor
IN. 1,i;l..d ,ba i5., IN ann. ,,.. ..r,i.l.
~, ~, g., valnabIo or+icl. "cbeonr from
n,o ~ INV o,rn re-,incr. and "a. r. w.rr
-. ,',,. ,,,,. ..,.,.i,, However Td.
.'-i,.,i -, i,id. VA, finn. and see ,,bo,
r.,,,,.o,.,.5
Inn appove1 n,a yer-.. mu.b nj the first
onening If negofiatio1s He beean by
Sin Mr. Raylins whose husband WA.
moi mi homo. questions about the family Of
tbe dad beafer. with expressions of the
,nost rrof,upd s,r.,afly for bi, orphaned
dourhttr OF rOuiss there WAS no harm
in ,br.e inouirie.. indeed tbey were ami.
not1ral nm tbe opestiouer'. manner wa.
-, ,ffertaI and Mi. concessions Of REGRET
AMI synnathv 40 exaserrated that l could
scarcely believe their sincerity. and felt
sure that he was thinking more OF the
Dresden figures chan Of poor Nelly.
The next proceeding consisted of "a glance
round the room in affected admiration of
various ornaments with which il was dec
grated some mi,haped stuffed birds.
some tawlrv prints. even some hideous
compositions ol shells and moss, came III
10y turns for their share of admiration.
And then at inst, with "a look at the two
figures ON the mantelpiecc-
ooh, 10y the bye, Mrs Hawkins lJoAn al
ways managed to eet bis victims names
correctly what are those CHINA groups
Have You had them long
Ihat china, my lord was present
from ln! grandmother ana l seq great