The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-07-10
LORD JOHNS BARGAIN.

LORD JOHNS BARGAIN.
My brother-in-law, Lord John st.
Pierre, regarded with no little COM
placency his own possessions and
achievements. He was proud in the
first place of the fact that he was a
St. Pierre. and at the same time con-
sidered himself Il competent repre-
sentative of the talents and graces of
the ancient and illustrious house of
Stoneyhurst. In the next place he was
very proud of his reputation as one
of the best shots of driven game in the
United Kingdom, and of his conse-
quent entree into many country-houses
where only brilliant shots were well
coined. He was also proud, very
proud of his own perfect manners, and
plumed himself, not without cause, on
his insinuating address. 1t was on his
reputation. however, as 4 successful col
lector of china that he principally
quiped himself and the trifling sums
which he had paid for various articles
of yertu which ornamented his rooms
at the Albany formed his favorite
theme Of conversation. Indeed, if all
lie said was true, and if all the china
was really genuine. he fully deserved
all the congratulations which he
claimed.
Nor did he fail to see how valuable
were the three aforementioned qualiti-
cations in their reference to this latter
pursuit. Many cottager who had re-
fused to sell his precious little heir
looms to the travelling dealer was only
too proud to part with them, at per-
haps II low price. to Lord John-a
Lord John, too who spoke so prettily and
made himself so agreeable. 1t was grand
to think that some little figure or cup
and saucer which had stood unnoticed
in the cupboard should take its place,
as the seller fondly imagined would be
the case, among the priceless gems of
Stoneyhurst abbey.
Johns presence too at so many sport
ing places gave him opportunities OF adj
mission into the interior of cottagers'
and keepers houses which might not
otherwise have been obtained 1t is
not given to everyone to be a district
visitor tax collector, or school-attend-
ance officer, and without such or SIM
liar professions it - not easy to gain
an introduction unlimited to the homes
of the poor. Lord John, however.
had special privileges, and he lost no
opportunities of availing himself of
the facilities offered by shooting
luncheons in farm-houSes or keepers
lodges on the different properties over
which he shot.
A few winters ago my brotherin-
law came to shoot at my home, Pen
Owen court, in Monmouthshire. Know
inc, as | did, how unfavorably the
bags even on my best days compared
with the slaughter to which John was
accustomed, had had some hesitation
in inviting him into such an out-of-the-
way part of the world.
lie had heard, however of the Won
derful stand at Easttield coppce, said
to be perhaps the most difficult sport
ing in England, and was anxious to
try his hand ut our ''rocketers.h | had
no possible objection, and he was in
vited for three days shooting.
a sad mysterious calamity. however,
in connection with the death of one of
the beaters happened the first day, and
| the unhappy incident prevented us
from carrying out the weeks program.
Guests who have no resources TO oc-
| cupv them when sport fails are nat
| urally difficult to entertain, and con-
seauently | was not altogether sorry
when my visitors, with the exception
of Lord John. decided upon taking
their departure the morning which
| succeeded the catastrophe.
He however remained and in the
course of the afternoon announced his
| intention of going up to the keeper
| house, where he had lunched the prev
| ious dav, and of course | offered to
walk there with him. Rather to my
surprise he seemed to have no particu-
| lar desire for my society, and | began
to wonder if his projected visit had
any connection with the mysterious
affair to which | have already alluded.
| At any rate | determined to accompany
| him, and on the way was made a
coniidant of his lordship's intentions.
On the previous day he had noticed
two china figures on the keepers Chin
ney-piece, and, though with Il connois-
seur's natural suspicion he had at the
time done nothing TO attract general
attention to them. he now confessed
| that he had every reason to believe
that they were old Dresden. He i'm
aeined them to be of great value and
had determined to pick them up as
cheaply as he could. | have never
been able to make up my mind about
| the morality of such proceeding,
but thoroughly disliked the idea of
picking up a valuable article cheap
from one of my own retainers, and, as
it were, under my own sanction. How
ever. | determined TO bide my time
and see what happened.
John annoyed me very much at the
first opening of negotiations. He be.
gan By asking Mrs. Rawlins, whose
husband was not at home, questions
about the family of the dead beater,
with expressions of the most profound
sympathy for his orphaned daughter.
OF course there was no harm in these
inquiries; indeed, they were quite
natural. But the questioner's manner
| was so affected and his expressions OF
regret and sympathy so exaggerated
that | could scarcely believe their sin.
eerity. and felt sure that he was think
ing more of the Dresden figures than
OF poor Nelly.
The next proceeding consisted of q
glance around the room in affected ad.
miration of various ornaments with
which it was decorated. Some mis-
shaped stuffed birds. some tawdr,
prints, even some hideous compo
sitions OF shells and moss came in by
turns for their share of admiration
And then. at last. with look ut the
two figures on the lnantel-piece
''Oh, BY the bye, Mrs. Hawkins j Ohm