Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1890-06-13


zee what happened.
John annoyed me very much at the
first opening of negotiations. He began
by asking Mrs. Rawlins, whose husband
was not at home, questions about the
family OF the dead heater, with express
sions 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 ques-
toners manner was so affected, and his
expressions ofregret and sympathy SO ex-
aggerated, that could scarcely believe
their sincerity, and felt sure that he was
| thinking more of the Dresden figures
than Of poor Nelly.
The next proceeding consisted of d
glance round the room in affected ad-
miratlon OF various ornaments with
which it was decorated. Some mis-
shapen stuffed birds, some tawdry prints,
even some hideous compositions ofshells
and moss came in by turns for their
share Of admiration. And then, at last,
with o look at the two figures on the
mantel-piece:
| Ou' Wy uuC ny, lldWhlHS, \UOnil
always managed to get his victims
names correctly, what are those china
groups? Have you had them long?'
"That china, my lord, was present
from my grandmother, and 1 set great
store by it."
II easily follow my brother-in-law's
calculation. 'Mrs Rawlins' grand
mother! The things must be hundred
years old, at least!")
'Have you any fancy to part with
them?" he continued, II don't suppose
they are worth much, but should like
a little remembrance of Monmouthshire,
and of our pleasant lunch here yester-
day."
"Oh, my lord, if it wasn't for Rawlins,
l should be glad to give them to your
lordship, or with glance at me any
gentleman staying at the court"
Il wonder what his lordship would
have said if had not been presently
ooh, no, Mrs. Rawlins, l can't think
of taking them for nothing"
"Well, my lord, doubt if my grand
mother, if she'd ha' been alive, would
, have liked the idea of my selling her
I presents"
Lord Johns countenance fell.
Certainly" added Mrs. Rawlins,
t ''she wasn't too proud to sell her own.
Why she got ten guineas for two figures
. not half SO gay as these, from travel
ing peddler-one was just black wom-
Q an, with head on like an elephant, and
Q the other woman, too, but she and her
r children were feeding q swan"
QLord Johns face expressed-'I was
l right, they are old Dresden! The WON.
: an with an elephants head! The group
l which represents Africa! The woman
y and children feeding swan! Leda and
b attendant cupids! and these are two Of
the companion groups. Worth fifteen
Q guineas each any day at Christie's.')
: ''Then in that case" he went on, 81
r shall be glad to give you five pounds
l sterling for the pair"
"Well, my lord, should not like te
s take your lordships money without
u asking the peddler-and he is in the
a village again-if these are real genuine
y He got l heard, twenty guineas fol
s what he took from grandmother She
II was housekeeper, sir, to mel as you
l. have heard tell, at the Duke of Bel
IS forts" Il had heard this circumstance
q mentioned once or twice before, ant
Is was acquainted with the reputation O
the Belfort collection of China.)
t. Lord John turned quite pale.
l. "Oh, my good woman" he cried, "rl
s. give you ton pounds sterling and taxi
1T my chance" and he Immediately hand
Is cd Mrs. Rawlins the money which h,
1t had ready for such an emergency an,
l. which she prompted pocketed.
If "Shall dust them first, my lord?
n she asked, producing as she did so
Of heavy damp towel.
ID "For Heavens sake, woman, no.
p Now the bargain was struck, there wa
a. no need of further civility) cpl tax
IN them with me just as they are. George
le you won't mind carrying one, will you?
t. / did mind carrying one very much.
W disliked the whole transaction. job
N had certainly paid considerable sur
G, OF money, but even with my imperfec
IN acquaintance with such matters,
10 knew that If these groups were genuine
s. they were worth fully thirty guinea
n the pair. l had my suspicious, however
Ny about them, and on our way home
asked my companion how he could fee
n so absolutely certain about their ger
id uineness. There is no Dresden mark,
nd said.
us "Oh! isn't there?" was the reply
/ Don't you see there Is smear Of CO
as ment on the bottom of them? Tha
was probably put there at the time ther
W. was heavy tax on Dresden china, an
of proves their antiquity. will show yo
st the crossed swords underneath tonight.
IT. held my tongue.
o. Our house party, as l have said, ha
broken up, but several of the neighbol
&C. were coming to dine, and Lord John de
IT. ferred the removal of the cement ii
ia. after dinner, when we should be all I,
an gether in the drawing-room, and b
I'd would have an audience sufficient
TT. large and appreciative.
he The proper moment arrived-a pei
knife was produced, and the plastt
he carefully and tremendously scraped OF
lis But instead of the crossed swords a.
RS peared the following inscription.
he PRESENT FROM NEWPORT, 1883.
ed the year previous to the bargain!
nv When new these groups might hay
u been worth eighteen pence each.
to their present condition they would hay
nv been dear at shilling the pair.
,ir confess that | felt little sympath
te, with the purchaser, but l was distresse
on to think that Mrs. Rawlins, whose cha
lis acter for honesty had been irreproacht
JUS Bile, should have seemed to vouch fl