Sharp County record., 1890-06-05

John ANNOYED me very much at the
first opening Of negotiations. He began
by asking Mrs. Rawlins, whose husband
was no; a, home, questions about the
family Of the dead beater, with express
sions Of the mos; 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 hcwas
thinking more Of the Dresden figures
than Of poor Nelly.
The next proceeding consisted Of
glance round the room in affected ad-
mirauon 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 look at the two figures on the
mantel-piece:
oh by the by. Mrs, Hawkins" (John
always managed to get his victims
names correctly, what are those china
groups? Have you had them long?"
THAT china, my lord, was a present
from my grandmother and | set great
store by it."
Il 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, Il don't suppose
they are worth much, but l should like
a little remembrance of Monmouthshire,
and of our pleasant lunch here yester-
day"
"Oh, my lord, if it wasn't for Rawlins,
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
"Oh, 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
presents"
Lord Johns cOuntenance fell.
"Certainly," added Mrs. Rawlins,
'she wasn't too proud to sell her own.
Why she got ten guineas for two figures
not half so gay as these, from a travel
ing peddler-one was just black wom-
an, with head on like an elephant and
the other woman, too, but she and her
children were feeding a swan" d
lord Johns face cXpressed-"I was
right, they are old Dresden! The wom-
an with an elephants head The group
which represents Africa! The woman
and children feeding swan! Leda and
attendant cupids! and these are two of
the companion groups. Worth fifteen
guineas each any day at Christie's.")
"Then in that case" he went on, 81
shall be glad to give you five pounds
sterling for the pair"
"Well, my lord, should not like to
take your lordship's money withGut
asking the peddler-and he is in ,hoe
village agoin-if these are real genuk, So.
He got, | heard, twenty guineas for
what he took from grandmother. She
was housckeepor, sir, to me as you
have heard tell, at the Duke of Bel
forts" Il had heard this circumstance
mentioned once or twice before, and
was acquainted with the reputation Of
the Belfort collection Of China)
Lord John turned quite pale.
"Oh, my good woman" he cried, "Ill
give you ten pounds sterling as,,. "', -
my chance" and he Immediately ha.,,.
cd Mrs. Rawlins the money which he
had ready for such an emergency and
which she prompted pocketed,
"Shall | dust them first, my lord?"
she asked, producing as she did so a
heavy damp towel,
"For Heavens sake, woman. no."
(Now the bargain was struck thcre was
no need of further ciyility). "Tll take
them with me just as they are. George,
you won't mind carrying one, will you?"
l did mind carrying ono very much. I
dislilicd the whole transaction. John
had certainly paid a considerable sum
of money, but even with my imperfect
acquaintance with such matters, |
know that if these groups were genuine,
they were worth fully thirty giuneas
the pair. had my suspicious however,
about them, and on our way home |
| asked my companion how he could feel
so absolutely certain about their gem
uincncss, "rhcre is no Dresden mark"
said.
"Oh' isn't thore?" was the reply.
"Don't you see thorc Is a smear of co.
mont on the bottom of them? That
was probably put there at the time there
was Il heavy tax on Dresden china, and
proves their antiquity, / will show YOU
the crossed swords underneath tonight"
! held my tongue
Our house party Ns have said, had
broken up, but several Of tho ncghbors
were coming to dine, and Lord John de-
Iorrcd the removal Of the cement till
after dinner when We should be all TO.
gothor in the drawing-room. and he
would have an audience sufficiently
large and Opprcciatiyc,
The proper moment Nrriycd--a pen
knife was produced, and the plaster
carefully and tremendously scrOpcd off.
MML iMSLNAl OF tho nrnasnl aMnrls nm.