The Beaufort tribune and Port Royal commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1877-1879, 1877-02-15
THE AMBER NECKLACE.

She was very naughty and indifferent,
like her fair mother, and she held her
head high as she walked among Eer
friends, but deep in her heart lay the
warm, smoldering fire that the blood
of her Portuguese father had hndled,
and the one weakness of her life was in
unwavering faith in the dear old legends
that her father was so fond Of telling.
One of the precious heirlooms In the
Vasquel family was a long rosary of
wonderful carvings, in the pale, siivery
tints of clouded Turkish amber, or the
deep, sunshiny gold or rare Persian
specimens. This had descended TO the
present VasGuel, and he cared for it with
almost superstitious reverence hut
when he married Margaret Dale, 50 cold
and stately to all the rest of the world,
50 winsome and loving to him, she had
coaxed from his strong box of treasure
trove the wonderful amber rosary as an
ornilhent for her fair, white neck. lie
had given it but unwillingly into Eer
keeping, and she had worn it i'll triumph
over her pale blue satin dress.
She went out one chilly, dreary morn
ing, unbeknown to him, and returned
with burning cheeks and shining eyes,
when the fierce November storm was at
its worst. For several days she was
very SICK with Sudden attack Of in
fammation about the lungs that hushed
her sweet voice and made her breathing
heavy and painful. Then just when they
thought the crisis past and that she
would soon recover she died. Through
the brief, bewildering days OF her illness
Vasquel never thought of the amber
:, rosary, but in the terrible stiffness that
followed her death and burial he had
time to think of everything, and il was
then he missed the precious relic. Lit
tie Margaret was two years old then, anel
wondrously beautiful. Into her uncon-
scious baby ears the father poured his
hopeless wall Of agony for the loss OF his
wife, and his fretful complaining that
the Vasquel tahsman was lost. Baby
Margaret comforted him with her III
fantile caresses and cooed her insrticu-
late blessing to his wounded heart.
Fifteen wears had passed since l,er
mothers death, and "proud Miss Vas
quel" walked III regal indifference amoag
the score of friends and hatterers who
clung about her, despite q dim financial
rumor that the Vasquel property WAS
slowly diminishing in value for want OF
proper attention. Sencr Vasquel had
lost heart and courage in the long, lone
ly wears in which his only light and COM
fort was his darling girl. But she wes
proud and beautiful, and felt that III
some mysterious way the fate Of the
family depended upon her.
81 want my portrait painted, she
said, one day, to friend of hers, Senor
Reno, whom she knew was connoIsseur
in art. Father has mourned all my
life that lie has no picture Of mamma
he does not seem to think how badly he
would feel il I should vanish from his
sight forever, and leave no shadowy
semblance"
Senior Reno took immediate interest
in this matter, and soon invited Miss
Vasauel to the exhibition at the academy
of design, to study the different styles Of
few fine artists, and choose between
them. She chose one, for the strangely
familiar look in child face he had con-
tributed, more than for any special skill
in manipulation that the picture evinced.
Still Senior Reno approved her choice,
said the Young artist she had selected
was conscientious about his work and
skillful in it's execution. The sittiDgs
were commenced the next day, and the
picture soon completed.
Z" 1t is superb likeness, said Senor
Reno, admiringly. -,
eyes" answered the young lady, with
a curious look; "but / did not know L
looked so much like porcelain y
The artist smiled gravely.
cit is true" he said, the face is
without enthusiasm, but it has the posi-
bihties of life and soul, if only Ibnewwhat
would interest you. Is there no costume
you would be pleased 10 assume, no
character you might represent with glad
ness 2"
"There is a costume" she said, "in
which would delight to be painted.
wonder / did not think of it before"
Without further explanation she went
away. In few days there came to the
studio an elegant costume, suitable for
Portuguese lady of high rank. Soon
thereafter came Miss Vasquel, and ar
rayed herself in the quaint dress. A
high, pointed comb held long black
veil, which dropped mantilla-lke over
pale blue satin corsage, shading her rose
tinted shoulder aud round white arms
A satin cloak, edged lightly with eldel
down, hung from one shoulder, fastened
by snowy, silken cords, and soft, tAlcs
tassels.
81 hate these ornaments" said Miss
Vssausl, touching the heavy gold chair
snd desa gold haad bracelets. Ins,
isek Like Asnsslse. But ais~ends aeTe
Fsiss vel, sad have se Pssrlssesises'