Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-02-19
CHAPTER nj.

For week after their their arrival in
London, Lord DartmOOr said nothing to
Maud in regard to the surprise which he
had for her. At the expiration of that time,
he asked her to accompany him to room
which she had not yet visited, and where,
as she believed, painters and upholsterers
had been at work.
This was partly true. A rich fresco adorn-
ed the ceiling, and across the room, near
one end, was huug curtain of crimson vel
vet, sliding with silver rings on rod of
silver suspended from the ceiling by slen-
der chains. A crimson carpet covered the
floor. The only furniture consisted of few
luxurious chairs, all near the entrance, and
facing the curtain, behind which something
was evidently concealed.
"How do you like to" asked Lord Dart
moor, Indicating the general aspect of the
room.
at looks mysterious" replied Maud,
smiling.
"What mystery is there about ii? ?"
"The curtain is the mystery. But [ think
"Ah you are half Yankee. That's why
you are able to guess. But don't you ad"
mire the curtain? ?-it is new"
81 admire it very much. l like the car
pet too. Is that new as well?"
"NO, think not; but the frescoing is"
"That is lovely-but want to see the pic
ture. Won't you show it to me now? You
excite my curiosity too strongly"
Lord Dartmoor stepped forward and drew
aside the curtain, parting it in the center,
so that it fell in heavy folds on either side.
Against the wall hung large picture in a
magnificent frame. 1t was the full-length
portrait of beautiful girl, standing beside
a harp. She wore pale blue silk, of a cut
fashionable some twenty years before elbow
sleeves, richly trimmed with lace, displayed
the slender and rounded arms, which were
without ornament. Her yellow blonde hair
was drawn from her forehead and arranged
high, showing to perfection her white and
shapely neck and in front Of her corsage,
cut square and trimmed with lace, blushed
single delicate rose. The figure was turned
slightly towards the harp, on which the right
hand rested; the glance was directed toward
the left, or reverse side Of the picture the
left arm hung naturally at the side, with the
palm of the hand turned slightly outward.
The artist had thrown over the whole figure
an air less of expectancy than of exquisite
and dreamy repose. The grace of look and
attitude could scarcely have been surpassed.
"And this" said Maud, drawing swift,
deep breath, that was almost a sob, 'is my
mother !"
eyes, Maud; that is your mother, as she
looked dC elSHteen. was L llOl TlSnG III
saying that you were her counterpart:"
II? On no, no! couW not be as beau
tiful as that"
"You are exactly like her, my child !!
Look at mew He gently turned her face
towards him. "The same deep blue eyes
the round chin-the fair hair-the features
the smile; only that is not quite arch
enough-you are a trifle more serious than
it was her nature to be; but see no other
difference. In looking into your eyes my
darling, l can fancy the other Maud had
come back. But l have a different feeling
when 1 speak to you, and hold you, as
do now, to my heart-for she was never
mine, and you are all, all my own"
They looked long at the lovely picture,
while the Earl told her all its story-how
he had worked at it, putting his whole
heart in the work, and worshipping its fair
subject secretly all the while; how he had
fingered over it, being unwilling that it
should come to an end; and how, when it
was finally completed and he was waiting to
have it sent for, he had suddenly learned of
the disappearance of his idol.
"My only consolation was the likeness,
which remained in my possession. That
seemed almost to take her place, if it had