Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-07-09
DAUGHTERS OF CHIN
BY ETA w. PIERCE
CHAPTER XIII.
A Discovery.

Rock the morning after Esther Harts
marriage, and carried news Of the
same to Aunt Deb and gran'ther. Soon
after he returned to the newly welded
pair and made the following report:
1.-The old gal Debbie," and Tom turn
ed the quid Of tobacco facetiously In
his leathery cheek. lust hollered out
L knowed Estherd gone with him!
and then she threw her apron over her
head and groaned and rocked and
rocked and groaned a spell, and arter
that she took to singing, 'HarR from
the tombs a doleful sound and that
ended the matter with her Granther
he was raging mad at first, but ne
kinder simmered down, too, and said
that folks as married in haste was
sure to repent at leisure. When Essie
finds herself desarted, she may come
back to the Light ag'in,' says he"
Fleetwood received this information
with scorn, and Esther with indiffer-
ence; and then the blissfully happy
pair Immediately banished Porgy Is
land and it's inhabitants from their
conversation and their thoughts.
Blissfully happy they were. indeed,
there, at that little inn on the shore.
Guy Flee wood shut his eyes to past
and future alike, and was more than
content with the present. AS for Es-
ther, unspeakable depths of passion
burned under all. the pride and reserve
of her character. She had found her
master. She belonged now to him and
he to her. The world was transfgured
before her eyes-life was TRANSPORTED.
This island girl, who had chafed at all
dominion, now yielded without muir
mur to the greatest despot In the uni
verse-Love.
A week passed away-seven days or
Paradise on earth-during which time
the foolish young pair talked only,
thought only, Of each other. Then
came the thunderbolt out of smiling,
cloudless sky.
It was a delightful afternoon. Down
on the long Cinderville beach, washed
by the gray, racing tides, and desert
ed by everybody else. dawdled Esther
Fleetwood and her bridegroom.
At the inn, people dined at high
noon and Fleetwood accommodated
himself with perfect resignation to the
hour. Indeed. dinner at any time was
a trifling matter to him now-as were
all other mundane things. save his
love. He had been married week,
yet his infatuation had not decreased
a whit-if possible, it controlled him
more utterly than ever before.
His adoring eyes were upon her, as
they sauntered along the Cinderville
sands. She was all in gray, from head
to foot. Exactly the same shade pre-
vailed in her round hat and soft drap-
cries, her long, wrinkled gloves, filmy
veil and big silken parasol. The rich
crimson breast Of bird set in the hat,
made the only bit of brightness about
her.
my darling" said Fleetwood, "you
are a perfect harmony in gray Where
did you acquire your excellent taste In
dress? l have often been tempted to
ask, because it seems to me an un-
common talent for this particular To-
cality."
She smiled.
81 do not know-perhaps in the same
place where 1 learned my geography
and arithmetic-Barton academy. The
girls there used to talk great deal
about dress. Do you like this?" glanc-
ing down at her stylish draperies.
Yes" he answered; surely you can
not buy such things as these" lightly
touching the lovely Paris gloves and
the elaborately carved parasol, "in
Cinderville or it's environs?'
"Oh, no." she replied, quietly; Il al
ways order all that / wear from Port
land. I love nice fabrics and pretty
ornaments. Aunt Deb was constantly
complaining because l spent so much
money on my wardrobe"
She was as white as a calla lily, and
her magnificent hair glistened under
the gray hat like a crows wing; and
oh, the great black, deer-like eyes up
lifted to his own!-never, since the
days of Cleopatra, had such eyes shone
to lure man to destruction!
"Henceforth you shall spend what
you will upon yourself" he said, with
a lovers fondness, "and none shall
complain. Thank Heaven l am not a
poor man, and beauty like yours, Es-
ther, deserves a queens robes. How
ever. it seems to me-" giving vent to
thought which had been for days ir
his mind, that Aunt Deb and youl
grandfather were very liberal witt
you, considering their position on Por-
gy Rock"
She stared. then laughed.
Aunt Deb-gran'ther! Why, they
never gave me a dollar in my life!
Surely you did not think that l was
clothed and fed by them?"
Yes, l certainly did" replied Fleet
wood, bewildered: who should pro-
vide for you, if not that pair?"
The tide had receded. This part OF
the beach was now dotted with gnaw'
ed and weedy brown rocks. each hold
ing little holOws Of salt water. Or
one Of these Esther Fleetwood seated
herself carelessly, and furled her bis
parasol Her creamy skin needed NJ
protection from the sun.
Were it not for the haze. Guy.
she said quietly, I'VE might see Porg!
Rock from this point. Who shoult
provide for me, dear? There arr
relatives nearer than aunts and grand
fathers, you know. l was left man!
years ago to the care cf my dea(
mothers people. but not to their char
ity. The person who always paid m!
board at the lighthouse-whos sent M
to school-who gives me permission t
dress in the best fabrics. and wh'
has always filled my purse withou
stint is-my father"
Your father" echoed Fleetwood
blankly: why. my darling. l did no
know such a being existed. l certainl!
,ayar hear Won sneak of him before.