Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-08-09
DAUGHTERS OF CHIN
BY ETA w. PIERCE

Il
with your journey. you know. Have
you slept well?"
YES, indeed" said Mignon, rising al
once and proceeding to dress. "Why
it is positively o'clock! I dare say
somebody is waiting for me below
airs-papa-or-or'-
Captain Shirlaw?" prompted ElinoI
wye, hurriedly; "no-neither, my dear
have something to say to you. Mig
ncn-you will not see your father this
morning. He has been called suddenly
away-I would rather be the first per-
son to tell you this" Her voice un-
consciously took a tone Of distress
Don't speak of him, either to your
cousin Cyril or your uncle. We are
two helpless women, made to be crush
ed by hands stronger than our own
Gilbert Is gone. Let us say that he
has been driven away by financial en-
barrassments-men do strange things
under that name, you know. You must
be very patient and wise, Mignon-you
must not ask questions, and you must
not fret"
Mignon looked at Aunt Elinor
aghast.
Papa gone, and without a word to
me-" she cried.
Even Elinor wye could play the hy-
pocrite when occasion required.
my DEAR" she said, sweetly, "he
has left you to me. am now to take
charge Of you. Some time you will
know all about the matter. but for the
present you must be silent, and trust
those who love you. 1 have ordered
breakfast in my little sitting room, and
in an hour the carriage will be at the
door to take us to town. We will spend
the day with the Berkelys. They have
lately purchased whole gallery OF
paintings which l know you will like
to see."
Mignon felt as though she had re-
ceived a cold douche. They sat down
to a tete-a- tete breakfast, the girl In
brown study, Elinor wye watched her
anxiously. Mignon little dreamed OF
the fever of alarm and dread that was
raging all the while in the heart Of the
meek woman. If only she could keep
from her innocent young niece the
knowledge Of the truth!
'T will be very patient for papa g
sake" said Mignon, after quite a long
pause. 81 will ask no questions. Aunt
Elinor-it is enough that he has left
me to you. I fear he spent a great
deal of money in New York. He would
crafty all my whims. Oh, I blame
myself for it,"
Poor child" groaned Aunt Elinor;
blame yourself for nothing!-you are
entirely innocent Of this trouble"
They arose from the breakfast which
neither had tasted, and made ready for
day in town.
Before we start, Aunt Elinor," fall
tered Mignon, ''let me go down to the
garden. Captain Shirlaw will see me
there, and he left so suddenly last
lnight-do you not remember?-I am
sure he will wish to offer explanations.
Very WELL" replied Aunt Elinor in
blissful ignorance that Captain Shir-
law had been weighed in the balance
and found wanting, 81 will wait for you
half hour, my dear"
Mignon descended to the sunny gar
den. Rookwood was very quiet. She
saw no one about, save the Scotch
gardener, who was raking dead leaves
from the walks In a pensive mood
she sauntered to the river bank. AS
she paused there, looking wistfully
across the current, and wondering
where her lover might be, boat put
out from the stone jetty, and not Shir-
law, but Abel Lispenard, scrambled
over its side at the Rookwood landing
place.
| Captain Shirlaw left the Dale last
night" he began, holding out letter
to Mignon. He asked me to give you
this"
With a blank face she took it, broke
the seal and read these words
"Since you and I must suffer for the
Il
sins of others; since marriage between
us is no longer possible, l must beg
you to release me from my engagement
Circumstances beyond my control COM
pei me to leave the Dale in haste, anc
also forbid me to return to 1t: but, resi-
lassured. my respect and esteem will be
yours always"
That was ALL She was Tilted. The
paper fell from her powerless hand
She turned a. white, changed face up.
on Lispenard.
HE is gone!" she gasped; "he will
never come back"
How strangely impotent thing Is
human love- Abel Lispenard would
have given his life for this girl, ant
vet he could not save her a single
pang. His eyes glowed like an angry
hawks.
Then forget him." he answered
harshly: "do not give him another
thought. He is not worthy of you!"
At the frog-man she looked dowr
with large, fearless eyes.
They have all fled from me- she said
in dull, dreary voice, that had neith'
er life nor hope in it-"sister. father
lover! do not know what it means
II have tried to think, but / cannot.
am forsaken by one and all. There |:
no one now who cares for me in the
least"
rs there not?" he answered. "Yol
Iare ungrateful. know of a persor
who would die to serve you? Die, d'
| say? There are tests more severe
than death--tO stoop to falsehood. dis
honor; to sin against all ones owl
ideas of right for your sake: to stan'
lcQndemned before ones self, yet ex
ulting in the abasement, since peace b!
such means has been purchased TO
you. Tell me, is not that a test o
llove?"
She looked blank, uncomprehending
like one who listens to idle tales.
Il do not understand you," she said
wearily, almost impatiently. mo on
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