Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-08-27
DAUGHTERS OF catN
By ETA w. PIERCE

was Verdi's "Trovatore."
AS usual Reginald Berkely hung
like a gloomy shadow, over Mignon's
chair. A sore Of sepulchral gavety
possessed him tonight. He seemed
actually striving to chat and laugh
like other people. Nina leaned, pen
sive and full Of sighs on the red plush
railing Of the box, and unused on the
mysteries Of human life and the plu-
rality of worlds; and Mignon, with her
dazzling face, and hair like yellow
silk, sat looking out on the audience
seemingly unconscious that she was the
cynosure of half the male eyes in the
house.
"Perdition!" chafed Reginald Berke-
", "how people stare at you tonight!
Against this background Of crimson
curtain, you look like something In
alabaster-don't you know? Ha! what
Is the matter?"
The smile died on Mignon's lips
Her rowing glance was suddenly ar
rested and held by an uplifted face In
one Of the orchestra chairs.
There yonder!" she gasped
shrinking back; that man, looking up
at us!"
1T is your Cousin WYE" said Nina
Berkely; "of course you are not afraid
OF him now."
Yes, it was indeed Cyril wye, and he
was gazing fixedly, balefully at Mig
non. A cold wind seemed blowing up
on the girl, but before she could look
again the door behind her chair opened
and Abel Lispenard stepped into the
box.
Here, at this crowded opera, in the
glare Of lights and with scores Of curl
Gus eyes upon them, husband and wife
met for the first time since their mar
riage- might. They greeted each other
in a very quiet, commonplace fashion,
If Abel Lispenard felt annoyed at the
sight Of a former lover leaning devot-
edly over the chair of his bride, his
face betrayed nothing. 1t was grave
and careworn, but that was all.
Are you we'll and happy?" he said
looking straight into Mignon's eyes.
81 am WELL" she answered, and was
happy, until a moment ago, when
espied Cyril wye in the orchestra yon-
der"
He turned quickly.
IT do not see him."
He was in the last seat of the row.
a quick breath-"the
place is empty, he is gone!"
DO not let such a matter annoy
YOU" said Lispenard! do not give him
a thought. You have nothing further
to fear from him. Gustave Laurent
died today at ST. Margarets he
breathed his last in my arms"
The music was ringing out gloriously
from the stage. but Mignon, deaf to
the sound, turned an eager face toward
Lispenard.
And your sisters child-have you
yet found it?" she said.
He shook his head.
Would it be too much to ask you to
tell me the whole story?"
He briefly related all that he had
heard from Gustaye Laurent. Nina
Berkely. leaning on the plush railing
eyed the two askance.
WAS there ever, since time began
such a singular pair as this?" thought
she.
Mignon was listening in an absorbed
way, unmindful of stage. or music, or
crowd.
And have you discovered nothing as
YETI" she said.
Yes; l know that the ship in which
nv sister sailed from Harve was lost
at sea ten years ago. l know that the
captain who commanded her on that
voyage, and the first officer also, per-
ished at an earlier date, Of yellow fe-
yer, in the West Indies. l have also
found out that the ship was built in an
obscure Maine port, whittier shall go
to pursue further inquiries, as soon as
LduIeIll 10 ldiu ny tiiC SiN'c VI POo' '
ian."
II hope, indeed l hope that you may
be successful in your search" said
Mignon. earnestly.
The musid died away, the curtain fel
on the last scene, the audience began
to move out. Lispenard conducted his
wife to the Berkely carriage, handed
her in, then moved back with grave
bow and vanished in the crowd.
About noon on the following day q
man ascended the steps Of the Back
Bay townhouse of the Berkelys, and
rang the bell for admittance. II
chanced that both Nina and her moth
er had gone to the Art club, and Mig
non was alone, sitting at a piano ir
the quiet mushroom turning over
some new songs. A servant opened
the door and announced:
"A gentleman to see Mrs. Lispen'
ard"
Mignon arose from the instrument
and found herself face to face witt
Cyril Wye.
How dye do, Mignon?" he said
with great sang froid. 81 thought Il
time to make you a cousinly call. Yol
are surprised ! dare say, to see me-
81 am, indeed" she answered, stern
ly; "how dare you enter my presence
'again?"
well, the fact is, cousin" he an
swered. sinking with perfect freedom
into a deep gulf of chair, Il have re
ceived news-profoundly interesting
news-and l bring the same to you"
News of whom?" demanded Mig
non. with her heart rising in he
throat.
"Of your dear father, Gilbert wye"
A foreboding of evil seized Mignon.
What is it?" she said, quickly; tel
me at once"
But he was in no haste. He twirle'
his red mustache and looked at he
from head to foot
"Handsomer than ever, and far mOr
stylish" he commented, you are fas
developing into an ultra fine lady. M!
plans concerning you went all awry