Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-07-12
DAUGHTERS OF CHIN
By ETA w. PIERCE

splendor. Rookwood seemed to SIM
into insignificance by comparison
Old French porcelain, painted witt
portraits of once famous court beau
ties, specimens of Moorish pottery
Dutch faience, ebony buffets inlai'
with arabesques in red and yellow
copper, carved oak presses with brass
corners, Aubusson tapestries, brocade'
Of royal richness, Venetian cabinets
paneled walls glimmering with price
less paintings, tiles from Persia ant
Holland, a CLEAN Of ivory and steel
and strange carvings in unexpected
nooks-these were some Of the thing:
that delighted Mignon at Lispenard':
high tea.
Shirlaw came to meet her, his bold
gray eyes full of a language not hare
to interpret. AS yet he had said moth
ing to his host and kinsman. The
lovers secret was still their own, fol
Maud Lotus betrayed no knowledge
Of It.
my darling, my darling" ShirlaW
found opportunity to whisper, as he
stood by Mignon in the grand drawing
room, do you know that you were
made for a home like this? You be-
long naturally to all its luxury. And
do you also know that you are pledged
to follow the fortunes Of a penniless
soldier on the wild frontier, where
hardships are plenty, and luxuries
conspicuous by their absence?'
The seal-brown eyes glanced up al
him In a shy, but serene way.
'I know" she answered, softly, elo-
quently.
The party was admirably selected
and not too large. In the midst OF the
high festivities Of tea the converse
ton chanced to turn upon an eminent
painter, just deceased.
81 possess an excellent specimen OF
his early work." said Lispenard: "one
believe. Of his best efforts. 1t Is a
portrait of my sister,"
A curious little hush fell on the
guests. AS soon as it passed, and the
cups and spoons began again to clat-
ter, Mignon, who was seated near the
host, said boldly:
'I would like very much to see that
portrait"
He turned and look at her eagerly
1T will give me great pleasure to
crafty you," he answered.
Presently they moved away from the
table. Most of the company remained
in the drawing room to inspect some
rare curios. Mignon, Shirlaw and
Nina Berkely were conversing togeth-
er under a velvet portiere, when Lis
penard suddenly thrust the rich folds
aside and beckoned to them.
Come" he said.
oak stair, lighted by low, wide win
dow draped in red silk. From the floor
above the view Of wood and distant
hill tops, and the winding Charles, was
charming. Mignon involuntarily stop
ped at an oriel window to look forth.
do you admire it?" said Lispen-
ard, pausing at her side, with his head
reaching about to her shoulder
1T is lovely" she answered; and
then, sinking her voice below the hear
ing Of the others. she added: MT
Lispenard, fear it will give you pain
to show that portrait to strangers
and If so, I would rather not see 1t
Indeed, l ought not to have mentioned
such thing"
A smile of singular sweetness ap-
peared on his lips.
1T is impossible for me to think OF
pain in connection with you," he an
swered, "and as for the others, really
do not mind the Others"
They had reached the end Of long
corridor. Here Lispenard took key
from his pocket, inserted 1t in a rose
wood door hung on huge silver hinges
and by a silent gesture bade his guests
follow.
The room within was a boudoir
luxuriously furnished, and full of
dim, religious Enthusiastically wo-
mans room for beautiful feminine
nicknacks were lying everywhere
about, as though the owner had bu,
just left the place. At these trif1es
however, Mignon did not look. Hei
eyes were caught and held suddenly
by something hanging on the wall op'
posite a ce-draped window-the full
length figure Of a girl, In a gown o.
wine dark velvet, with great cluster
Of cream tinted roses dropping from
one slender hand.
What a face 1t was, and how skill
fully the painter had limned its mar
velous gift of beauty! The black. al
mond shaped eyes looked out from the
canvas with arch meaning-surely M
eastern sultana ever possessed sucf
splendid, seductive eyes! The face
was like some rare cameo. Masses o.
raven hair crowned the perfectly pois
ed head. There was a wonderful
creamy throat, the shape Of Psyche
an inimitable hand live ivory, and a
arm that might have been copied from
statue. Anything more unlike Lis
penard himself could not we'll be i'm
agined, and yet, one saw the famil!
resemblance.
Dead silence reigned for some mo-
ments in the boudoir. Nobody spoke
All stood entranced before the por
trait. Shirlaw, in particular, seemed
greatly moved.
II have been your guest many times
Lispenard," he said, resentfully, "wh!
did you never permit me to see thi
picture before?"
Abel Lispenard passed one han'
wearily across his eyes.
Because l could not, Victor, n
answered This Is the first time ina
any foot save my own has crossed thi
threshold since Lilian's death"
Good Heaven! it is not woman
but a goddess" cried Shirlaw.
Surely the artist loved his subjec
or he could not have painted her WIFI
such Skill" unused Nina Berkely.
True. the artist was her lover" re