Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-09-03
DAUGHTERS OF CHIN
Rv Eta w. PIER CE

Esther thought of little Guy and ac-
cepted madame's offer
She entered at once upon her new
work. Aunt Deb watched little Guy at
the cottage and Esther, through rain
and sunshine and sleet and snow, far
ed forth to earn her paltry six dollars
in madame's workroom, from the OBJ
security Of which she was frequently
called to try on" choice garments for
fashionable customers; and surely the
rich fabrics on Esther's superb figure
took a form and air that were irresist-
ible. Madame soon found that she had
secured a prize in her new workgirl.
Her fine lady patrons from Beacon
Street and the Back Bay stared at the
handsome creature in admiring sur
prise and begged madame to relate her
history.
History? I know not if she has
one" madame would answer. "She
never speaks Of herself, or her private
affairs. She does her work in a su-
perior manner, and. though she looks
like a duchess, she is as docile and
sweet as a child"
There was one customer that ma
dame seemed to hold in particular re-
gard-she frequently called her an an
gel, and lone charming grand dame"
In the workroom Esther heard her
mentioned as the lovely Mrs. Lispen-
ard-heard, also, that she was a per-
son of great wealth and Importance,
the queen Of an aristrocratic circle.
The name sent faint thrill
along her veins-it brought back the
memory of Rookwood and the Dale.
She felt a curious desire to catch one
glimpse Of Mrs. Lispenard, but days
and weeks passed and her wish re-
mained ungratified.
But one bitter winter day, when the
snow was whirling across the common
and through the sloppy streets, ma
dame entered the workroom In haste,
carrying over her arm a white satin
opera cloak lined with magnificent
sable. a..
"Mees WYE" she said, "this has been
overlooked in the mornings hurry. You
must take it at once to Mrs. Lispen-
ard, and beg her to pardon my negli-
gence And you are to see that 1t Is
satisfactory before you leave it."
Esther arose from a ball-dress Of
-. H. tob cho tr.ip mi
and put on her outer garments. The
workroom was hot, crowded, and op-
pressive. She was glad to escape from
1t for awhile. She packed the opera
cloak securely in a box and set forth
to find Mrs. Lispenard.
Following the directions given by
madame, Esther turned from Winter
street to Park. passed the tall State
House, and came to an imposing man.
sion overlooking the snowy Common.
She went up the steps and rang the
bell. A footman answered it. Was
Mrs. Lispenard in? No, but she would
return shortly. Would the young per-
son wait? Esther could do no less.
The lackey showed her into a rose
colored boudoir full of luxurious
warmth and the faint sweetness of pot
pourri all in delightful contrast to the
bitter day outside. Adjoining this room
was a nursery, for as Esther entered
connecting door stood ajar, and she
caught a glimpse Of a white capped
bonne moving about with a child In
her arms. She heard, also, the gurgls
Of baby laughter. Then some one clos
ed the door on the other side, and all
was quite still.
Esther sat waiting. Her big eyes
roamed wistfully around the boudoir.
Mrs. Lispenard must be happy wo-
man. Beyond those costly curtains of
lace and brocade lay world OF work
and want and pain; but within were
tropic airs and sweet odors and sump-
tuous repose. Suddenly Esther's gaze
fell on the portrait Of man hanging
in a recess. The olive face, the eyes
full of volcanic lights, the straight,
clear-cut features she instantly recog-
nized as belonging to the rich dwarf
whom she had repeatedly met at Rook-
wood.
A wild alarm seized Esther She
arose. crept stealthily up to the por-
trait examined it closely. Yes, it was
he. There could be no mistake. She
was under his roof, then! Ghosts of
the past came trooping up. The per-
fumed air of the room seemed choking
her. Panic stricken she left the box
containing the opera cloak upon the
sofa and fled off-away, out of the
house into the snowy streets, her limbs
trembling under her, her breath grown
short with nameless fears.
Now, who can Mrs. Lispenard be?'
she thought. who can that man have
married? Probably the Miss Berkely,
who, as Aunt Elinor once told me, was
deeply in love with him at the Dale. Is
she madame's angel and charming
grand dame?'" - Shirlaw's kinsman,
the friend of Philip Wye, the person
who had done so much to arrange the
match betwixt Mignon and the gallant
brown captain. oh" said Esther to
herself as she hurried across the wind
swept Common. Il would not have en-
countered Abel Lispenard for the wide
world"
When she reached the workroom she
explained to madame that she had
found Mrs. Lispenard out, and had left
the opera cloak
"Mademoiselle is pale" said the little
Frenchwoman.
1T Is the cold" stammered Esther
A day or two after. the opera cloak
came back to madame for some slight
alterations. Mrs. Lispenard, very
lovely and stylish young creature
brought it herself.
"Ah, madame" said the Frenchwo-
man in her most deferential manner
II am heart broken at the trouble you
take! Mees WYE was instructed to try
on the cloak. but she found madame
out and did not wait"
Mrs. Lspenard started, nervously.