Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-06-18
DAUGHTERS OF CHIN
BY ETA w. PIERCE
CHAPTER w.
Two Girls.

fern, lighted by flickering patches OF
June sunshine, ARE you listening?"
"Ay, with all my might" laughed
Mignon, as she lolled lazily at the foot
of a tree, shading her lily complexion
with a huge red parasol, land, like
Oliver Twist, can only cry for more.
These two were stragglers from the
main army of Madame Verbs school
picnic. They wore airy white hats,
English walking boots, and the fresh
est of lawn gowns. At their trim
waists hung leather wallets containing
specimens. One carried sketch-book'
the other a microscope and a field
glass. Boston girls? Not at ALL Both
were strangers and aliens in that city
Of culture.
Ma chere!" said she who had been
called Mignon, and whose beauty was
the boast of Madame Verbs whole
school, Il give you my word that 1
never before heard Of such bloodhound
ling adventures in real life! Robbed,
murdered and resuscitated all in one
night! Why, it quite takes my
breath. Surely, dear, your lovers
claim TO the title of hero is now fully
established"
Maud LOTUS, a Canadian blonde,
rather fat, rather dumpy. with china
blue eyes, and the fairest Of lint locks,
smoothed out a letter which she had
been reading aloud to her bosom
friend, in this snug forest nook-a let
ter from Crawford's Ranch, Colorado
in which the late tragic adventures OF
Mr.. Guy Fleetwood were plainly set
forth.
"Oh," she shivered, suppose that
horrible robber had really killed Guy
what, think you, would my feeling
now be?"
Mignon, who was sketching a little
green vista in the cool wood, dropped
her pencil, as If overcome.
There's a limit to everything, even
to the human imagination" she an
swered, in a hollow voice; but 1t Is
my private opinion, dear, that you
would rush into Grape and bombazine
today, and tomorrow you would be
flirting again with that good-looking
German teacher at the school"
Enough" cried Maud, severely; Il
can forgive your heartless jest, Mig
non, because you have never loved"
Mignon, the beauty, the pet, the
bright particular star of the most ar1s-
tocratic finishing school in New Eng
land laughed out:
mo: thank goodness, / never have!
1t must be an intensely disagreeable
business!"
What heresy," cried Maud, from
the lips Of a girl who is as beautiful
as Psyche herself"
Mignon shrugged her shoulders. She
was used to admiration and accepted
1t as naturally as a flower the sunlight
In figure she was slight, but beauti-
fully rounded-an airy, fairy darling,
with a skin as dazzling as pearl; Ian
gushing eyes, like seal-brown velvet
and plaits of hair as yellow as burn
ished brass. She was barely sixteen
but her career Of conquest had already
begun, and Mignon wye was born for
conquest All her sweet, short iite
she had been petted and adored by ev-
erybody who approached her.
You know, mamie" said Maud
that there isn't a girl in school who
can compare with you in looks!"
Nor can any one equal you in i'm
portance," laughed Mignon, as she
watched a little caravan of black ants
travelling to some desired Mecca across
the open leaf of her sketch book. You
are the only engaged one among u.s.
YOU see; and to be engaged seems
such a strange, delightful and desir-
able thing to madame's artless Hook!
1t was quite true that Maud Lotus,
in spite OF her undeniable dumpy fig
ure. and tip-tilted nose, enjoyed unus-
ual distinction as a betrothed maiden
among her fair fellow students.
But" continued Mignon, briskly,
I'VE are wandering from our subject.
Your fiance, Mr.. Fleetwood, is robbed
shot, left for dead-your love letters
and photographs fall into the hands of
road agents, and then, mystery OF
mysteries! they return, they revive the
slain, they restore to him his filthy
cre-all-everything. but your letters
and picture. and they leave him with
his friends. and ride away in most
strange and melodramatic manner
Now. doesn't the whole story strike
you as very odd, Maud dear?"
Very" assented Maud, as she fold
ed up her lovers letter in perplexed
way. You see that Guy himself Is
quite at a loss to explain the matter
And what punishment would you
like to mete out TO that Black Solo
mon-no, David? Surely, something
worse than Louis XIV visited upon
Damiens?"
II would, indeed" answered Maud
betwixt a sob and shudder. oh
poor, dear. darling Guy! Mignon, do
YOU think it could have been my last
letter which touched the heart Of that
fiend in human shape. and led him to
return and care for Guy, and convey
him safely to Robert Crawford's
ranch? Do robbers have hearts, any
way?"
who can tell? Did you write
something very. very touching, dear?'
"Oh, yes; l told. Guy all about oul
lovely dresses at the school tableauX
and how your cousin Cyril quite spoil
ed mine by upsetting his ice upon 1t
and | confessed that had been flirting
little with our German teacher AND
then | told him how brilliant oul
graduating class was to be, and gave
him the order of exercises, as well as
| knew it at that early day, and
meandered onward to the visit whicf
I was to make you before l returned
to Canada, and declared my determi'
nation to turn your cousin Cyril:
empty head with my entertainments
and | assured him Of my faithful, un'
dying love, and bade him be true t'
me in that dreadful mutton country