The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-05-14
CHAPTER TX.

A mOQtQ ana nal1 udu pdSScu duu
still Lenora would gaze round the
room with wandering eyes; ct times it
seemed that she strained her mind to
recall some of the past, but her efforts
were all in vain.
Then the heavy white lids would
droop over those great beautiful eyes,
and she would fall back upon the pill
lows, weakened and worn from her
useless efforts.
not a word or sound had escaped
her lips since that awful night when
she ran her wild, mad race.
Lenora lay there, between life and
death, for two long months. All those
long weeks there could scarely be the
slightest noise heard in the whole
house; everything seemed shrouded in
death.
Noll seldom if ever left the house,
and then but for very short time.
Gertana was hopeful and patient,
never uttering one word of complaint,
yet she sat day and night by the bed
side of the girl who had unwittingly
stolen her place.
Every morning Sylvester would
linger long, and silently pace the floor
in front of the room door where she
lay whom he so madly loved.
The whole household regarded Le-
nora as something almost sacred, and
took delight in doing all that could be
done for the poor little patient.
Every morning the nurse would go
to the door of the sick chamber and
report to the weary, anxious listener
outside always the same sad, unwel-
come, "Just the same"
Noll received this same answer for
two long months. He never asked how
she was, or said anything when the
nurse answered his silent inquiry.
Everyone seemed to know his thoughts
and wants from the expression of his
eyes. On the first morning of the
third month, Lenora began to notice
intelligently the things in her room,
and there were good signs of her con-
valescence. The news brought JOY to
the whole house, and Sylvester Noll
seemed another man.
Lenora grew better rapidly, and soon
became conscious of her position and
Of the past.
AS neither Mrs. King nor any other
of the watchful patients old enemies
appeared, she began to feel freer and
more cheerful.
One day Gertana sent word to the
sick chamber that lady friend would
like to see the patient. "Who can the
friend be-" thought Lenora. Il am
here, away from all that is near and
dear to me, and who that is friend of
mine can know that am here, pris-
oner of that awful man? Oh, must
not think OF him, for want to get quite
we'll again, that I may escape, and I
hope I shall be more successful than /
was the last time. Who can that friend
be? Well she may come in, whoever
she may be.
"Nurse, you may admit that lady who
wants to see me-"
"Very well, miss"
The nurse then opened the door, and
Gertana entered, looking very beauti-
full in long white morning wrapper,
with bunch of red roses at her throat
and in the heavy coils of her jet-black
hair.
Lenora could not utter one word as
the beautiful Italian entered; in fact,
she knew hardly what to say. She did
not think it possible that this beautiful
dark lady was q friend, for she had
been with the man she so much feared
when they ate dinner in the hall.
All the events of that night flashed
through Lenora's mind, and she looked
up at her visitor rather suspiciously.
fro BE CONTINUED