The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-04-23
not gentleman, ana cannot tell me

that he ought not to have spoken as he
did. He therefore changed his manner
altogether.
Il beg your pardon, Miss" bowling
very low: Il did not intend to insult
you, neither do intend to hurt you in
any way; and, since you insist upon
k:oving why I brought you here, it is
because I love you: and why l am
keeping you here is because l want YOU
to become my wife. can give you all
that money can buy; can make you
happy, and shall live and die for you.
Will YOU not conscnt?"
mo; could not smile upon you
were it to save your life! No; l
will never be your wife, for I hate you.
1 would prefer death upon the gallows
to such an awful fate"
Lima was gasping for breath, and
was pale, like death, from fright, as
she realized the horror of her position.
Madam, you will repent Of those
words some day."
Never, sir, while live"
"We will see about that, you peer
less beauty. You shall remain with
me until YOU do CONSENT
"No, sir; Lima Rice will never accept
your hateful name"
"Ah, now," thought Jim, II will try
another card if that won't work.
II presume that you are not aware,
Miss. that if in the future you will not
accept my name it will be advisable for
YOU to take some other name than Lima
Rice, because you are now and shall be
entirely in my power, and If you are
known by that name you now have,
anyone that had heard it before would,
of course, recognize it and then inquire
into the matter. I would tell them
that you eloped with me and as yet it
had not been convenient for me to
marry you, but I intend to do SO soon.
You see you are powerless, and by &C
cepting different name there would
be no danger of being disgraced. 1 will
give you name; q very beautiful and
good one-Lenora Churchill. Isn't
that beautiful?"
"The name does very well, but I shall
not accept it. That is your name, no
doubt"
"No, it is not"
"Well, what is it, then? If you are
going to make me prisoner, should
like to know the jailer's name"
He gazed in silent wonder at this
queen of beauty, so young, so ignorant
of this wicked world, yet so able to de-
fend herself. so calm and brave.
"You are silent; aren't you possessol
of mind? you are certainly not worthy
of one."
Still he gazed in silent wonder.
Mrs. King readily saw that Jim
scarcely knew how to answer, so she re-
ieved him.
"lIiss Lenora, this gentleman is Col.
Sylvester Noll; he is your friend and
you should trust him."
"No, never! Colonel, is he? Ineve1
saw one before, but have read of them.
Those men were not towards, but he is.
Colonel? Yes, no doubt he hiss
whole regiment Of poor innocent pris.
oners like myself. God have mercy
upon them if he has"
Those few short hours Of suffering
and imprisonment seemed to change
Lima from the timid little girl she had
been into a brave, strong-hearted
woman that was determined to help her.
self or die in the attempt.
All was now silent in this gloomy
underground prison; nothing could be
heard but the cracking of the fire.
Each one was busy with her own silent
thoughts.
"Oh, what can I do, what shall I do?
One thing is certain, I shall be firm,
and will never yield to him. There is
some mystery back of all this. I will
wait patiently and will watch.
"If there is possibility of my escap
ing, shall do 80.
II will then go back to my dear, dear
home, where the only parents I have
ever known are now searching and
weeping for me.
"Oh this is too much! Ny Father in
heaven, how can I bear this torture
longer! Why will you not listen and
set me free!"
The tears were now fast falling from
her great, beautiful eyes, down upon
her soft, dimpled, trembling hands.
As she looked down through her
tears, she caught glimpse of bright
sparkling ring upon her finger. 1t had
been her mothers, and was very valu-
able. 1t was gold, with fifteen dia-
monds. AS she saw this. faint smile
fitted across ner handsome, tear. ,
stained face.
"This ring is very valuable, so Uncle
Cristo says, and as dearly as I love the
memory of my mamma, yet I will offer
this for my release" And she took it
from her dainty white finger and
pressed it to her lips.
Then, looking at her captor, with
those great, sad, pleading eyes, she
said:
"Sir, this ring was once my mammals,
so an uncle of mine told me, and it is
very valuable.
II love it dearly; it is the only thingI
have to remember her by, yet, as dear
ly as T love it, I will give it to you if
you will but set me free"
"No, Lenora, I can not do that. 1t
is not the ring I want, but it is your
own beautiful self"
"Oh! pity, mercy, please, dear
Father!" she cried, with clasped hands
and up-turned face, but her pleading
seemed all in vain.
IT see you are entirely merciless;
your heart is harder than the stones Of
This prison wall"
"No. My heart is bleeding, bursting
with pain for one sweet word, one
smile from those rosy lips"
Lima. like q broken ily. sank limp