The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-07-16
Lost Lima,
OR
1HE BITTER And THE SWEET.
a Tale Of Two Continents.
pY MRS. NINA LAWSON.
CHAPTER XIX.

CHAPTER XIX.
Finally the day arrived when Lenora
was to be dressed, and would be al
lowed to walk to Mrs. Bristors private
parlor, and sit up for while. She
was then to go to her own room and
have q maid to be with her all the time.
"A soft, rich, delicate, pink wrapper,
with silken hose and little pink satin
lippers, was waiting for Lenora when
she was ready to be dressed. All, how
lovely she looked, as Mrs. Bristol led
her into her own parlor and seated her
In a soft, blue plush chair, by the
glowing fire in the CRATE. +
It tired the little patient very much,
and she sank among the soft cushions,
with q little sigh OF relief; her loving
nurse heard the sigh, and soft, warm
kiss was pressed on the snow-whlte
forehead in response.
"You seem 30 loving and kind, just
like I always think that my mamma
would have been. Have you daugh-
ker?"
"No, dear; but what makes you ask
that question? Have you no parents?"
Lenora turned her great, beautiful
eyes, now dim with tears, toward her
friend, and then in q soft, trembling
voice she said:
"No; I have no parents, no home, no
friends, and do not know where to 60.
] have 30 longed for a mother, and have
wished every day of my life that my
mamma had not died; perhaps should
pot have been 80 lonely and poor. This
ring is all I have to remember her by"
any poor, poor little dear. And you
have no home, no friends. What was
that gentleman to you that you seemed
10 fear SO; was he your husband?"
Before Mrs. Bristol had ceased speak
ing every particle of color had left
Lenora's face, and she was compelled
10 gasp for breath.
The loving nurse noticed the effect
of her words, and felt sorry that she
had said anything about it.
mo, my dear friend, he was not my
husband, but said that he loved me and
wanted me to be his wife. I did not
think that he spoke the truth, and
something seemed to tell me that he
was my worst enemy, and that there
was q great mystery about the whole
affair. Oh! how I loathed his very
presence, and now believe that if he
had ever touched my hand, it would
have killed me. It all gives me such
pain that would rather die than re-
call the past"
Lenora's wholeIlbody shook as if she
were standing out in the piercing winds
and not sitting by the warm, bright fire.
Mrs. Bristol saw how agitated her
little patient was, andpow that she was
convinced that Lenora was not the
character that Jeanette had called
her, she said no more on the subject
and made up her mind that if Lenora
ever chose to make her confdante she
would be pleased and listen, and, if
not, she would not touch upon the sub
ject again.
II will say no more about it, dear; |;
but you have never told me your name
yet. What is it?"
Lenora hesitated few moments and
then said:
II have been called Lima Rice since
my earliest recollection by those who
knew me. I know of no other proper
name"
She did not know why she had been
given that name, Lenora Churchill,
Then she was stole3 ~. but supposed
4 vas as her tormentef had said, that
no ono might identify her" She con-
uidered the name would be disgrace
TO her, and if she should give that name
It might be possible that, if he did not
then know where she was, he might
hear OF it and her whereabouts, aud
then come and claim her as his insane
runaway wife, as he had once threat
ened to do.
As yet she was under the conviction
&hat possibly Gertana had sent her of
In that manner 30 that Noll could not
fnd her. She also thought that if she
gave tho name of Lima Rice, per-
6sps her uncle would relent and ID
BONE way hear of her and come and take
her back to the home that she loved 30
well.
"Lina is very pretty name, indeed"
Baid Mrs. Bristol.
But she said nothing about the other;
It did not seem to her that that name
exactly suited, but why she felt so she
could not understand.
This nok5e, loving woman was being
drawn closer and closer to her little
patient, and had learned to love her so
dearly that she could not think of part
ing with her, and asked her to remain
Is long as she chose to.
As they sat there in the bright, beau
@ul room, each happy in the company