The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-06-25

| pldCSu uluOuS WIG toOANA
lay scattered over the snow-white pillow.
This strangely laden express wagon
reached the depot Just in time fol-
Hutchinson to get the box on the last
through express. On and on they went,
whirling across the country just like
the wind.
The train which Hutchinson boarded
passed through Michigan City, and
that was where he wanted to stop.
He arrived just in time to get his
charge to the place he wished it to go
before the day dawned. He went him
self with the express-man and knew
that it was properly delivered.
CHAPTER XVI.
It was late the second morning after
the party, but the shutters were all
closed at the Noll cottage, and no
sound could be heard within; already
the place looked as if it had been de-
serted.
Lenors's nurse was the first to re.
cover from the effects of the chloro-
form, and then she felt drowsy and as
if she had slept but little all night.
Suddenly she thought of the patient
left in her care, and springing from
her couch she ran to Lenora's bed, but
it was empty.
"Oh, Heavens~ she screamed.
1.-THE child is gone, blankets, pillow
and all. What shall I do, what can I
do?" and she ran through the house
wringing her hands and screaming at
the top of her voice for help.
She rushed into Gertana's room, her
hair flying in every direction, making
her look like some insane person. She
rushed to the bed and shook Gertana
violently.
wake up, wake up! Don't you
know that the girl has been stolen?"
All the noise and shaking did not
affect Gertana at first; but finally she
slowly opened her eyes looked at the
nurse in strange, bewildering fashion.
"What is the matter, nurse, and
what are you doing here? Ic Lenora
worse?"
"Mercy, mercyl Don't you know
anything about it, madam? My, the
girl is gone, isn't in the house; she has
been stolen away in the night. Don't
YOU know we have all been chloro-
formed and something awful has hap
pened?"
As soon as Gertana could realize
what the nurse had been saying, she
sprang from her bed and ran to LIE
nora's room, not daring to believe what
| had been told her.
The bed was empty and all was as
the nurse had said.
This strange disappearance meant
more to Gertana than the nurse knew
of, and, as Lenoras faithful friend saw
her plans so shattered she sank sense
less to the floor. It was about noon
before order was again restored to the
excited inmates of the beautiful cot
tage. Gertana soon recovered from
her faint, and, after eating some toast
and drinking some wine, she felt
stronger and had her maid dress her.
In their excitement they had over
looked the letter that Hutchinson had
left, but now, as Nissou was arranging
her mistress hair she saw the strange
ly addressed letter.
This seems to besI unopened letter
for you, madam. Have you read it?"
"Let ne see it, quick, Nissou."
She quickly tore open the envelope,
and her eyes rested on an unknown
name, also strange hand.
Her hands trembled as she read what
was before her, in plain black and
white, yet she could scarcely believe
her own eyes. The letter was this:
In THE GARRETT OF THE NoLL CoTTAeE.
Nov. 30. 1875.
To Madam Girindani:
This Is but an explanation to you. to re-
lieye you Of some anxiety on the part oil
her will.
I know who you are. and do not wish to
do you or this poor girl any harm; 20. am
true friend to an honest. helpless woman.
and would not stoop so low as to trample On
your rights.
this letter this girl know not her real
name-win be far from Chicago. and in the
hands OF those who will care for and love
her.
am aware OF your kindly feeling toward
her, and hesitated somewhat in taking her
away in this manner; but have done SO in
order that no one would supect you.
I have been in this house night and day
for nearly two weeks, and have been able to
learn much about it There was q large
bundle OF papers. rightfully belonging to
the girl. but she knew nothing of them. Noll
had stolen them and carried them to his IL
brary. OF course, he intended to make I'M
proper use Of them: he intended to stoop 30
low as to get the girls fortune. and then God
only knows what he would have done. But,
thanks to mighty good streak OF luck. he
has been caught at this game, and think 1t
will be his last. I took those papers from
small drawer OF q desk that stands in the
library and will give them to the girl Do
not know what Is in them. for consider it
too base an act for man to impose upon
an innocent, injured woman. It does not
make sc much difference about my own sex.
You are not aware ofNoll's present where
abouts. but am. Before dsy-dawn to-mor-
row morning he will be securely fastened In
the jail at Springfield. Illinois. where he In.
tends to rob the First National Bank, but
ewin not succeed. He has no one to blame
for all this disgrace but himself. And now
about your own interests. AS ! said, ]
know who you are and whore your former
T home was. You have your own choice to
make. Either 60 to that home or some
where else; but Insist upon your immed-
lately leaving this city. Your father is dead
| but your mother lives. and is still looking
for you to return to her. am known as
CAPTAIN HUTCHINSON.
As Gertana finished reading this
strange letter, her hands dropped to
her lap and she sat for some time en-
tirely lost to what was going on around
her.
She was thinking how to accept
that letter, and if all was true that it
stated, what should she do? If this
! rortv had taken those blank paperg