The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-08-27
Lost Lina;
THE BITTER And THE SWEET.
4 Tale Of Two Continents.
By MRS. NINA LAWSON.
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
All night long, after that of the trag.
sdy, Jeanette had been haunted by
the vision of her two poor victims, and
the next morning she was unable to go
30 the city. She did not leave her
eoom for three or four days, and OF
course could not 60 to the city, as she
had expected. nor as yet carry out her
plans to have her little tramp sent
sway. Lenora grew rapidly better, and
h few days was able to go down to
the conservatory, supported by Mra.
Bristol.
, She would sit as long as she could IN
Ehe little recess in the conservatory,
&here she had tainted on the night Of
the party.
Monday night was that ever to be re-
nembered night to the inmates OF the
Bristol mansion, and on the Monday
morning following Mrs. Bristol re-
&aved q Strengthening letter; thd
handwriting was new to her. and a
Shs tore open the letter her hands
trembled 30 that she could scarcely
hold the paper.
As she read on down the page her
face became as that of the dead, and it
seemed difficult for her to breathe. !.
She was in Lenora's room, and they
had been sitting by the CRATE talking
when the letter was handed to her.
O. .Lenora noticed how pale she was
whan che finished the letter,
IT hope you have no bad news, Mrs.
Bristol; no death, hope"
"No, no death, but worse. Here IS
the letter; read for yourself. I do not
and can not understand how it can ba
true, but here it is on paper before me-!
I would give half of all I possess to
know it is false, for Rays sake alone;
but what can I do or think? Here is
the letter, Lima; read for yourself"
The poor innocent girl took the let1
ter, and hsr great beautiful eyes fell
upon these lines:
MADAM BRISTOL: I. as q friend. think II
my duty to warn you in time Of the danger
Sou are In at present
You have had for some time past . very.
beautiful young lady staying at your house
Sour own child; that certainly Is great
mistake you have made. for you had no
proof as to who che really is.
That fair. deceptive creature there 1S
charged with the murder Of her husband.
and at present the officers OF the city are In
search Of her.
Some one has told them that you are try
fnQ to protect her from the law. and fear
khst unless you send her away Immediately
you Will be placed In very unpleasant po-
OF course 1t is not my duty to advise. I
only wish to inform you of the danger you
are in in time.
A MUCH INTERxsEED FRIEND.
Lenora read on to the end of that
terrible letter, while every word
pierced her poor aching heart like so
many daggers.
She knew, and knew that God knew,
chat it was false, and as the letter
dropped from her cold, trembling
fingers she raised her beautiful, dark.
troubled eyes to Mrs. Bristol's face.
"Do you believe that, Mrs. Bristol ?"
Her lips were pale and parched, and
her voice was low and husky.
II hardly know what to believe,
Lima You know Of the manner in
which you came, and everything con-
nected with you seems very strange.
Very strange things have occurred
since you came here that am utterly
unable to account for, and to-"
But Lenora stopped her before she
could finish her rebuke.
She sprang to her feet, while her
proud, handsome face was now flushed
scarlet with anger.
Every well, Mrs. Bristol, you may
believeit it If you choose, but God and
know it is all false. You have been
very kind to me, indeed, and have
nothing to offer you in return but my
humble thanks and lasting gratitude.
have not q penny, not one single
garment, nor have I friend in all
this wide world, and all I ever told
you concerning myself was but the
simple truth. I would not stoop SC
low as to lie, and the only reason
have for not revealing every action of
my past life to you was that there are
3 few things connected with it that it
almost breaks my heart to think OF.
II once had happy, quiet home, but
was stolen away from it all, and car
1ied off against my will; my enemies
seem to still persecute me; why am
the victim of 80 much misery I cannot
understand.
"But you need worry no more about
me, for shall leave as soon as pos.
sible.'
She had stood there, in that proud,
defiant manner. as long as her trem'
bling limbs would hold her. The last
few words we're scarcely audible, he,
voice was 80 weak and her lips so dry.
"Oh, my Father in Heaven, why have
you forsaken me, and what have I done
That my life should be so dark and
miserable2"
She sent up this prayer to the God ot
Heaven, as she sank down in the
chair, and buried her face in he1
hands.
She could not weep, for her sorrow
was too deep, but her eyes burned
like great Goals Of fire, and it seemed
to her that her heart would burst with
pain.