The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-08-27
,o Jo, she had fdzed the moo. lonely

do. Tor she had loved the poor lonely
girl 30 much, and the blow came 80
sudden and unexpected As she heard
Lenora utter that wild prayer Cd
agony, and saw the look Of utter de-
spair on her pale face, her kind, noble
heart went out to the poor little suf-
ferer, and her eyes filled with tears: :.
Lima, my child, I pity you, and it
hurts me to see you sniIef sol Do not
feel so bad, and T will think over what
is best for me to do.
"No, no! Don't pity me, for I cannot
thank any one for her pity, It such it
be, who does not bslieve in me. ]
will notsremain here to see another
dawn.
"What if your son should return and
find me, On accused murderess, under
his roof? Ahl He would curse me,
and that would kill me, indeed!
"No, T don't want you to pity me,
for you don't believe in my innocence.
Mrs. Bristol pose and left the room,
too full Of sorrow TO say anything.
Just as she left Lenora's room, Jean-
nette's room door was closed; that vile
murderess had again been listening at
the keyhole, and heard every word that
was said IN the blue rooms.
"Oh, T am SO happy-so happy AL
is over now, and all is minel Blessed
be the moment in which I thought
Of that letter, for it sends her away in
disgrace. When Ray returns I shall
have the satisfaction Of seeing his love
crushed, and, surely, he will be
ashamed of ever having loved 30 vile a
womanl"
While she paced up and down her
room, she seemed to be treading on
air, and already she was planning in
her mind just how she would have her
trousseau made, and just who should be
invited to her wedding.
"Ohl won't it be glorious, and the
victory is So" but she did not finish
the sentence, for the horrible vision OF
the dead nurse and Simple Tim ap-
.peared, whispering in her ear, "No!" in
ito ice-cold breath. Jeanette reeled
and staggered around the room, and In
some way reached sofa.
It had grown quite dark out OF
doors; the moon shone only at inter-
rails, for occasionally its face was Gov
cred with passing cloud.
A number of the rooms in the man
zion we're brightly Lighted, but in the
blue rooms the gas had been turned
almost out about nine o'clock.
At that time tall, handsome young
man, with sad, haggard face, might
have been seen emerging from under
the. tall trees by the side of the drive
that led to the city,
He had seen the bright light in the
blue room, and then saw when it was
turned low. He hastened his steps,
but was some little distance from the
mansion when he SOW the great hall
door open, flash of light, and then it
suddenly closed.
"What can that mean2 No one
came out. Perhaps they are looking
for me; but no one knows that I am
coming, for I did not send them word,
but intended to surprise them.
makes no difference; I must hurry,
for I can't wait any longer, but must
see my little love!
"O6, heavens. has she thought Of
me half as much as I of her, and will
she be my wife Or not9 I must know
to-nightl'
By this time he had reached the peb-
bled drive in front of the mansion.
Just then the moon seemed to dart
from under dark cloud that had been
hiding its face for some time, and every
object could plainly be seen.
A faint sigh reached Rays ear, and
it seemed to come from the lake.
As he looked toward the partially
frozen body of water he saw little fig
ure, clad in long white robe, with
bright golden curls loosely tossing
about in the wind.
1t was Lenora, and her little feet
were swiftly carrying her far out in the
lake to the edge of the ice, where she
intended to loose herself forever from
this wicked, troublesome world in
those deep, cold waters. She stopped
for breath q minute, and turned to
bake one last look at the mansion.
"Oh, beautiful mansionl the home
of my darling. my hearts one idol, l
must take one last look at you before I
am lost in these deep, cold waters =
And then, clasping her little ice-cold
hands as she knelt there, she prayed:
Father, my Father in Heaven, lis
ten to me now, for I will soon be with
you in your beautiful home in Heaven.
+ have no home here, and no one to
care for me; they are all hunting me
for my life; they call me murderess,
but Thou knowest I am innocent.
Jesus, the only brother I have in Heav-
en- or On earth, loves me, and will take
care of me when I am with Him. For
give all who have wrorged me, and
forgive me if I am doing wrong to-
night; but, oh, Father, I cannot stay
here. am coming, now, to Thee in
Heaven!"
As the moon shone down upon the
little golden head, Ray recognized it,
and quick as fash he saw that she
was going to take her life.
He knew that something terrible had
happened, or she would never do such
wrong, as he saw hG fitting along
oyer the snow-covered ice to its very
edge. He dropped his valise and
started after her.
"Oh, God, that is my little darling,
my angel, as pure as those she will