The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-08-20
A Tale Of Two Continents.
aY MRS. NINA LAWSON.
CHAPTER XXIII-CoNT1NuI

By MRS. NINA LAWSON.
CHAPTER XXII-CoNTINURD.
The great old clock in the hall had
just struck eleven, when the door OF
Jeannette's room was opened, and Q
tell, slender figure glided out and
crossed the corridor to Lenora's room.
Any one would have thought that
Mrs. Bristol had been paying Jean
nette late visit, but it was not she.
but the wicked girl herself on her way
to the sick chamber to carry out her
murderous plan. Fortunately for
Jeanette, the door was not locked; ;
she noiselessly opened it and glided
into the room like shadow. Lenora's
eyes were closed.
aThank heavens, she is asleep! Now
I hope the nurse is also, for then the
coast will be perfectly clear, and then
It won't be but q moment or two until
that sleeping beauty will sleep for ever.
With murderous GOODNESS and quiet
ness of nerve, che gided along By the
side of the bed until she came in front
of her beautiful victim. Quick as a
flash she drew a large handkerchief
from the bosom of her dress and COW
cred Lenora's face. She then placed
her large, strong hand over Lenora's
mouth and nose IL sucn manner that
not particle of air could reach the
lungs.
Jeamette's poor little victim strug-
gled violently in her weakness to extri-
cate herself from that death grip, but
all seemed in vain.
"Ah, you miserable, cursed little
wretch, have you this time, and you
ahall-"
But before her scorched, maddened
bps could finish the sentence she felt
some one grasp her arm and give it
such jerk as to almost wrench it out
of place.
"You contemplate, wicked thing!
Now T know that it was you who gave
that poor, innocent child that poison
I shall report you to the mistress OF
this house, and you shall be punished
according to your crime
"Let 90 my arm, or will kill you
Instantly with this knife!"
As she spoke, she flashed q long,
two-edged knife in the face Of the
nurse.
As Jeanette entered the room and
advanced toward the bed, her shadow
reflected on the wall in such manner
that it attracted the nurses attention,
and as she was curious to know what it
meant, also careful and watchful of her
little patient, she slipped from her bed
and went noiselessly to Lenora's.
She instantly saw what was the mat
ter. and sprang to the murderess' side,
to save her patients life, if possible.
Jeannette had forgotten nothing.
The handkerchief that was spread
over Lenora's face smelt strongly OF
chloroform, and in few moments the
poor, weak girl was partially under its
influence, 80 much so that she made no
attempt to remove it, and lay perfectly
still. When Jeanette removed it,
.Lenora looked as if she were dead.
Almost before the nurse could turn
round to call for help, handkerchief
saturated with chloroform was pressed
over her mouth, and in few moments
abe fell back into Jeannette's arms.
Not until then did the cunning, wick
ed woman remove the handkerchief
from Lenora's face.
"Thank heavens! I have succeeded
st last, for she is dead-ycs, dead, at
lastI"
CHAPTER XIV.
A coarse, low, triumphant laugh
echoed along the walls OF the sick
chamber, as Jeanette drew the hand
kerchief off the beautiful, death-like
face.
She felt the pulse of her victim, and,
In her half mad, excited state, she did
not feel the slow, feeble motion.
Her face was then a perfect glow, in
the glory of her success.
An unseen power seemed to protect
the innocent, homeless girl, for, if for
m instant Jeanette had presumed that
her little tramp lived, she would have
pierced the now slowly beating heart
with the long sharp knife that she then
held in her hand
y will let you lie as you are, you fair
deceiver; your work is done, and you
will come between no one else as You
have between Ray and me. He is nov
mine, and I shall be mistress of this
mansion"
She seemed fully satisfied that her
victim was quite dead, and turning to
the unconscious nurse, she quickly lift
cd her small form in her strong, long
arms, and let the room and hurried
out of the mansion, still carrying in her
arms the unconscious nurse whom she
Intended to kill.
She quickly glided along in the long
ainly lighted Railways, unseen and
unheard; she passed along the SER
wants hall, and out of o back door to-
ward the boat-house. There was a
poor half-witted boy waiting there for
ha. Sha hnd ahnun him q ten dollar