The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-07-23
Bristol and Lenofa entered and started

she was acting or even thinking wrong,
for ever since Lenora entered the man
sion she secretly believed that she was
losing ground and not gaining ner one
object in life-simply to be mistress OF
the Bristol mansion.
"If Auntie Marguerite will not send
her away before Ray comes there are
few things that I will do. Ray, my
Raw, shall never be alone with her, for
am sure that she would exert such an
influence over him that she would soon
be able to dethrone mo entirely.
"And another thing shall make it
my duty to attend to will be to inform
Ray how she managed to enter this
house before she has q chance to talk
to him. shall show him just what
kind of person his mother has given
q home, and then, my pretty lady, If
you are not sent away from here In
double quick order it will be very
strange. All! Here she comes now,
and I shall find out what Auntie Mar
guerite intends to do"
AS the two entered Jeanette came
out of her hiding place and accosted
them.
She tried to look very sweetly at
Lenora as she said:
"How very nicely you do play; for
tunately for me did not miss that
treat, and really it was very charming"
Lenora only thanked her, and said
that she knew very little about music.
She then left the two standing in front
of one of the fountains, and strolled
down the walks, now and then touch
ing with her lovely scarlet lips her
favorite flowers.
"Auntie Marguerite, have you found
out who this girl is that you have
taken such an interest in? She seems
very attractive, indeed, but what will
Ray say when he comes home and finds
out who she is?"
my dear Jeanette, I hope that you
will harbor no fears as regards Lima, or
worry as to what Ray will say. For
my part I have perfect confidence in
her, and am quite sure that you were
mistaken as to her character; 1 believe
that she is as pure and innocent as
child, and it only remains for Ray to
decide whether she shall remain or not.
For my part nothing would please me
more than to have her here all the
time. You car see for yourself that
she is superior young lady, we'll edu-
Gated and is very beautiful. She has
the grace of born queen, and the
sweetest voice I ever heard. I have
ordered q dress from Paris for her,
Jeanette, and I am going to introduce
her to the guests; I dc so hope that
Ray will be pleased with her, for I GER
tainly om."
"Oh, yes, that is evident to every
one in the house, and no doubt but that
Ray will be pleased with her appear
ance, but hope that he will take into
consideration who has been under his
roof for the last two or three weeks.
"He may approve it, yet doubt it
very much"
"That makes no difference, Jeanette,
and I am willing to venture his ap-
proval."
As they talked they were slowly
walking down the walk toward Lenora.
The happy girl was radiant and was
sitting on q little grass plot near q
fountain, while all around her stood
vases of her favorite plants, now in full
bloom.
As the two ladies came toward her,
she looked up at them, her face flushed,
and her dark eyes were sparkling Like
diamonds.
II feel so happy here, Mrs. Bristol;
it makes me think of springtime in my
once happy home in the dear old val
ley"
But almost before she ceased speak
ing, her face was pale with anger at
herself that she had forgotten again.
I'VE are pleased that you are happy,
Lima, and Cow, if you like, you may
gather bouquet of your favorite flow
ers for your ROOM"
Jeanette and her aunt walked OF,
and Lenora began to gather the flowers
for her bouquet.
"Iten you, auntie, there is something
wrong somewhere; did you not see
how very strangely she acted when she
spoke of her old home? I, for one,
would not put too much confidence il
her,"
"Well, I cannot help what you think,
Jeanette, but I am positive that you
are mistaken: of course, as yet, she
las told me but very little of her past
lie, but what little she las told me
believe, and it does not lower her, in
my estimation, but elcvates her."
by this time LenoTa had gathered
her flowers, and joined the ladies.
Jcannct:e soon went to her room to
nurse her wrath, and Mrs. Bristol took
Lcnora to the drawing-room, that
would, in few days, be filed with
guests.
The house was grand, and to Lenora
the present seemed like q very sweet
dream. They had gone from room to
room, had been through all the guests
chambers, and took peep at the ser.
wants hall, and then they went to the
rooms of wonder"
Raynard Bristol and his mother
spent great portion of their time
travelling, and in those travels they had
gathered many strange and beautiful
things. They gathered such quanti
ties on each trip that they soon had
such large collection that it was nee
essary to fit up o certain part of the
mansion for these relics, and they
named that part the "Hall Of Won,
ders."
What delightful place this great
hall was for Lenora, and how long she
remained there, feasting her eyes upon