The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-09-24
A Tale Of Two Continents.


Chaf En- -A-AA1-SpN1i- Lilo
& scornful smile of triumph fitted
across her dark, fiendish face as she
threw the letter into Lenora's lap and
left the room to return to her own. As
she entered, horrible vision appeared
before her and never left her until the
day of her death.
In the distance was an elevated
throne of gold, and upon that throne
sat three angels of light that she could
easily recognize; to tine right,sat Ray,
to the left Lenora, while in the center,
like little dove, perehed upon their
shoulders. rested the little babe. On
one side of the throne stood the angel
form of the simpleton, and on the other
that of the nurse; they were ever look
ing toward the throne, and pointing
with their fingers down toward"a bot
tomless pit, where the murderess saw
her own image, surrounded with dark,
horrible fends, while in front of her
was great hot fire, and those fiends
were dancing around it, all the while
beckoning her to follow.
At sight of this horrible vision she
staggered to her bed, almost ifeless.
So she remained for weeks and weeks.
As Jeanette turned to leave the
nursery Lenora rose from the chair
with outstretched arms, as if she would
stop the retreating form, but she could
not move and speech seemed to hsFe
left her, for she sank to the floor gasp
ing for breath.
Lula was by her side in second, and
drew the limp little form to low
couch and laid her down.
"My poor little lady, I will always
be your friend, DO matter what may
happen. I know they accuse you
falsely"
Lenora as yet could not sreak, but
her eyes told how grateful she was for
those few words of comfort; she mo-
toned to her maid that she wanted
some water and Lula soon brought it.
The cool water somewhat refreshed
her, and the maid bathed the poor
wife's face and throbbing temples in it.
II feel somewhat better now, Lula"
she managed to say, "and you may go
and tell the cook to bring me some
thing to eat, with some good, strong
wine.
II am so weak, yet I must not give
mp, for there is much for me to do.
cannot stay under this roof tonight.
No; I would not for the world, so
falsely accused.
"All this must be the work Of my
old enemy, and Jeanette surely can
not think me so low as to live 80 base
and false life. Go, now, Lula, and
do as I told you"
As soon as Lenora was alone she
tore open Rays letter and read it. 1t
was short, but the effect it produced
upon the poor, heartbrokon wife was
30 great that she never wholly recoV.
cred from it.
The letter ran thus, and in Rays
own handwriting, or one that exactly
resembled it:
PACIFIC HOTEL. CHICAGO. Ill. !
Nov. 25. 1876.
MYDEAE LITTLE LIMA for so must cali
you, even unto death) We have both erred.
greatly. I am to blame as much as your
self.
ought to have been stronger--more Of a
man-and controlled my feelings better
than to have allowed myself to love per-
son Of your character. Not but that you
have acted properly since we first met do
I speak Of your character; but have had
It even makes me shudder when think OF
It, and then think Of the happy hours and
te leave ali the past-to forget 1t. :or my
good name. which is ruined for ever-to
forget it all. To forget you, whom so mad.
ly loved will be to lose myself In death. and
-1n; resting-place will be the bed Of the
Ican't speak Of the babe; my heart is too
full The pen drops from my fingers as
write.
Good-by. Lima! You were my true hearts
mate the only woman l ever loved--and II
] could take back my heart. would. Fare
WE'LL
Why Jeanette Nathan wrote that
letter, convinced as she was that Ray
had once loved her, remains a mystery.
Perhaps she knew the depth of Le-
nora's pure, loving nature, and knew
that Just such accusation would cut
deeper than the most severe.
Whether this, or whatever was her
motive, nothing could have been more
cutting, or pierce that poor aching,
bleeding heart more than those few
lines from Ray, her lost love.
As Lenora finished reading this let
Ter, in her weakness she sprang from
her Ted, and threw her arms up over
her head, in a strange, wild fash
ion. still holding that strange missive
tight in her fingers.
"Oh, darling-darling-my lost, lost
darling! how could you have been so
cruel to your poor little wife?
"Come back to me-come back just q
few moments, that I may tell you that
it is all false, and then die at your
feet.
IF you wrote that cruel letter, some
one has blinded you to the truth, at
last.
1T seems that my heart will break
for the pain is SO great"
She sank down in a chair, and buried
her face in her lap, and cried and
Iobbed as if her heart was broken; if
ihere ever was broken-hearted woman
IN the world, this poor little woman
was.
The maid had been standing for
some time, waiting for Lenora to be-
came quiet, that she might eat little.
"My dear lady, do not weep 80; !
have brought you your lunch"
At the sound of Lula's voice, Le-
aora raised hcr head and dried ner
;ears. She ate the lunch, and the wine
seemed to strengthen her.
u must go now, Lula, to my room,
and prepare to leave"