The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-04-30

ana tnen at the ckDluS VI 1oNC o lioo
she would have sold her soul for re-
venge.
1t is no wonder that her cheeks were
scarlet, and her large, black eyes spar
kled with hatred when she saw the
loving glances Noll cast at Lima as he
helped her fron the carriage.
That was an awful moment for Ger
tana.
"Ah! There is something wrong
there, or that pale, beautiful girl would
not have shrunk from his glance and
touch rs she did
II shall watch and find out about
this strange newcomer. Perhaps now
is the time for my revenge.
"He loves her, but I do not think
she returns his love, and I know he
loves ME no more. Ah! my poor, poor
soul! What have I not suffered, and
all in vain!'
She sank down upon a rich sofa that
had been drawn up by the window, and
for some time was lost in deep thought.
While Gertana thus sat, thinking
and planning for revenge. Lenora was
in her room planning also.
The little prisoner was not planning
for revenge, but for escape. For long
while she sat there, when finally the
white, heavy lids dropped over the
beautiful sad eyes, and she was soon
lost in sweet sleep.
Mrs. King scarcely took her eyes of
Of her little charge, and could not VEN
ture to leave the room, for fear Le-
nora might possibly escape.
But sleep would not come to the
bright burning eyes of Gertana.
How pretty she looked, as she sat
there on her rich crimson and gold
plush sofa, while the soft, gentle spring
breeze played about her lovely figure,
bearing into her room, through the
open window, the sweet perfume of the
flowers and trees of the lawn in the
broad, spreading park.
Her perfect figure was draped in q
pale pink, soft, loose-fowing. wrapper,
trimmed with white lace, while dark,
vclvcty rose was carelessly placed in
The heavy coils of her jet-black hair.
She slowly arose from the sofa and
paced the floor of her room.
NO. I would be foolish to still be
blind to the awful truth.
"Sylvester loves me no more, and now
[plainly see my life's bright hope van
shing from before me like q myth.
90, how foolish I have been! How
wrong I have acted. I have broken my
poor, loving parents hearts, and no
doubt sent them in sorrow to their
graves.
Can I ever be forgiven? Can I ever
hope for peace? O, God of heaven and
Of earth, my cup is empty, and my life
Is like wormwood. Is there no re-
demption for me? No, I fear am lost;
and what may be the fate of that pale,
beautiful, dark-eyed girl that Sylvester
has just brought?
For some reason, I am strangely in
terested in her, for she so much fe-
minds me of picture, Pity that I
once saw.
".Hcr sad little face and those great,
lovely eyes speak to my soul.
"Sylvester is now in the library; l
will 60 down and see him.
"Perhaps-ah, dare hope it, but
perhaps there is yet little hope for
me; I do not think she is yet his wife"
A gentle tap at the door, and a voice
within said, Gomez"
The door gently opened. Gertana
and Sylvester stood face to face. She
was calm and beautiful, bnt despite
her efforts the smile on her face was
troubled with sadness. Sylvester saw
it, and at the sight of the beauti-
full, injured woman before him his face
paled and his hands trembled. He had
read reproach in that sad smile.
"Good-morning, Sylvester. I am not
intruding, am II"
"Why, good-morning, Gertana; in.
deed, you are not intruding, and you
are looking very beautiful this morn
ing. Hope you are feeling well?"
"Thanks. The morning air is very
delightful, and why should I feel 9TH
erwise?
II see you have brought very beau
tiful young lady with you"
"Yes, Gertana; she is very besuti-
full. I have brought her as q COM
panion for you, or rather I would like
you to be o companion for her. She is
very young, frail, and is my wi"
But the sentence was not finished,
for Gertana had fallen to the floor, pale
and death-like, with the word "lost" on
her ashen, trembling lips.
CHAPTER VII.
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