The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-04-30
- your ladyship wishes, but I must frs

- your ladyship wishes, but Imust first
obey my master"
For some time Lenora sat in deep
thought, and then said:
Every we'll, Mrs. King; you may
dress me, and I will 60 down and see
the rooms"
"That is right, my lady, for I know
Mr.. Noll loves you and will be very
kind to YOU"
"That will do now, Mr.. King. I do
not care anything for Mr.. Noll; it
makes no difference what he may think
Of me.
at is impossible for me to find words
to express my contempt for such man
as he."
"Ah. my lady; you should not feel
ST. He thinks you very beautiful and
good; T am sure he is not mistaken,
for YOU certainly would suit any mans
fancy.
IF you don't believe me-there,
now, look in the glass for yourself"
Lenora did not or seemed not to
hear Mrs. Kings shallow remarks, for
she did not obey them.
She had sat for some time, thinking
and planning; suddenly she looked up
at her maid, with a somewhat sad but
pleading look in her eyes.
"NIrs. King, if you will allow me to
escape from here tonight. l will give
you this ring; I will be your lifelong
slave, and do anything for you. Oh,
please be kind, be merciful, and let me
go"
The temptation was great, for she
had been handsomely paid for what
she had done, and now that beautiful
ring was just what she wanted. She
studied for some time, but finally shook
her head in the negative.
II can't do it, my lady, for he would
kill me if 1 did"
"Oh, why did you, Mrs. King, yield
to temptation, and help him to bring
me here?
"Why did you not leave me in the
thicket, prey to the snakes. would
ten thousand times rather have been
bit by fifty snakes than to be here to-
night. You do not know, you cannot
imagine, how T feel.
"This place is but a gloomy prison
for me. Why were you so cruel as to
tear me from my lovely, quiet home,
from my birds and flowers, and my
dear old uncle and aunt? Pity me,
Father; I am so miserable and sad"
Her tones were low and pathetic, while
her eyes were filed with tears, yet
Mrs. King was unmoved.
"You are very foolish, my lady, to
think and talk so; for here you can
have every thing money can buy, and
do just as you please. You can also
have your birds and flowers"
"Say no more, please; I see you do
not understand. Let us 60 down now;
if I must 60, must, and the quicker it
is over with the better"
"Yes, it is high time for you to 60
down. But, my, you do look lovely.
You outshine the most beautiful queen
that ever graced throne"
A sad little sigh escaped Lenoras
beautiful lips as she said:
II so wish that was at my dear old,
quiet, lovely home"
They descended the velvet-carpeted
stairway into brilliantly lighted hall.
To the left were the double parlors, and
back of them the drawing-room. On
The right was the library and Nolps pri-
"t rooms. The two parlors were f"r-
nished nearly alike, and very richly in
deed; the drawing-room was very fine,
also. In the front parlor, on an easel
in one corner, stood a picture of fair
young girl, with dark, beautiful eyes,
and long golden curls. She wore
short, pink dress, while on the back of
her head rested a jaunty little straw
hat, with wreath of field daisies round
the crown. On her white, plump arm
hung basket of wild flowers. Before
this picture Noll was standing, while
his hungry eyes seemed to be feasting
on the lovely, innocent maiden in the
painting
As he stood there the door opened,
and the original, Lenora Churchill, en-
tered the parlor. He looked up while
a bright smile fitted across his hand
some face; soft sigh of admiration
escaped his lips as the gaslight shone
fnll upon the beautiful girl before him.
Mrs. King was right when she said that
Lenora was more beautiful than any
queen; her beauty was unearthly as she
stood there alone upon the velvet car
pets, with her close-ftting, pale-blue
satin dress. The snow-white throat
and soft dimpled baby-like arms were
bare. The dress was trimmed and
lcoped with pearls and lace, while round
her throat was cl&sped cluster of
priceless jewels. A part of the long
golden curls were looped up and fRst-
ened with sweet violets.
[To BE CONTINUED