The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-10-22
Lost Lima;
Or
TIE BITTER And THE SWEET.
A Tale Of Two Continents.
BY MRS. NINA LAWSON.
CHAPTER XXXvII.

As Lenora was struggling with her
self to keep from falling, policeman
came round the corner, in sight OF
Lenora, just in time to see her fall.
He hurried to the spot and spoke to
her, but received no answer. He gently
touched her with the tJe of his boot,
but she did not move.
"Ehl Another one, dead drunk ;
that's the fifth to-day for me. The old
fellow will have his hands full to-Eor-
row."
The policeman then rang for the
patrol, and Lenora was soon fastened
in dirty, dark cell. She did not re-
cover from her faint for some time,
but when she did she was lying on a
cold, damp floor in little dark room.
Help, help, help!" rang out from
that dark, cold corner. By and by a
coarse-looking man came along with a
lantern in his hand.
"Who calls for help and what's want
ing?" He was then opposite Lenoras
cell.
ut was I, sir. and please come and
let me out of this awful dark, cold
room"
The voice sounded so sweet, so diff
ferent from what he had been used to
hearing, that he went to the door OF
the cell through curiosity.
BY the light of the lantern Lenora
could now see that she was a prisoner,
but when or how she came to be one
she could not tell. She got up and
walked to the door of the cell, where
the light from the guards lantern
shone directly on her pale, beautiful
face.
"Please tell me where I am and why
] am here?"
The guard looked at her for mo-
ment only, but could not speak; he
had never seen such beauty or heard
80 sweet voice before, and now that
it should be in prison cell, no wonder
he did not know what to say.
"You-you-were put there under
charge of drunkenness, and-and-sre
to be tried in the morning, miss"
II drunk, sir, that is mistake; tho
last remember I was walking along
the street, and everything began to 60
round and ro1nl. was not drank,
sir, but I had nothing to eat since
morning, and the wind blew 80 cold
and"
There she stepped, for her voice
trembled so that she could not speak,
and great tears came into her eyes, she
leaned up against the iron bars and
sobbed as if her heart would break.
"Oh, darling, can you see me now.
Dont feel sorry for I hope to be with
you socn. T wish they had left ME out
in the cold to die, and then 1 would
row be in heaven"
The guard stood at the door and
heard what she said, he believed that
she was innocent OF the charge.
Don't cry so, miss, can't help
your being here, but I'll bring you a
blanket and pillow to lie on tonight,
and Ill bring a lamp, too, for it's
awfully dark down in this corner; don't
mind about it tonight, for I guess
you'll get out in the mornin'."
He then went away, and soon re-
turned with the little comforts that ne
thought she ought to have; Lenora
took them and thanked him kindly !;
she had not yet noticed that her ring
and watch were gone, but when she
went to see what time it was she
missed them. How terribly she was
frightened, and how her heart ached,
for she was afraid they werc stolen!
By and by the guard came down
near her cell, and she called him and
told him about her jewels.
Don't be worried, miss; Ill get
them back for you in the morning"
Lenora could not sleep all night,
and when morning came she could
scarcely hold up her head; but after
she had eaten her breakfast land the
guard saw that she had pretty good
one for a prisoner) she felt much
better.
At nine o'clock she was taken from
the cell to the courtroom. Before she
left the cell she yelled her face, in the
hope that no one could see her.
There were quite number tried be-
fore it was time for her case. She had
been sitting there perfectly still, not
listening to anything that was going
on, or thinking OF anything but her
great trouble.
Finally her case was called and she
was told to take the stand. OF course
she was startled, and did not know
what the Judge meant; then they told
her it was time for her to be tried, and
as she rose to her feet, in some way
her hat and veil was knocked from her
head and fell to the floor. She did not
seem to notice it for she was too much
frightened to think of anything or
realize where she was.
The room was full Of all kinds OF
people, anxious to hear the different
cases and see the different prisoners.
Lenora's dress was plain, close-ftting
black, and seemed to suit her style of
beauty; her long golden curls were
>arelessly tossed about, some lying on
her shoulders, while others hung down
the back to the waist.
As she took the stand q murmur OF
admiration rang through the room.
All were surprised and fascinated with
the beautiful little prisoner, and as she
turned her great, sad, dreamy eyes TO
the Judge he did not know what to
say. After clearing his throat consider
ably, he said:
"You are charged with drunkenness;
are you guilty or not guilty?"
- am not guilty, sir" And every
body in the courtroom believed what
she said.
"You were seen raeling on the street