The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-07-30
Lost Lina:
Or
TIE BITTER AND TIE SWEET.
A Tale Of Two Continents.
BY MRS. NINA LAWSON.
CHAPTER NNI.-CoNTISUED.

CHAPTER NNI.-CoST1SUED.
A few minutes before it was time to
~ to the dining hall Ray entered the
drawing-room, where most of the guests
were assembled.
Jeannette was sitting by one of the
north windows, while quite group OF
ladies and gentlemen had gathered
round her, and all were laughing and
talking and did not see Ray when he first
entered. Neither did he see Jeanette,
but it was not her he was looking for,
it was q lovely flushed face, with dark,
dreamy eyes and halo of long golden
cur;s.
When he did not see that face among
the crowd q shadow of Disappointment
rested on his broad brow. AS that
shadow gathered Jeanette saw his
face, and, not knowing the cause, pre-
sumed it WAS because she had not no.
ticed him when he first entered the
room.
Poor foolish girl: what delusion!
Every one was delighted to see Ray,
and he, of course, was equally pleased
that so many of his old friends had
come to the mansion for week or So.
He gave Jeanette his arm as they
went to the dining hall; just why he did
SO he could not imagine.
Perhaps he was glad to see her, get
he did not exactly feel happy.
"Ha! ha! Ray, I have such lively
little joke to tell you by-and-by, but it
would be impossible to mention it just
now. Wait until after dinner, and ]
will give you o little secret the first
chance I get"
"All right, Jeannette; but don't keep
me in suspense too long. If the joke
is not on mo- you know that I shall
enjoy it."
aOh, we'll, we'll see; but don't let's
Say anything about it just now.
"You will feel better after dinner,
and will be more able to have good
laugh"
The great dining-hall was filed with
brilliant guests, and a merrier party
never sat at the tables of the Bristol
mansion. Later in the evening, other
guests arrived, and what a pretty pict-
nre the mansion made. Every room
in the house was brightly lighted and
trimmed with the richest flowers and
evergreens. The ballroom was one
perfect glow of beautiful bright flow
ers, and the tall marble pillars of
the halls were covered with flowers and
evcrgreens.
a short time before all the guests
arrived, Mrs. Bristol stole quietly from
her grests and went to see what had
become Of Lcnora.
Il sec that you are feeling bitter,
my dear, and now you are ready to &C
down to th2 drawing-room, are you not /:
Miss Ball and Jeanette are anxiously
waiting for YOU. I am so glad that you
are better"
Il do not wish to deceive you in any
way, Mrs. Bristol. l felt well enough
that ] could have gone down to dinner,
Ut I NC NC afraid: and, perhaps, the
wo1ry and fear made me feel q little
weary. I could not have gone there
among so many strange, grand people,
Cor you know I never wGs at ball be-
fore and would not know how to act
Had I not foolishly promised yon that
Iwould go down tonight "lould not
leave my ROOM"
"My dear child, you must not feel
that way, for I know that you will feel
as much at home in the ballroom OF
the parlors as you do here in your own
room. Your natural grace and easy
manner is something that you cannot
help, and that is all that is necessary !;
so come on with me now, dear"
Lenora followed her downstairs ard
into the drawing-room. Mrs. Bristol
drew the trembling little hand through
her arm and led her across the room to
the little circle of which Jeanette was
the center.
Before they came in Jeanette had
placed herself in such position that
she could see Rays face; she wanted
to see what effect Lenora would have
on him.
It was impossible for anyone to form
other than favorable impression Of
this poor, beautiful girl rs she entered.
She was looking lovely tonight, even
more beautiful than she had ever done
before. It seemed that Mrs. Bristol
had tried to sec how lovely she could
make her little pet look, for the drcs:
that she had ordered from Paris was
rich and very expensive.
The overdress and train was the
paIest blue silk, ana the finest quality
that could be had. 1t fitted her slender
perfect form very closely, and the
SNOWY hite throat and little dimpled
arms were bare. Just before Lenora
went down stairs Mrs. Bristol clasped
string of the most beautiful pearls
around Lenoras neck, and on each soft,
plump wrist was a broad band of
pearls, while in the center was arosette
IF diamonds There was also dia-
mond cross fastened to the necklace OF
pearls. The underskirt of Lenora's
dress was white brocade velvet,
with fan of pearls on the front
breadth. The overdress was beauti-
fully draped and fastened with rosettes
Of pearls, while on her little feet were