The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-05-14
4 Tale Of Two Continents.
BY MRS. NINA LAWSON.
CHAPTER vIu.-[CoNTINUEDl

Cudf 1Ch ' N141.-lS SONAA>cIoI
II wonder where Mrs. King is? MIS-
sou will probably know"
She then started for her own room
where she expected to find her maid,
but met her in the hall.
"Nissou, do you know where Mrs.
King is? I don't believe she Is In hel
room. Go look"
"No, madam, T know she is not, for !
saw her leave the house while you were
at dinner, and she has not yet returned.
"That is rather strange" thought
Gertana.
"Have you seen the new lady this
EVENING""
"No-yes-madam, I guess I did; ]
did not know for sure, but supposed
it was she.
where and when? Speak quick p
"About half an hour ago. I was
out walking on the lawn, when I saw
. very beautiful little lady with long
golden curls and beautiful white
satin dress come out of the front door
and run down the walk, across the
street and over in the park"
"Oh, Nissou! For Heavens sake,
you did not leave that front door open,
did you? Tell me the truth;-tell me
all about it"
why, what ails you, madam, you
look SO pale and frightened?" OF
course left the front door open, be-
cause did not know that it was to be
kept locked How did know but
that the new lady could 60 where she
pleased?"
well, never mind, Nissou; ! know
1t was not your fault, but did you
notice which way she went after she
entered the park?'
"No; soon lost sight Of her among
the trees and bushes. Mercy! Had ]
hut known that she ought not to have
left this house, I should not have left
the door open"
"Say no more about it now, but go
and help search for her, and come In
every half hour and report to me.
Mrs. King will surely be here pretty
soon, and perhaps she will know some
thing of the little runaway"
The maid Immediately obeyed her
mistress; the house that was ringing
with the sweetest music, not over an
hour ago, was then still as the dead.
Most of the curtains were drawn, and
the house was dark and lonely.
In less than an hour after Gertana
had sent Nissou out to search, closed
carriage was hastily drawn up at the
front gate. The driver quickly sprang
from tie box and opened the door. In
few, moments he and Mrs. King were
going up the long gravel walk, carry
ing the ifeless form of beautiful girl.
It was Lenora. Gertana had not seen
the car1iage stop at the gate, neither
did she know that the missing beauty
was so near, for, as soon as the servants
had left the house she quietly stole
into Noll's room, and sank wearily upon
her knees by the side of the sofa on
which he lay.
The loving, gentle hand that had al
ways soothed his throbbing brow now
gently stroked the heavy wavy hair
from off his hot, feverish temples.
ooh! dear heaven, I fear love him
still, miserable. wicked man that he is
Oh, why was woman thus created, that
she cannot be mistress of her own feel.
ings? I would to God that I could
hate Sylvester as much as now, this
moment, realize love him. At times,
how freely would sacrifice my own
sonl for his happiness; yes, for his sake
I will leave no stone unturned in the
search for that poor, unhappy little
prisoner. But beware, Sylvester, and
do not weary my sad soul too much, OF
nv love may turn to bitterest hatei
1 have suffered enough, and shall not
see that poor innocent girl be made ia
bear what I have borne. Ishall be her
friend"
The sad, weary woman sat there for
some time lost in thought, when sud
denly she heard some one come into
the hall and start upstairs.
"What can that mean? I hope there
is no more trouble coming" and she
quickly ran to the hall.
Mercy! Mrs. King, is it you-and
oh, heavens, it is little Lenora-and-
she is dead"
''No, she is not dead, but very nearly
20. Send Tom after doctor, quick.
"But what on earth has happened to
her?"
II know nothing at all about it, only
what policeman told me. say, have
Tom 60 for DOCTOR"
"Tom isn't here; all the servants are
out on the search-but, ah! there Gomez
Tom now. The girl is found, and al
most dead. Now quick for the nearest
physician.
Tom Immediately obeyed, and they
took Lenora to her room, where they
laid her lifeless form upon the bed.
The driver received his fee, and left
the house.
"Now tell me all about it, Mrs.
King"
"You see, I had to 60 over on the
West Side to see my brother on some
little business matters, and was de.
tanned until quite late. Fortunately, !
did not take carriage, and as l came
hear the bridge, on State street, l was
surprised by a large crowd gathered
round the ambulance. just as got
opposite it, to my horror I recognized
my poor lady, being carried from an
alleyway, md she looked as if sho was
dead. Such time as had to get
carriage. and get her away from that