The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-07-30

dainty white satin slippers. Those
long gold curls were carelessly looped
up and fastened with a few half-blown
tca-roses.
AS she entered the drawing-room she
looked like a fairy goddess of light,
and Raynard Bristol never forgot the
sight as long as he lived. It seemed
that his mother lad arranged the sur
prise for his benefit, for as she entered
with Lenora on her arm she cast swift
glance at her son. Ray was standing
in the shade, III curta:ned alcove, and
could see Lenora, but she could not see
him. AS she entered the light shone
fall upon her dazzling Dcanty; the
color and expression OF Rays face
changed. :,
Jeanette, from her corner, saw it
all and wondered at the strange and
sudden change in the expression of hiS
face. Her heart sank low, for she could
not tell what the change meant. 1t
was now hope against hope. Possibly,
her Ray had seen this girl some place,
and recognized her as shs entered.
Perhaps she was a low-born woman,
and fear for the honor of his house
had caused the strange paleness; she
could not tell, but she felt miserable,
that she knew.
Certainly no one could help adniring
Lenora; even the envious Jeanette, IN
her elegant robes, of the palest tint OF
green, and her magnificent diamonds.
realized that she had rival in beauty
and, to think that that rival was he,
"little tramp"
"Ah the thought of it was mo-
bitter than wormwood or gall to t<
proud, naughty girl.
CHAPTER XXII.
After Mrs. Bristol had presented
Lenora to most of the guests she went
over to where Ray had sank down upor
a sofa.
rs she the young lady yo1 saw a
the window, Ray?"
Yes" he replied, in low, sup
pressed tone.
"What do YOU think of her? Is she
an adventures OF not?"
"No. She is no adventures, but
looks to me like pure and innocent
child, and is the loveliest ceeature
syer saw in my life. I hope you wont
keep me in suspense any longer.
mother, as ia who she is"
We'll, really, Ray, do not exactly
know who she il myself. nor do
think she knows her right name.
There seems to he great mystery tha!
surrounds her entire life; she says she
has no home, no friends, and does moi
know how she came mere. But, Ray,
my boy, search Your memory and see
ii you cannot think of some one OF
some picture that she resembles. Fol
some reason or ether l have taken Q
great fancy to har, and every time
look in her face some incident OF my
childhood days comes to my memory.
What do You think, Ray? What about
Aunt Marie's daughter, your cousin.
Eega? Isn't there a rosemblancc?"
ooh, impossible, mother, for you
know how terrible it all WAS, and, what
is more, Cousin Rega nevel had a
But what did she say, mother, about
her home, her past life, and-and--
Oh, mother, wish you would not say
any more to me just now.
"Everything seems all confusion and
I woald like to be alone for few mo-
ments."
"Well, we'll, Ray, I won't bother you,
for no doubt you are tired over your
long ride to-day. I must go and at
tend to my guests now, or they will
think that I have forgotten them"
Mrs. Bristol had noticed the change
in Ray, but said nothing, and did not
offer to introduce him to her pet. 1t
seemed that she was trying him that
night.
As yet Lenora had not seen the
young man that she saw coming up
the walk, and was wondering which OF
the many gentlemen was the master Of
the mansion.
She was too shy and timid to look
around the room at first, or she might
have seen that same face and those
large brown eyes looking so wistfully
at her. He was near enough to hear
her voice, but did not dare to speak IT,
her.
"Oh, how awkward it all is. Why
didn't mother introduce me when she
first came in. I wonder if she waltZes
Hope so, at least, and what sweet
voice!"
He left the gay little group and went
into the parlorS and tried to talk to the
guests there, but everything seemed
dull to him.. and he felt exceedingly
uncomfortable, while every few mo-
ments he would glance toward the
drawing-room in the hope that he
III Ght sec her.
"Ah! There is the music, and now
the dancing will begin; perhaps it will
drive this miserable feeling away"
He had partner for the first dance.
but hal none engaged for the second
and third, peither for the fourth nor
the ffth.
Jtannette had saved mos! OF the
waltzes for Ray, but her card was
almost full. Charley Hall had engaged
Lcnora for the first waltz, while Ray
and Jcanncttc wcrc partners. In q few
minutes the dancing began, and as
Il, I/Et