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

mingled with that of the ballroom.
It was that sweet voice in the dis
tance that Ray had heard, and he had
been drawn to the sitting-room where
he had found her, who was before him
ell the time.
"Ah! this must be paradise, and she
the reigning queen; I feel happy here,
and could listen to that sweet voice all
my life."
He could not stay away from her,
md yet he did not wish to so nearer
than the doorway. She did not see
him.
His face was still in front of her,
with the great dark eyes looking down
into the sweet, dreamy depths of her
own.
She sang on and on, looking at that
face, not thinking that any one might
have heard her, and entered the room.
No, she was too happy there; the
room might have been filled with
people, and she would not know it.
Ray, too, as he stood there so close
10 her that his breath almost famed
her check, was too happy to think that
some one might be listening.
Why he had been drawn to Lenora
he could not tell, neither did she as
yet understand why that face was ever
in front of her. For the first time in
Raynard Bristol's life he was not able
TO control his feelings; he wanted to
leave the room and run away, but he
could not move. He stood there tor
some time, feasting his eyes on the
lovely folm of the girl who had so
strangely drawn him near her.
The little fingers ceased to move
over the keys; as the echoing sounds
were growing fainter she turned from
the piano, as if she we're going to leave
the room.
AS she ceased playing the face seemed
to come nearer, and she felt somewhat
disappointed that the music had not
driven it away. Lcnora was looking
down at her hands as she turned from
the piano, and did not look up she rose
to leave the room.
She could scarcely believe her own
eyes, but in front Of her stood the
gentleman with the handsome face that
had been haunting her all the evening,
and her head touched his arm as she
rose from the stool.
They met each others glances, and
for an instant L enoras cheeks were
crimson.
For an instant only did her great,
luminous eyes feast on the handsome
face of the man in front of her, and
then the eyclids dropped and her face
became pale even to the irs; but the
color soon camc back to her face. Her
ICt1e hands were tightly clasped, while
the scarlet lips were quivcring.
An expression of perfect happiness
came into Rays face as he looked at
Lcnora; he seemed to read her
thoughts and she his. The contest had
been severe for both, yet Ray knew
that he had won the victory, and Le-
nora, after terrible battle with her
self, was willing to surrender. As yet
not word had been spoken between
them, yet they seemed to understand
each other. Lenora raised her eyes
and looked up in his face, while q
happy smile played about her mouth.
Raw knew then that the victory was
complete, and he asked gently:
"Now please, sing for me-"
Lenora would not answer him, but
that same sweet, submissive smile
played about her lips that he had just
seen, and she knew he would.
Ray moved to the side of the piano,
and leaned up against it while his eyes
rested upon the lovely face of the girl.
Lenora sang as she never had done
before; her soul seemed filled with q
new life and happiness. The music at
times seemed weird, and then became
very low and touching. Now it would
rise So sweet, SO grand, that every
nerve in the body would twinge with
its grandeur, and al the words were
of new-found love. 1t seemed to
Ray that Lenora did not realize where
she was, and it all seemed like para
disc to him.
II have seen handsome people and
heard grand music, but nothing to
compare to this. Oh, where am l, and
what will become of me? I thought I
was a man, and have never known
what it is to be ruled by others, but
she is my ruling queen. The lanrels
and the crowns, with my whole king
dom. I lay at her feet. Wonder whether
she knows how I feel, dear little soul,
AMI shall I ever be able to tell her
how much I love her? I believe she
knows already"
The first and second dance were
over, and it was almost time for the
third, but Ray and Lenora had forgot
ten all about the ballroom. But jean
nctte had not forgtten about her part
ner for the waltz, and, as he did not
come for her, she and Charley Hall
started in search Of him.
ITO EE CONTINUED