The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-09-17

A doctor was there surprisingly soon,
and found Lenora in no condition to be
removed from the hotel that night and
perhaps not the next day.
"But I must return to my little babe
tomorrow morning, Doctor; she is all
have left in the world, and my heart
is broken"
The doctor did all he could for her,
and she improved rapidly under his
treatment. 1t was we'll that she had
little strength, for the darkest day was
not yet passed.
Parties were sent out to search for
the body OF Raymond Bristol, all to no
purpose. Lenora knew not what to 40;
the doctor told her that as soon as she
was sJrong enough the best thing she
could do would be to 60 home.
You can't imagine what trial it IS
for me to leave this city, without his
body, or even seeing him, but my babe
will miss me, and I will return on the
afternoon train"
"Yes, Mrs. Bristol; that is the best
thing you can do, think. In nil proba-
Dility the body will never be found"
Oh, how sad the poor little wife's
heart was as she left Chicago, and she
was hurled rapidly on to still sadder
scene.
A wreck on the road had caused a
delay, and it was quite late before
Lenora reached Michigan City.
No carriage was there to meet her
from the mansion, and heavy mist
was falling; the platform was dark.
empty, and cold, disagreeable wind
whistled round the corner of the depot.
"As our carriage is not here, Thomas,
you must 60 and order one, that we
may get home as soon as possible.
The carriage soon arrived at the
dark, gloomy station-house, and in
very short time it stopped at the mall
sion gate; all was dark, and the man
sion looked deserted, indeed.
Lenora went slowly and tremblingly
up the long walk to the great hall
door and entered; the gas was turned
so low that she could scarcely see her
way, and feeling of utter WEAKNESS,
OF some new trouble, seemed to weigh
upon the now sufficiently tried soul.
She went to the nursery first, closely
followed by her maid, but all was dark
ness, and nurse and babe were gone.
Nothing more was left for the lone
wife; her Little darling that was 80 dear
to her, and that was part of herself
and her lost, loving husband, had been
hken from her also.
"Oh, Father in heaven, what dost
Thou mean? Wilt Thou, oh God, hide
Thy face from me forever?" and she
wrung her little hands and moaned in
her agony of despair. She sank down
upon q chair while her great, dreamy,
sunken eyes gazed YEARLY round the
room and rested upon a tall, dark
figure in the doorway. Lula had
Lighted the gas, and Lenora could
easily recognize the figure in the door,
for it was Jeannette, and on her face
rested q look of scorn and mighty
hatred.
"Where is my babe, Jeanette? and
there must be letter here for me from
my husband?"
"Ha! ha! Your husband! your babel
Yes, you foul murderess, you may well
ask where they are. If you would but
think you might guess. Both of their
bodies are now at the bottom of Lake
Michigan, and yours ought to be there
also; you have killed them indirectly"
Jeanette stopped moment to notice
the effect of her words, and to draw
breath. The hot, fendish breath al
most famed Lenoras blanched, cold
cheeks; she sat motionless, while her
eyes rested on Jeanette in strange,
wild, dazed fashion.
Father, have mercy; spare me
little"
ayes, you ought to call upon God
for mercy; but, thanks to that God,
your sins have found you out. About
dusk this evening man came here in
a carriage and demanded of me your
babe; he said that he was your lawful
husband, and that poor Ray was the
victim of your deep deception, as well
as himself. He had sent for Ray to
meet him at Chicago, where he had
the proofs of your marriage. That
poor, deluded man went to Chicago
and saw your lawful husband, and he
proved to Ray that you were his wife.
As soon as poor Ray realized his posi-
ton he rushed for the lake, and now
his body lies at the bottom"
"Oh, pity, pity, dear Lord" gasped
Lenora.
PITY? Not on yo9rself but on your
victims. What will my poor aunt say
when she returns home and finds her
house deserted and disgraced? That
child that she soon hoped to sec, but
now never shall, was carried off by that
man to be cast in those deep, dark
waters with its father. You see what
you have done, and can certainly real.
ize that you have 10 right here. I am
now mistress of this mansion, and do
not want it to be further disgraced by
your presence. You understand, I
hope? Here is letter that came for
you to-day. Hencesorth the doors o.
this house are closed to YOU"