The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-05-14

| pened to be there. be, OF COURSE
knew nothing about it, except that some
rufian probably had struck her on the
head, for when he found her she lay oD
The ground as if dead.l
"As soon as 1 saw her I noticed thai
her pearls were all off her dress, and
that her necklace was gone.
II thought it the strangest thing
under the aavens as to how she evel
got there in that plight, and so faI
from home, but since you said she rar
away"
"Yes, she stole out of the front dool
while 1t was standing open. Poor girl
I Iity her! ,
"Who left the door open? Isupposed
she was safe under your and the mas
ter's eye."
"One of the servants that knew
nothing of the lady left the door
ppen."
"Well, it is all too bad; but here
comes the doctor, and high time it is. ="
It was the doctor, and after closely
examining the still, ifeless form, with
grave, anxious face, he said:
"Ladies, your patient is in consider
able danger. She has received very
severe blow on the left side of the
head.
1T will be weeks before she will re-.
turn to consciousness, and perhaps
months. There must be the very best
care taken of what little life remains
she is very young and frail to receive
such a shock, and if there is the slight
est disorder, or any person she does not
like near her, I will not answer for the
consequences.
Gertana stood there looking down
upon that little round, white, hfeless
face, as it rested in it's clusters of gold !;
the little hands, lying across the breast,
were almost like babes, so soft, SO
white, and dimpled.
The tight-ftting blue satin had been
removed, and long white robe, with
heavy lace trimmings, now covered the
pretty little form.
By the side of the bed stood the
nurse and the italian, whose heart was
then rent with temptation.
"That POOR beautiful girl lying there
before me is, no doubt, pure and limo
cent as I once was, but, for some rea'
son, she is more fortunate than I. Syl.
vester could not steal her heart as he
has mine, and as he has her in person.
heard from her own lips that she did
not love him, and will never consent to
be his wife.
"Oh, why am so tempted and tossed
about? Shall I in some way take The
little life that remains in this Little
body for revenge upon him, or shall l
he more merciful?
"Shall I nurse back to life this girl
who seems to be more than all the
world bes des? Shall I do this, and
let Heaven deal HIM his just reward !?
Oh. spe *, conscience, and relieve my
burdened soul!
"Aye, dear heaven, I will do right,
for the many wrongs of my life have
now blackened my soul darker than
night.
Il will love and befriend this girl and
nurse her back to life.
"Then God, the just Judge, will
punish the guilty and give me my re-
ward"
The doctor had given Mrs. King the
necessary directions and then left the
house.
While Gertana was standing by the
bedside Mrs. King noticed the many
changes of the expression of the beau
tiful, sad face, and knowing that Le-
nora had dethroned the misjudged wom-
an, shudder of fear ran through her
large, coarse body, and she said:
"Madam, T hope you will be kind to
my lady, for she is innocent and pure
as an angel. She has been much
wronged, I fear"
Gertana looked up with smile.
"You need have no fears on that
point, for intend TO devote my whole
time and thought to this poor injured
beauty. Her path is now rough enough
without me scattering more stones"
The gas was turned low, and Lenora's
new friend retired to her room.
The nurse, in soft slippers, stole
noiselessly about the sick chamber,
while the house was again as still as if
the death.angel had stolen away the
most beloved.
It was very late the next morning
before the windows were thrown open,
or any signs of life could be seen at
the Noll cottage. The master of the
house did not waken from his long
sleep until near noon, and the sun
hone brightly in at the "''~dowa
"Why, what has Happened? What
! Nearly twelve o'clock, and I have
slept here on this sofa all night! All,
yes. l know now"
It seemed that every particle OF
blood in his body rushed to his head,
as memory returned. He then grew
pale and nerv,us, and started for the
door, 50 excited, so anxious was he to
know whether she was really lest
lost - forever. Finally the door of his
room opened. and he reeled into the
library.
"Yo-vou here, Ger.ana? Why
have you allowed me to sleep so long,
when you knew l wanted to know how
the search ended and how matter,
stand?"
at was not necessary, Sylvester, thai
you should be disturbed OF the rest
that YOU so much needed. All is Oh
we'll as could be expected, under the
circumstances.
"What! Oh, heavens, is she found
and is she safe?"
"She is in her room, but probably
will die" Mol raised his hand to hi