The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-06-04

miSer. Everything was care1uIly
planned, and at the end Of the three
weeks Noll returned to Chicago with
twenty thousand dollars in his pocket,
while that miserable old miser was left
alone in the world penniless, to wander
from place to place, leading more
miserable life than when hugging his
void.
"Who could have robbed the old
miser?" That was mystery to every
one.
While Noll was in Milwaukee, plan
ming and investigating, Gertana Grin
dani and other foes were constantly
weaving the web closer and closer that
would, sooner or later, expose the vii
lain and thwart him in his plans.
The Italian was very busy all the
while, preparing for the grand party
that was 70 De given about the time
Noll would return. She was not plan.
ming for the party alone, but other
things of more importance to herself
and the beautiful Lenora, whom she had
vowed to shield.
Strange, indeed, yet true, that at that
very date three different parties were
planning to steal away the beautiful
Lenora, all prompted by different mo-
tives.
Gertana's keen voman's wit had been
equal to that of the leader of different
bands of desperate thieves. She had
been looked upon as mistress of the
cottage until Lenora's arrival, and then
the servants called the new lady mis-
tress only because Noll had ordered
them to do so. However, if Gertana
was not mistress longer, she did as she
pleased, and the servants obeyed her as
of old. This was exceedingly fortunate
for her, as it assisted her in carrying
out her plans more successfully.
Before Noll left Gertana watched
him closely, and was positive that he
had not taken the mysterious papers
with him, but had left them in the
drawer in which she saw him place
them after he had read them. She
therefore was determined to possess
them.
Henry, I want the key to your mas
ter's room. There is q little work in
there on mystery that I want to get"
The servant was good and obedlent,
but his education had been sadly neg
lected, and, unfortunately for him, he
could not read word. Noll had en-
gagged him, with this defect in view.
Under the circumstances, there could
be no risk of this servant reading and
revealing any of Nolls secrets to the
world.
"All right, madam, here is the key. I"
She took it and fastened to No1's
room, where she found the key in his
vest pocket.
90, precious heavens, you are on my
side, and right will conquer wrong!
That poor, innocent girl shall not be
further wronged by him who has 30
cruelty prosecuted me"
She tore open the seals as quietly and
carefully as Noll had done and then
read the papers through from begin
ming to end. AS she finished, she
showed back the chair from the desk
and sat there with folded hands, while
such strange, foreign look lighted up
her dark, beautiful eyes.
30, how freely would I now give my
life to undo the past; but no, that is
beyond my power. If I could only be
back to the lands of my happy child
hood-be back at my happy home,
where all was love, purity, and no un-
fathomable mysteries.
90, God, I pray you to open my eyes.
to let me know all; yes, all, that
may be able to fathom this great, hor-
rible mystery that surrounds that beau
tiful, injured child.
"Ah, she is only child, but sixteen
Yet sometimes she displays more tact
and womanly wisdom than many much
older than she.
Gas she sits there in her room, he,
great beautiful eyes gazing as if they
were searching for something hidden
in the far past, for something that they
alone cannot find.
"Oh, you great lone beauty, I believe
you fancy that there is something
buried too far back for you to remen-
Der!
"Motherless, and perhaps fatherless,
she is like o little beautiful white lily
Just budded, that had been dropped by
by some fairy hand on the waters OF
the deep, blue ocean. She dristed, she
rose, she fell, as the gentle or fierce
winds carried her on. Some kind,
gentle-hearted person, an admirer OF.
beauty and nature, caught up the little
drifting lily and cared for it; she has
now grown almost to womanhood. and
knows not VINO she IS or what awaits
her in the future.
Mine has been a mysterious, un.
pleasant life, and yet, when I think
how much greater, how perfectly
wonderful all is that surrounds her,
am lost"
As Gertana's thoughts ran on the
tears freely flowed from her now sal
and beautiful eyes. She still remained
in deep thought.
1T is strange to me that Sylvester
could be so cruel and wind the threads
of mystery still closer about Lenora.
Why does he not unravel this hated
snarl and place her where she belongs,
for I am positive that he knows all
about her.
II see now part of the duty that lies
before me. Three years more Lenora
will be compelled to live without the
knowledge of her real name and birth.
My duty, then, is to protect her until
that time, and will do all within my
power to shield her.
"Sylvester Noll shall never see these
papers again"
She then placed within the wrapper
blank papers, and kept in her own