The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1882-11-29

do something to help tina pollceman-
you and /. l have a plan; now listen.'
The plan, whatever it was, sent Ba-
bette almost flying home to her mis-
tress, with dancing, shining eyes, glow
ing cheeks, and a heart almost burst
ing with delight and excitement-all
| of which she had to hide as best she
might until the evening, for only then
had she an opportunity to speak a few
hurried words to the young princess
in the momentary absence Of the
watchful and wary aunt.
The days passed on until only two
interviewed before the wedding of the
Count Kolachewski with the Princess
Olga Romanzeif. From his sister
Prince Romanzetf had heard with some
satisfaction-though it was of course
of trifling importance-that hlsdaugh-
ter had evidently overcome her repug-
nance to the marriage, her tears and
complaints having ceased entirely,
while she seemed tohave
her spirits. The count was to bid
adieu to his bachelor gayeties at a large
masquerade ball that evening, which
Prince Pomanzetf was able to attend,
leaving his daughter alone with her
aunt, who, as the eventful day ap-
preached, did not in the least relax her
vigilance, in spite Of the apparent do
cility of her charge.
On the previous evening Babette
had paid a hurried visit to her faith
full policeman, whose duty kept him in
the vicinity of the palace only the first
part of the night, from 10 till 2. The
young man had then given the wait
ing.maid a note and a small package,
both of which she had, Immediately
upon her return to the house, handed
to her young mistress. The package
contained only a small quantity of
white powder.
Prince Romanzeff and his future
son-in-law reached the already crowded
ballroom rather early in the evening.
They were Iassed on the stairs by q
mask very handsomely dressed as
Lohengrin, who entered the room
almost beside them, and very soon
after unmasked, showing the blue eyes
and light brown hair of Harold Vim
cent.
"Conceited puppy" snarled Count
Kolachewski, gazing spitefully after
the tall graceful igure--such a con-
trast to his own-strolling from one
group to another, yet always some
where in the neighbcrhood of the
prince and his companion.
"For my part l feel much easier for
the assurance his presence gives methat
for this evening at least my daughter
is safe" ren1arked'the prince.
a few moments later Lohengrin
wandered into one of the smaller
rooms, watched a game of cards for a
short time, then remasked, entered the
lofty corridor and disappeared for half
an hour.
Slowly he passed through the CORR
dor and down the broad staircase,
stopping now and then to exchange a
jest with some entering mask. Reach
ing the street he quickened his pace,
and walked on hastily for a block,
then turned from the fashionable thor
oughfare into a quiet side street, which
very soon led him into one retired and
shabby enough to have been miles
away instead Of close to the center of
the great metropolis.
He stopped before the door Of a
smoky little cafe, evidently principally
frequented by the working classes,
and, entering, ran up a low staircase
and knocked quickly at a door at the
top, which was Immediately opened by
a young mar in policeman's uniform.
The room had no other occupant, and
the two somewhat strange companions
transacted the business which had
brought them together behind locked
door. Only a few moments passed be-
fore they descended into the street;
but a close inspection would have
shown Il strange change-black eyes
instead of blue cleaning from under
the mask, while the short hair, almost
hidden by the muller around the po-
liceman's throat, had faded from black
to light brown.
At the door the two men parted,
the policeman calling his friend back
for an instant as he moved away to
ask hurriedly:
"You didn't forget to give her the
sleeping POWDER"
"No, indeed replied n grin,
and he went his way, returning to the
ball, where he continued to find his
pleasure always in the vicinity of
Prince Romanzeff, while the policeman
walked on quickly whittier his duty
called him, to the neighborhood of the
Palais Romanzeff.
When he arrived at his post he was
not surprised to find that the police,
man who preceded him had already
departed, for he was fully half an hour
late. Fortunately the street was very
retired, and passers-by at that hour
were very rare, and his breach of duty
had been unnoticed. The weather, fol
the district, was mild; very little snow
had as yet fallen; but the evening was
raw, and the air laden with a damp
ness which seemed to penetrate to the
very bones. Not a star was visible
and a thick fog lay like a veil over thu
city, making even the gas-lights ap
pear little brighter than far-off star:
in the gloom.
Up and down before the Romanzef
palace the policeman paced quickly, a:
if his whole duty was to guard tia
mansion and its inmates alone, stop
ping often before the great entrance
gates to gaze up at the windows, Gov
citing, doubtless, the warmth and com
fort within, until the chill dampnes
compelled him to move on again.
Olga and her aunt had passed rathe
a busy evening, taking advantage 0
the absence of the gentlemen to set il
order various weighty tritles in pre-
paration for the all-important wed
ding day. Olga was glad of any ex
cuse for constant motion and occupa
ton, anthing to conceal and divert at
tention from the trepidation and eX
element which had taken possession
of her. At last, however, everythin,
was complete, and Olga rather eagerl
suggested retiring for the night.
Since Mademoiselle RomanZeff's az
rival, a part of her plan of espoinag
had been to occupy the sleeping-roor
with her niece, SO that not even durin
tie long hours of the night was tn
poor girl free, and she was always eS
pected to retire at whatever hour bes
suited the elder lady.
On this night mademoiselle SCENE
in no hurry to seek the repose whic
her niece dutifully suggested she s
much needed after the fatigues of tn
day, and the young lady was forced t.
wait, with what patience she coul
command, until her aunt had given he
a detailed and minute description O
her mother'c and moct Of hpr rp1otivas