Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-08-12

bearded Colonel than he cared to
show, put the letter mechanically into
his pocket without looking at It, and
then forgot all about it. Long after
midnight, father and son having emp
tied couple of bottles Of champagne,
OF which the old General had ALWAYS a
small supply in his cellar, both retired
to rest. On entering his bedroom.
where his old orderly Matvcitch await
ed him, the General remembered the
letter. and, drawing the lamp nearer
to where he stood, broke the seal. He
first read the signature: canton Pod
bielsky." His brows contracted as if
painful recollection had cast a shadow
over them.
What business has that man to
write to mep' he muttered. Podbiel-
SKY was a Polish nobleman, who had
formerly been the Generals school
mate. AS very young man he had
been implicated in the great Polish in
surrection of 1880, and had purchased
his pardon from the Russian Govern
ment by betraying some of his asso-
ciates. Since that time General Save
lief, who hated all traitors, even il
they had rendered service to the good
cause, had broken off all relations with
Podbielsky, while the latter, rising rap
idly, soon reached a prominent and in
fluential position in the newly-formed
''Third Section, or secret police. Now
he was chief Of the chancery Of that
dreaded institution, and, moreover,
specially intrusted with the investiga-
ton of the Winter Palace explosion.
That man wrote as follows!
"DEAR GENERAL--Rememberin our for.
mer relations, allow me to address word OF
earnest warning to you, Your son has been
found to be implicated in the case of the
dynamite explosion am now investigat-
ing"
The old man read no further. With
terrible oath, his face purple with in
dignation, he sprang up and threw the
letter to the ground.
"a lie, an infamous lie" he ex.
claimed
"Your Excellency," whispered the
terrified Matvetch, "what is the mat
| terp'
Nothing. Leave mel"
The old servant went out, shaking
his head sorrowfullv.
On remaining alone the Generals
first impulse was to burn the letter
without reading it. On considering,
however, the position Podbielsky oc.
cupied and the responsibility he in
CURED by writing such communica-
ton, Savelieff soon convinced himself
that the letter contained more than an
empty threat or an utterly groundless
calumny. He picked up The paper
with trembling hand and read on:
"There is, alasl no possible doubt as to his
| guilt. All l can do for you and for him is to
warn you few hours before his arrest. In
the night following the receipt by you Of this
| letter he shall be arrested at your house, If
till then he has not in some manner disap-
peared. know it is a breach of duty am
committing. l want, however, to show you
that even gendarme is capable,of remember.
"ANToN PoDBIELsKY."
Painting for breath, his broad chest
heaving with an uncomfortable agita-
ton, the General read these lines to
their bitter end. The close air of the
room suffocated him. He threw open
the folding doors of the terrace and
stepped out into the garden. And
there he is now, pacing to and fro the
gravel walk and crunching the paper
he holds in his hand with a nervous
| grip.
"A few hours" he mutters, "every
moment these people may come and
take him away. must, | must speak
to him, hear of him that he is inno-
cent.
Having formed this resolution the
General raised his head and walked
back into the house with a firm step.
There was still light in his sons room
when he knocked at the door. The
young Colonel opened at once and on
seeing his fathers troubled counte-
nance exclaimed:
"What is the matter, fatherp"
"Read that" the latter answered.
giving him the letter
Andre became as pale as death, but
his eyes Stunned not his fathers pierre.
ing gaze when, on reading the letter
he looked up to him.
"Andrusha!" the old man exclaimed
in tone of unutterable anguish, anc
clasping his trembling hands as if in
prayer. Tell me that this is lie
Speak, answer me before Godr'
A long silence followed. At last the
answer came in low, firm tones
81 can not, father; for have never
! told ie!'
, "You-you-are"--
: The eyes of the old man dilated, hi
t hands grasped the air convulsively anC
, he tottered back to the wall. Andre
rushed forward to support him, but thu
General ordered him back with an i'm
7 perious gesture.
> Don't touch me-" he gasped
"Back, back"
. At this moment knock at the doc
Q was heard. The General went up t.
| it with a steady step and locked it
Then he approached closet in which
he kept his firearms, opened it, drew
s out of one of the chests a pair OF pts
, tots and placed them on the table, u;
f tering in i hoarse whisper:
: sChoosep'
g "What do you mean, fatherp"
u OnOOSe, Tell yOu--tnere Is ho tiIli
i to loser'
The Colonel remained motionless
It leaning against the table. Two min
2 utes of terrible anguish passed in s.
# lence. At length the General took u
n one of the pistols and retreated fey
S steps and pointed it at his son.
n Colonel Savelieff," he exclaimed
: defend YOURSELF
n mot against my father" Andre ar
/ swered, in a low, vibrating voice.
+ One moment more of breathless su'
d pense. Once mere the knock at I'll
y door was heard, louder than before
g Then shot and Andre fell to tn
y ground motionless without uttering
!. moan. The old man cast one look 1
N his sons hodv then dpliharatpl