The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-11-13

scafold; hundreds have been sent to a
living death in the quarries Of Siberia,
and the same fate may be ours before
another new year comes. Yet we shall
struggle on, strong in the belief that
those who continue faithful to the end
will see the destruction of tyranny and
the elevation of the people"
The speaker was interrupted by the
! shufiing of feet and a subdued muir
muir of applause.
II have 40 more to say tonight" he
continued, Except that it is right that
we who have so often met for work,
should on this occasion give some time
TO pleasure. Without more formallty,
I declare the council adjourned
The Instant the chief ceased speak.
ing lie blended in with the people on
the floor.
While they were in q confused
throng, and as if by magic, the dis.
guises were laid aside and some of the
men gathered them up and carried
them to the room from which they had
been taken.
The lights, which had been burning
low, now shot up to their full brillian-
cy and the hall was filed with men Of
every rank above the common laborer,
or mujik, and by many beautiful
women, whose picturesque dresses sur
pusseu III euecJ the dazzl1ng costumes
of the Emperor's ball.
Mystery and magic seemed to rival
in the strange place. -:
The bare tat,les, about which the
conspirators, masked and somber, had
lust been sitting, were suddenly covered
with snowy cloths, on which were
placed glittoring silver and sparkling
goblets.
Walters from their own number
brought in the most delicious wlnes
and the richest yiands, and soon a rare
feast, seasoned by wit and enlivened
with laughter, was in full blast.
It must not be thought that tho
meetings Uf the nihilists usually ended
in this way.
This was special occasion, cele'
bration of the new year, which the
bells in q hundred steeples were an
nouncing, and toward the production
of which each had contributed accord
ing to his or her means.
The meal over, band appeared at
one end of the hall, in the same
magical way, and the tables vanished
in sections, in short order.
Clearly, these people, who had de-
voted their best energies to the over
throw of the Russian Empire, were not
lot of brooding fanatics, but under
stood the pleasures of life and were re-
solved to enjoy them in season.
Lola Pulaski. as soon as the music
struck up, became the center of attrac"
tion, though she positively refused to
dance, to the annoyance of Peter the
student, and the disappointment OF
Ivan Berger. whose handsome face be-
came shadowed at once.
She was known to all, for did they
not delight to call her their queen-but
not word of the recent meeting was
spoken by her many admirers, nor was
hint dropped of the terrible mission
to which she was assigned.
No one enried her the awful under.
taking and it was generally believed
that no one could 30 well carry it out.
After watching the dancers for some
time and receiving the homage OF her
friends-who called themselves "The
Sons and Daughters of Liberty" Lola
drew Ivan Berger to one side and whis.
pered:
II want to leave without attracting
attention"
"You wish to go home?"
eyes, and at once, Ivan"
"Then, replied the gallant youth, u
shall be happy to be your servant and
escort"
They left the hall without being no
ticed, and were again out under the
stars on the frozen street.
They hurried back over the same
route by which they had come and
they found the streets deserted, except.
ing q shivering policeman here and
there as they crossed the wider avenues
that beset their course.
They hardly exchanged a word till
they were inside the street door of the
strange old house, in which they had
their respective homes, then Ivan said:
"Wait, Lola, let me speak with you
before you 60 to your room 1t will
not do to let our relatives know what
you are selected for"
"Go on, Ivan," she said, quietly. IL
am listening"
Lola, 1 shuddered when that figure
Three appeared
"For me, or for General Paul?" she
asked.
"For you, Lola; curse him, and curse
his calling, and curse his race!" said
the young man, passionately.
"You must not fear for me"
"But do fear for you. Do you not
know that, while hundred of our OPP
pressors have been slain within the last
few years. the avenger has always been
detested?"
Il am aware of that" she said,
quietly. =,
Then you cannot expect to escape"
II give no thought to myself"
"But I do; your life is to me more
than the cause which we have both so
much to heart. I am but poor beg
gar student, and am, therefore, in no
condition to say what I feel; but.
Lola"
"Go on, Ivan"
"You must not do this thing"
"Would you have me break my oath ?"
"No, Lola, but you must not endangel
your life."
"Endangerm life?" she said slowly.
uT fo;1oJ RI