The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-11-27
LOLA PULASKI:
The Victim of Circumstan-
tial Evidence.
Story Of RlhlIlstic PIottings and Crimes.
BY LEON EDWARDS.
CHAPTER VII.

CHAPTER VII.
s1AcK FOR GENERAL PAUL AND BLAcKER FOB
.oLA PULASKI
As soon as Count Linwold could
leave the Emperor, he fastened down
TO the court, and jumping into his own
waiting sleigh he called to the shiver-
ing driver perched on high seat in
front:
"Dnve with all haste to my palace
at once"
The Counts palace was on that mag
nifcent street bordering the Neva, and
known the world over as "The Alexan-
der Prospekt."
Away dashed the spirited horses,
three abreast, to the music of their own
bells and the encouraging cries of the
imufied driver.
Though, nearing the hour of mid
night the Counts palace was ablaze
with colored lights, and the passers by
stopped to listen to the sound OF music
that poured out when the great doors
vopened, and to watch the dancing
lshadows that fell like spirited silhou-
.ettes on the drapery of the great win
dows.
It was the birthday of the Countess
;Elvira Linwold, the only child of her
widowed father.
The Countess Elvira, to her own
:.great sorrow, was twenty six years OF
age.
She had fair, towy hair, light ex-
,pressionless eyes, and the angularity Of
person that is never associated with
physical beauty.
These peculiarities of person and
tevidence of premature age, the Coun-
tess Elvira attempted to hide by man
lner and dress that were conspicuously
Juvenile.
There was a gay company of ladies
and cavaliers present, but one man
above all others attracted the atten-
ltion of the hostess.
This was Colonel Orloff, of the naval
artillery.
He was q well-formed middle-aged
man, with face that must have been
Istriking, if not handsome, before dissi-
ipation and the viler passions that led
up to it had curved their indelible
traces about eyes and mouth, though
the latter was partly hidden by q short,
dark mustache.
The Colonel and the Countess had
,,strolled into the conservatory-which,
despite the darkness and the cold out
side, bloomed with all the luxuriance
of tropical garden-and were talking
lin low tones, such tones as lovers use
when, from the lofty steeple of st.
'Isaac's, near by, the deep-toned bell
iclashed out the midnight hour.
"Ah," said the Countess, 'smy father
is due at this time"
y. "And you are sure that he has in
sisted with General Paul on publish
ing the engagement" asked Colonel
iOrloff.
"There can be no doubt of it, yet
. that should not disturb you," she re-
piled, at the same time laying her hand
on his arm, in an assuring way.
"Yet it does disturb me; see you
slipping from my grasp" and Colonel
Orloff pressed the thin hand to keep it
from vanishing.
General Paul will not keep the con-
tract, mark me-"
II wish the fellow was dead" Kissed
Colonel Orloff, who could see his own
advancement in the death of his sup
posed rival.
II would not care if he were dead"
she said, slowly, "but not till after he
has refused the contract, and of that
we shall know tonight.
@What has refusal of the contract to
do with it,"
"Only this, Colonel Orloff. that in
that event the estates of the Prince Of
.Moskeva lapse to the crown; and the
,Czar, with whom my father is now in
great favor, has half promised that they
shall be mine. Were they mine, and
you my husband"
Gas I shall be-" said Colonel Orloff,
fercely.
"Then," she continued, IT could
mike you Prince of Moskeva, and the
most powerful of all the Cars mobiles. F"
At that instant the sudden ceasing
Of rapidly vibrating bells, near the
door, told that Count Linwold's sleigh
had arrived, and the lovers fastened to
the magnificent drawing rooms.
Count Linwold soon appeared among
his guests, with the fixed smile and
graceful, easy manners of born
lcourtier.
! Impartial though the Count seemed
to be in his attentions to his guests, a
.practiced eve could have seen that h,
nd not meet Colonel Crlo1 with any
Nhing like the warmth that would have
idelighted his daughter.
The Countess Elvira soon found an
opportunity to draw her fatL er to one
side, and she asked:
Have you seen General Paul?"
"I have" he replied.
@Inthe presence of the Czsr9'
"Yes."
"And whatdid he say?"
"He pretended to be astounded."
"But, like soldier, he said he would
keep his word?"
"He did nothing Of the kind"
"You amaze me-"
IT tell you the truth, daughter"
"But he said something's"
ayes, he instantly refused to keep
the contract"
And he gave no reason:
by the mass he gave strong .rel-
son" said the Count. showing his Big
teeth.
"What was it,"
"That he was engaged to or rather
in love with another"
"And who is the favored LADY," asked
Elvira, quietly.
ut IL Sl,o,, ~, oJ,,oDfurNco