The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-04


when the poor never left your castle gates
empty-handed. and then think that one Of
these good deeds was bread cast upon the
| waters. which has returned to you after
| many days.
But I will not ask you to recall any o!
your good deeds for men like you do not
remember such things.
Let me assure you 1 w0uid not sesd Eou
this part OF your property II could not
afford it.
If you refuse it. give it to the poor. for any
attempt to discover me at present WILL be
| unavailing.
Suffice It to say. that am now and al.
ways shall be. your warm well-wisher and
friend.
Lola read this over aloud second
| time, not so much to familiarize her
self with the contents as to find out, if
possible, the sender by the writing.
There was nothing official about the
paper; the envelope was plain one,
and the handwriting was of that
smooth, flowing kind which clerks de-
light in, and mobiles never can acquire:
"How long has this been here?"
| asked Lola.
about an hour, less perhaps. Do
you know, Lola, I think it comes from
some of the young men whom !
started in business long ago, said Gen
eral Pulaski, eagerly, for, from his
daughters manner, he was afraid she
would refuse it.
II hope so. Hark! what noise is
that?"
She hastily concealed the letter and
wallet under cushion on chair near
by, and turned to the door.
Men, soldiers!" replied her father,
as the clatter of arms and the rhythmic
step of trained men could be heard on
the stairs, leading up from the lower
hall.
Lola was about to open the door
Her heart told her that these were
police after herself or Ivan Berger, but
Just as her hand was on the latch q
harsh double knock, as if made by the
hilt of sword, sounded on the other
side.
She stepped back and called out:
"Come in"
The door opened and in marched
twelve armed men, with subordinate
officer at their head.
"Who are you," demanded Lola
boldly, "and why come you here?"
eve are soldiers, replied the officer,
"and we come by order of the Gar"
"What to do?"
"To find one John Pulaski, re-
turned exile"
II am John Pulaski" said the old
soldier, coming forward and facing the
officer.
John Pulaski" said the officer,
reading from paper which he took
from his belt, II am commanded by
my general to arrest YOU"
ITO arrest me-" repeated the Count.
@That is my order"
"And who gave the order?" asked
Lola, stepping between her father and
the officer.
"It came from the Emperor, I pre-
sumo; am sure that it was handed to
me by General Paul." said the officer.
CHAPTER <.
IN DISTRESS.
"And General Paul sent you here?"
said Lola, to the officer in command Of
the guard.
He is chief of the secret service"
said the man, "but I guess he aas to do
as he is told, like the rest Of us."
General Pulaski, quite overcome
with the shock, dropped into q chair,
and covering his face with ks trem-
bling hands, he swayed his boeIy back
and forth, as if to still his emo;:on.
Had these men come to arrect Lola,
she would have been comparatively
calm; certain it is, she would not have
lost that presence of mind that always
distinguished her.
But now Lola was thunderstruck.
The announcement that General
PAU was party to her fathers arrest
cut the last piece of solid earth from
under her feet, and she was adrift and
being swept into an awful maelstrom.
A frenzy took the place Of her
habitual calmness, and thrusting her
hand into her breaGt, she clutched the
hilt of the Nihilist dagger and shouted
out:
"Back, miscreant! back, tool of the
heartless tyrant, and do not dare to
touch hair of that old mans head! !"
The officer stepped back.
For years it had been his duty; by
the Cars command, to drag innocent
men from the bosom of their families,
to part lovers, and to tear the strong
arm of the son from about the widowed
mother whose sole support he was. and
conslgn
to his exile.
But familiarity with suffering does
not always breed contempt.
It intensifes generous natu1es.
1t makes more susceptible quick
.sympathies.
"i am not to blame" said the officer,
with unexpected emotion.
"Not to blame!" cried Lola. "Are
you not the tool of these inhuman
monsters?"
@If I refuse to obey, it would mean
poverty to my family, and the prison
and knout for myself"
"And you do this inhuman work fol-
bread?" she asked, with madness and
scorn.
q "No, not for bread; for life. What
v I refused? A million of men, less
considerate, my lady, are ready to take
my place. Your father, I have heard, :"
said the officer, turning to the old man,
"was once a gallant soldier; ask him
and he will tell you that I mnst obey
at the peril of my life"
The officers words touched General
D,,loeL; on5 Of tho mama "Sol1iarn all