The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-11-06
blazing windows maGs an aurora in the
sky above it's gittering roof.
CHAPTER II.
LOLA PULASK1's HOME,

lived was an ordinary, old-fashloned
structure in q dark, narrow street,
away from the great thoroughfares OF
business and fashion.
A sturdy, middle-aged woman,
dressed with the apron and cap pecul.
lar to the Russian domestics, closed
the door behind Lola, and said:
"You are late this evening, my mis-
tress."
"I told you I should be late, Leeza,
replied Lola, as she entered a cheer.
less room, opening into the hall, and
turned up the dull lamp, without max
ing it burn much brighter.
The servant helped her mistress
off with her cloak and hood, and as
she did so, she said, in low, cautious
tones:
Doctor Mulek and Peter, the stu.
dent, were here not twenty minutes
ago." :, =,
soon again" said Lola, as If she knew
all about her visitors and their inten-
tions.
"That they would be back within IN
hour, Miss Lola"
"Good; they will find me ready"
"You are ever ready, my mistress, il
you can but help the good cause, "
said Leeza, as she took up the lamp
and preceded her young mistress up a
flight of bare stone steps that poured
like frozen cataract into the middle
of tie cheerless hall.
The upper hall was covered with a
soft, common mating, intended to
deaden sound rather than as an article
of comfort.
This hall ran back through the
building, which was very deep, and
there we're doors on either sides, 80
cneerless looking as to suggest cells
within.
The servant stopped midway in the
hall, and stood shading the lamp from
the draft till her mistress entered q
room near by, and then she returned
to the lower hall.
In the center of this room stood a
white porcelain stove, which though
no fire was visible within, certainly
served to make the apartment warm.
A lamp, burning on q little stand
over the stove, served to show the
clean, simple furniture of the place,
which had rug ON the floor, but not
another article III it that locked like
ornament.
"Is that you. my daughter:" called
out the feeble voice of broken old
man from an adjoining room.
ayes, father, yes!" exclaimed Lola,
and turning quickly she met her father
at the door, and clasping her arms
about his bowed neck, she kissed him
again and again, and then led him to
chair.
He was feeble old man, but bodily
torture and mental anguish had aged
him before his time.
In his better days Count Pulaski had
been handsome, stately man; rich In
honors, wealth and titles, and with the
royal blood of Poland's ancient kings
in his veins.
His was in truth sad, sad story.
He did not marry til his thirtieth
year, and then he welded the fairest
maid in Warsaw, and one in every
way worthy to be the wife of such a
man.
This fair bride had been waoed by,
and had rejected, prince closely al,
lied to the reigring family of Russia,
the past conquerers and present ty.
rants of downGrodden, unhappy Po.
land.
The rejected Buitor was ths Cover.
nor of Warsaw, widower nearly fifty
years of age.
Failing to win the beauty, lie deter
mined to ruin the pair. and men with
such powers ana such purposes do not
want long for pretext.
The Count had been married but
four months, when he was arrested on
charge OF conspiracy and rebellion;
nnd it need not be said, this charge was
proven by the Governors tools, and
General Pulaski was exiled to tie
mines OF Siberia.
He had been gone but six or seven
months, when the poor Countess, who
had fled to Paris, became Lola's
mother.
AS General Pulaski's estates were
confscated, his wife was thrown on
her own resources, and so became a
teacher in the French capital,
She wore her life out enducating her
beautiful daughter, and in vain efforts
to soften the heart of the Russian en-
peror, that he might release her falsely
accused husband.
The Countess died when Lola was
eighteen, and then the brave girl took
up tie work in which here broken
he1rted mother had failed.
She made her way to the Russian
metropolis, and succeeded in being ad.
mittedto the presence of the Princess
Dagmar, the beautiful Danish wife of
Czarowitz, or heir to the throne.
Won by the girls modesty and beau
tv. as we'll as bv her rare accomplish.
ments and the intense earnestness OF
her efforts, the Princess employed her
as O teacher, and then interceded with
80 much success that Count Pulaski
was released.
He had been taken away in the very
flower of q noble, vigorous manhood;
and he came back an old, crushed man
to the daughter he had never seen till
after his release.
II feel so nervous, my child, when
you are detained longer than usual,
said the old man, as he looked with
something like worship at his beauti-
full daughter. II fear I am but a
wreck, and can never recover"
You shall recover" said Lola, with
thrilling emphasis, as she stood be-