The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-11-27

per to him the tr'1e state OF affairs snd
to say. encouragingly:
Keep upa g cd heart, dear Michael
al. goes well.
At her accustomed hour the follow
ing morning Lola Pulaski kissed her
old father, as vas her invarlable GUS
tom, and made her way to the palace
where resided her royal pupils:
Early as it was General Paul was up
and 1t may be the hope OF seeing her
had something to do with it, for love is
the greatest foe of sleep.
Formerly Lola's dark eyes bright
ened whenever the tall, handsome sol
dier came to view, but Of late she
shrank from him and tried to avoid
him.
How could he know, in his intense
earnestness to seek her out, the awful
secret at her heart?
The strongest proof ever presented
to man outside the actual act-and
that he could have forgiven in his
overwhelming. love-would not have
convinced him that Lola Pulaski was
his sworn assassin, and that she car
ried in her breast the dagger of the
Nihilists intended for his heart.
He knew all of Lola's past, but he
did not for a moment imagine that she
suspected his identity.
It was largely through his influence
that General Pulaski was released, and
it was desire to undo as far as possl-
BILE his fathers awful wrongs that led
him to seek out the poor girl.
But in his case manly pity proved
to be akin to noble love.
From the instant he first saw her hi
loved her; and the birth of that love
was also the birth of the noble resolu-
tion to marry her and bless her with
his wealth and devotion before he told
her all.
He saw her entering the palace, and
tried to speak to her, but with slight
nod she acknowledged his presence and
escaped.
Perplexed and somewhat mortified,
the young soldier began pacing back
and forth before the lofty door through
which Lola had disappeared.
He had not indulged in this abstract
ed employment many minutes when he
was startled from his reverie by seeing
Lola come out again.
Unable to restrain his impulse, he
ran to her, and he was about. to take
her hand when a glance at her white
face checked and awed him.
f,,l 10 hn
"what is wrong?"
"The world is wrong" she said,
making as if she would 60 on.
lola, cannot stand this; you must
speak to me. Why are you leaving
the palace?"
Because. your highness. the palace
has no further use for me-" she re-
piled.
Explain, I do not understand"
II am dismissed"
Dismissed
Dismissed by order of his might
ness, the Gear of all the Russias, shs
said with a little smile.
The General smote his forehead.
He saw through it all.
This was the result of his last nights
audience with the Emperor.
He was about to give free rein to his
fierce Indignation, but checking him
self, he said with an intense calmness
81 fear I am to blame; can I see you
at your home tonight and explain?"
"You to blame"
Eyes, Lola; but twas through my
loyalty to you--"
You cannot see me at roy house to-
night" she said. waving her hand and
moving of. Here the dream ends;
here we part forever"
He would have stopped her or gone
with her, but at that instant an officer
appeared, and, saluting, he handed
the General an order.
The General glanced at the paper.
It was from Count Linwold, asking
him to go to his Che Generals) Office
at once, where he would find an order
from the Gear awaiting him.
Moving like man in dream, Gen
eral Paul hurried to his Office. and here
he found awaiting him Count Orlof, q
cousin of the Colonel, the Countess
Elvira Linwold's accepted lover.
The young men were fellow-soldiers
nd old friends. and SO met with r-
than the cold formality OF mere OH
cials.
II bear you an order, through Count
Linwold from the Czar," said Count
Orloff, producing the paper.
The General hastily tore off the
cover and read, and as he did so his
hands trembled and the color left his
handsome face.
"Why, my dear fellow" said Orloff,
who could not help seeing his friends
agitation. "you could not be more ex-
cited if you were ordered to execution.
Gas I would rather be than to carry
out this ORDER" replied General Paul,
as he crushed the paper in his iron grip.
rs the order secret?"
"Not to you, my dear George. I am
here ordered to arrest at once and send
to thu Neva prison Count Pulaski.
Ny God! it is only few days since
that he came back a wreck, from the
quarries of Siberia"
G"You amaze me! Is there any
charge?" asked Orloff, his fine face
showing surprise and sorrow, for
through his friends, the Eergers, he
had met Lola's father, and his kind
heart had gone out to the afflicted old
man.
Charge? No, the powers that be
keep the charges, and wasoldiers must
blindly carry out our orders"
eve must accept things as they
IL.