The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-11-06
LOLA PULASKI;
The Victim of Circumstan.
tial Evidence.
A Story Of Nihi|istie PIottings and Crimes
By LEON EDWARDS.
CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER L
THE QUEEN.
The short cheerless days and long
cold nights of winter had come to ST..
Petersburg.
A thousand colored lamps throbbed
and blazed along the frozen Neva.
Ten thousand brilliant skaters in
brilliant costumes, and with shouts OF
joyous laughter, flew over the gisten.
ing expanse.
Fanciful sleighs, with fur-clad occu-
pants, drawn by horses three abreast,
as is the Russian custom, dashed
through the white streets to the
shythmic beating of their own glad bells.
It was New Years eve, and the Win
ter Palace of the Gear outshone the
starlit heavens in the number and
wonderful brilliancy of its lights.
There was grand ball in the palace
tonight, and, though every window
was fast closed, waves of voluptuous
music swept out on the night air from
the ten score instruments of "The EN-
per's Grand Band"
The grand salon-named "The Hall
of Peter" in honor of the mighty king
who founded the city-was marvel OF
brilliant color and tropie light.
Soldiers, statesmen and diplomats,
all in brilliant uniform, made, as they
moved, marvellous kaleidoscope that
dazzled the eye by its wonderful
changes, and prevented WEAKNESS by
It's constant motions.
Here were assembled the most beau
tiful women of the mighty empire, the
loveliness of each one overshadowing
the other, till loveliness in masses be-
came commonplace.
The ladies, as rule, were dressed in
what is considered the proper ball cos
tune the civilized world over, the arms
and shoulders being nearly bare, while
great trains of rich material swept the
polished floors.
But there was one woman whose
beauty was as rare as her attire was
unconventional; this was Lola Pulaski,
the Polish governess of the children of
the Cars daughter-in-law, the beauti.
f1l Grand Duchess Dagmar.
With eyes dark as night and deep
and dreamy and brilliant as its stars,
with hair whose glossy blackness
seemed even blacker for the whiteness
of the broad. low brow over which it
was parted, with o complexion that
outshone the roses on her breast, and
teeth more beautiful than the pearls
that glowed on her exquisite throat.
Lola Pulaski was the most attractive
being in the place.
The Polish costume set off the superb
but rather petite figure to advantage,
and gave the beautiful girl distinct
individuality amid the gorgeous uni
forms of the men and the superb
dresses OF the ladies by whom she was
surrounded.
More than one handsome cavalier
sought her with his eyes and envied
the Grand Duke Alexis, who returned
to her again and again, till his atten-
r tions became conspicuous to those who
Watched his movements.
$50 you will not dance with ne,
Lola ?" asked Duke Alexis, bending his
tall form and bringing his fair, blonde
face so close to hers that she must
have felt his breath upon her cheek.
"No, my lord" she replied, in low.
musical voice that indicated decision,
yet perfect courtesy.
"But why not?" asked the son of the
Emperor, his accents tremulous with
emotion, and his blue eyes, into which
she did not look, full of admiration that
amounted to passion.
Because" replied Lola, u am not
here to dance; I am not one of the in
vited. Nay, do not assure me welcome;
I came to watch the children. my
pupils, who wished to see the dances,
and now that they have gone to their
beds, I will 60 to mine"
"You are determined, Lola?"
at requires no determination" she
answered., "for a weary worker to go
home and rest"
"Surely not, and as you are resolved.
grant me one favor" said Prince Alexis,
eagerly.
"What is that?'
SThat you permit me to drive you
home Iii my sleigh, which is awaiting
me in the palace court; I do not enjoy
THESE Dr1lllanI mODS.
"Nor do I, my lord-but-"
"But what2'
II cannot permit it."
"You are the only one in the assem-.
bly, who would refuse" said the prince.
with show of impatience.
"Then I am glad to be different from
them. It matters not that 1 may think
myself quite your peer"
"Nay, Lola, in all noble attributes
nv SUPERIOR" said the prince. nallantlv.
There Is one whose respect and
good opinion, my lord, I value more
than I do your fathers or yours" said
Lola, quietly, at the same time moving
es If to leave.
"Whose is thst?"
3NIr o,,,, sba ron1iad al ahe laid