The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-01-22

He spoke from his heart; ana LOLA
| who was in perfect sympathy with what
he had said, took his hand. and whis-
pered:
Patience, patience, brave friend. =
NO, Lola. patience is vice when it
is strained 50 far that it ceases to be a
virtue. But I did not come to speak
of myself. I wanted to learn of your
status, and if there was anything 1
could do for you"
my status is simply this" said
Lola, quietly, when General Paul
thought he was dying, he sent for
me that he might, in the presence
OF myself ana his attendants, exon
crate me from the charge OF assaultins
him."
"And he did that?"
"He did, Iv.n; and I am satisfied the
Gear and Count Linwold are disgusted
at his conduct"
But they do not believe you guilty."
"They have no reason to; but they want
me OUT OF the way, and, like the wolf
in the fable, they will not hesitate for
an excuse"
"How did your father come to be
freed?"
"He is not freed, Ivan; neither
am l."
"You do not mean that you are q
prisoner here?"
"But I am"
81 don't understand it.
is simply this: The General is
responsible for US; he would be 80 if
he we're in the Neva jail. When it
was thought he was dying, the sol"
diers in the city, whose idol he is, be-
came wild with excitement, and did not
hesitate to say that the General was
the victim of court conspiracy, and
to hint that even their royal master had
a hand in the work. The Czar and
Count Linwold heard of this, and,
anxious to appease the army, they have
recently granted all the Generals re-
quests"
And it is at his request that you are
here?"
"Yes; but just as soon as it is known
he is out of all danger, and that time
has come, then in my opinion strong
effort will be made to degrade him with
the army, after which his destruction
will be easy"
"You look for that, Lola?"
"He looks for it himself.
"Then he is not the tyrant he has
been represented, sad Ivan, tugging
at his false beard.
He was never so represented by
me-" she replied.
After a pause, during which Ivan
seemed very nervous, be asked:
DO you think this man is your TRUE
friend?"
II know he is"
"And that he had nothing to do with
your fathers arrest?"
"Only to carry out the orders of his
superiors."
aHave you any suspicion who his as
sailant is?'
Gall my suspicious vanished when
you denied the act. Have you thought
much about it,"
"a great deal, Lola"
"And what do you think?"
II think I can lay my hand on the
man," said Ivan, deliberately.
"Who is he?"
II will not name him putil I am Ger
tain.
"Do I know the person you sus-
pect?"
you do"
rs he Nihilist?"
"He belongs to the order.
@And to our circle?"
ayes"
"If name him, will you tell me if l
am rigbt?"
NO"
as the man student?"
mo"
SIS he soldier?"
Il will not say. But I am sure I can
find the man who tried to assassinate
General Paul"
Find him, comrade, and ten thou
sand rubles in gold shall be yours"
broke in a strong, manly voice from an
inner door.
Lola suppressed shrek, and Ivan
Ieaped to his feet and instinctively ad-
justed his rig and beard.
The intruder was General Paul.
In contrast with his former self, he
looked thin and pale, but handsome and
more intellectual, if that were pos
sible.
At sight of the young commander,
Ivan lost his head, and was about to
rush through the door by which he
had entered, but the General called to
him:
"Wait, comrade; whoever you are.
have no fear of me"