The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-02-12
[OLA PULASKI;
The Victim of Circumstan-
/ tial Evidence.
! Ste1y of NlhiIistic PIottings and Grimes.
By LEON EDWARDS.
CHAPTER XXVI.-[CoNT1NuED.l

Count Linwold handed back the
- paper, and said, with one of his insult
able and inevitable bows:
"His Majesty has been pleased to IN
dicate to me his purpose, as to the
disposition to be made of the Pulaskis,
and of the other matters in this note.
For the Pulaskis I naturally care moth
ing. Men in my sphere cannot be an
noyed by malcontents and adventurers;
but, General Paul, the happiness of
my daughter is another matter, and I
am here to receive from your own lips
your intention as to your pledge"
"And my answer is ready" said the
General, with manner that might be
called fierce; it was certainly deter
mined.
"Would you please give it me?"
"To begin with, l am under no
pledge to your daughter. If I were,
+ should keep it though it would kill
me, for I do not yearn for an alliance
with one of your house.
"Sir!"
"Hear me out. You came here for
my answer, and, by the Eternal Father
of all you shall have it without equiv
ocation!" thundered the General. "Al
st. Petersburg knows what you seem
to be ignorant of ="
"What is that?"
y "That Colonel Orloff, libertine and
gambler, is the accepted lover of the
Countess Elvira Linwold. Nay, do
not lay your hand upon your sword.
] am no boy, and I have not retreated
from drawn blades in the hands OF
brave men. I can prove what say.
Hear me out!
eff were offered the throne of the
Gear, on condition that I accepted your
daughters hand, I would scorn it as a
full man scorns common food. You
. have driven me to say this. Go from
nv presence, sir; for, with Heavens
help, can endure the af1liction OF
your cowardly malignity and His Maj
.esty's wrath. I have not feared death.
Why should I fear either of you?"
No mere verbal description could
convey an idea of General Faul's in
-dignation and wrath as ne uttered
these words, nor is it possible to
describe the white anger of the cringing
noble who confronted him.
II did not come here to quarrel" ;"
said the Count, now perfect master of
himself. II came for your answer"
"And you have it."
GAye, I have it, and must confess l
am not disappointed. Henceforth, our
life paths lie in different directions.
Henceforth, this empire can be no
home to you. Henceforth, the name
of General Paul shall cease to be
mentioned in the presence of my mas
ter. You have chosen your own course.
When again we speak, you will be
-cringing on your knees before mel"
With this, delivered in icy tones,
Count Linwold crossed the room,
wheeled and went out through the
still open door.
Nearly at the same instant Lola en-
tered through an opposite door, and
seeing the General, white-faced and
painting, tottering into chair, she ran
to him with quick heart cry on her
trembling lips, and said:
"You are faint! 1t is your wound~
@Aye, the old wound, my darling"
he said, affect;onately. Then, seeing
that she did not understand him, he
added: ut all comes OF my love for
you and my hatred of those who would
wrong you"
"Alas! alas!" she cried. II feared
it would come to this, and so I tried
to restrain YOU"
"The love that can be restrained by
fear is not worth the having"
He took her little hand, and gazing
lovingly into her beautiful, troubled
"eyes he went on: "It has come to this,
that you must leave Russia at once"
my father and I" she said.
eyes; within forty eight hours you
must be beyond the limits of the en-
ypire. But do not be alarmed; you go
not alone. My mind is made up. Do
not attempt to change me- now," he
said, at the same time rising to his
feet, with a flush on his cheeks and the
old battle light in his eyes.