The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-01-29

He was about to contirue. but the
clatter of scabbards in the outer halls,
and the jingling of sleigh bells before
the door, caus: d him to stop with his
head bent in an attentive attitude in
the direction of the sound.
A tap OF the door leading to his
offices, and in response to Lolas en-
ter" the handsome head of Count
Orloff appeared.
Pardon me-" said the young SOL
dier, bowing to Lola and looking at
the General, "but his Majesty, the
Gear, is about to visit General Paul
and already the advance of his body
guard is at the entrance to the hotel "
Ills Majesty pays me an honor
which I hope is not undeserved, and
like good soldier ! am ever ready to
receive my superiors. Wait, and !
shall accompany you to the head
quarters room," said General Paul, as
he bent respectfully, kissed Lola's
hand. and went out through the door
which his gallant young friend held
open for him.
"A visit OF coincidence from his
Majesty is something to be proud of,
though I might have received it more
gratefully had it been made before my
restoration to health was assured"
said the General to his comrade, as
they were on the way to the apartment
in which the Gear would be received.
"My dear friend" replied the Count,
edo not be quite sure that his Majesty
L. -, G., 81 = AL ~
"Why, OrloH, what do you mean?"
II mean more than I have time to
explain"
"But you have heard some rumor to
my disadvantage"
"Aye, faith, and many to your credit;
but if the last rumor be true, your
fidelity to General Pulaski and his
daughter may lead to your being
deposed from your position on the staff
of the CZar."
"There are worse things than that.
The Office is not to my liking"
"The anger of the Gear may not end
there"
II do not understand you, Orloff,"
said the General, coming to halt.
II cannot explain now. The Czar
has written Siberia after names as
noble and famous as yours. Hark!
the imperial party has arrived. We
must be in waiting"
Count Orloff seized General Paul's
arm and hurried him into the large
room used as an Office.
They had not been here O minute.
when q tail omcer, IN the respondent
uniform OF the Imperial Guards,
strobe in, and saluting with military
stiffness he said, in clear, sharp voice:
"His Majesty the Gear approaches!"
Instantly the General and Count
Orloff assumed the rigid attitude known
to soldiers as attention."
A clatter of scabbards, and jingling
of spurs along the marble floor outside,
then the wide door was thrown open
by two guardsmen, and "the White
Czar of all the Russias" advanced, clad
in sable furs from head to foot, rnd
without any weapon or insignia OF
Office visible.
Every man stood like draped statue,
till the Gear, with a quick, naughty
move or MS rlSnG ardn, salo.
@We would see General Paul alone"
In an instant the great room was
vacated, except by the Emperor and
General Paul, who stood face to face,
each with something like defiance In
his naughty glance.
The Gear removed his fur cap, and,
as he sat down, he waved General Paul
to seat.
1--WE have deferred our business" he
began, with icy sternness, until the
physicians assured US you were out OF
danger"
"Your Majesty's will in the matter
must be my law" replied the General,
with a Difference that had in it not
spark of fear or humility. "But had
you come when it was thought was
iu danger, should have esteemed the
honor none the less"
Without seeming to heed the delicate
sarcasm conveyed in these words, the
Gear continued with the same manner.
"When we honored you it was with
no intention that you should use the
imperial prerogative to release prison
ers and make them your companions.
"Your Majesty cannot mean that l
have in any way exceeded my duties as
q true soldier and faithful subject?
No prisoner has been released by me
without the royal sanction, and as to
my associates, as a man OF honor, 1
could not ask the royal consent as to
the company I should keep" said the
General. with dignity.
"The order for the release of this
man Pulaski and his daughter was
given by us to humor the whim of
man we believed to be dying; but
since your restoration to health is as
sured, we expected the rest of our Or
der to be carried out implicitly"
"The rest of your Majesty's order is
unknown to me-"
at is that Pulaski and this woman
shall leave our dominions at once by
way of the west. or east. to Siberia"
count Llnwold mas not reported
your wish in this matter to me, and had
he done 30 I should at once have
begged your Majesty to relieve me OF
duties which are not congenial, and OF
an office which only a soldiers obedi-
ence led me to accept"
Accept, sir!' thundered the Gear ;
@you dared do nothing but obey where
I commanded"
II have ever obeyed your Majesty
"And as to the office-we have re-
lieved you of that" .
"For which I heartily thank you, sir.
"And," continued the Gar, 1--WE have
deemed il prudent to depose you from