The morning call., 1891-05-13
BY THE CZAR'S ORDERS.

It was the old story. Ida Beltran refused
the wealthy Russian Count, Loris Astra-
koff, because she loved Lieutenant Gerald
Lyle, who had little besides his pay in the
navy. and those two men hated each other
as heartily as the amenities Of society would
allow. But Lyle did not remain master of
the situation, for his ship was ordered
abroad.
The evening before his departure at ball
he met his friend Bellingham of the guards,
who asked him to deliver letter to GER
tain Nine. OlinSki at Riga, who had been a
celebrated beauty the season before In the
fashionable world Of London.
Later on Gerald claimed Ida's hand fox
their parting dance. The orchestra was
playing The Last Waltz:
Only tonight. only tonight,
List TO the old refrain;
Only to uight, only tonight,
And never for me again.
It was an old fayorite of theirs. The
memory of the simple words touched ten
der chord IN her heart. He could see her
lips tremble, and she bent her head to hide
the tears that welled up into her eyes.
On" she said, Il wish they hadn' t played
that; it sounds prophetic, as though we
were never TO meet again"
"My darling, don't say that. Try and be
brave, LA, and when l get my promotion l
will claim you in spite of them all.
They were destined all their lives to re-
member that Last Waltz
Many weeks have passed. The Petrol
(the man-Of-war to which Gerald Lyle be-
iOuged) is at anchor in the Offing opposite
the Russian town Of Riga, whittier it has
conveyed a certain royal Duke on his way to
st. Petersburg. Its mission is completed,
and the next day II Is to take its departure
but Gerald feels anxious, Tor as yet he has
had no opportunity of giving Maze Olinski
her letter. lie had been on shore all day
experimenting the purchase and loading Of
various stores and provisions, and 1t was
quite dark before all was ready t0 pull back
to the iTonclad. A sudden squall had arisen
while they were on land, and the waves
were now dashing sngriiy on the beach.
However, the boat put out and bravely bat
tied with the clements. Gerald incautiOUsIy
rose in the stern sheets, and as he did SO a
tremendous sea was shipped; he lost his
balance and tell overheard INTO the Seetllng
ocean.
Tue sudden shock Of ice-eold water de-
priYed him for moment OF CONSCIOUSNESS;
but when at last he struggled to the surface,
buffetng with the angry waves, to his horror
the boat was nowhere to be seen, aud the
tide was bearing him rapidly back to the
shore. In the darkness his disappearance
must have remained unperceiVed. He was
nearer to the land than to his ship. He
quickly calculated that here lay his best
chance OF safety; so striking out manfulIy
about a quarter OF an hours swim brought
him once more, bruised and exhausted, on
terra nTma.
Now what was to be done? 1t was clearly
out of the question to attempt to return on
board the Petrol until next morning, so he
went to a hotel, ordered a bedroom for the
night, took some refTeSbment, and had his
clothes dried He bethOught himself that
this would be an excellent opportunity to
visit Nine. 0linski and execute his commits
sion. So he inquired the way to the house
of LadiSlas Olinskl, WHO was wealthy
Polish gentleman. As he drew near he per-
ceiyed on the opposite side of the street a
man in a long OyeTcOat who appeared TO be
watching the firSl-tlOOr windows; but Lyle
paid no attention to the circumstance at the
time.
The hour was not very late as yet, but the
street was dark and somewhat unfre-
Queuted. He inquired for Nine. OlinskL
Yes, she was visible. He knew but little
of the lady, so having delivered his letter
and exchanged few compliments he took
his departure.
As he walked along the street he noticed
that the man in the OVercOat was going Ia
the same direction on the opposite side OF
the way. After a few steps, however, he
crossed over, and at the same moment two
soldiers, coming round corner, said some
thing in Russian and laid forcible hands
upon Gerald Lyle.
"Que me youlcZ vous?" he cried in the
only foreign tongue he spoke fuently, lie
suis officer Anglais."
That statement will hardly do" said the
man in the tOpcoat (who had now joined
them, also speaking in French. You do
not wear the English uniform" Gerald
was attired in a suit of clothes which had
been lent to him at the hotel. 'But, at any
rate, we must follow our instructions. You
will have an opportunity Of making good
your statement before the Governor in the
morning"
Lyle saw that resistance was useless, "
as the melo-dramatiStS have it; so, instead
OF sleeping in a comfortable hotel. as he had
anticipated, he passed the night in the cold,
damp cell of a Russian prison.
Gerald felt indignant. but had no fears for