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About The Rockdale banner. (Conyers, Ga.) 1888-1900 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 4, 1891)
irz locks a he turning gr-'* by j. e. t. krusheb. Tes, I Rwow that time is yassed flying, , -youth long since has away goon will come the hour of lying, ior my locks ore turning gray. Time seems short when I remembei Scene that seem of yesterday; November Then iw s June—’lis now i or uiy locks are turning gray. Once the future seemed unending, tea-sho'l tinMtl, gilded, gay, bending Now benea h its years I’m For my 1 ojK 3 are turning gray. Fair was hope and youthful visions, I.ovo held ur. lisputed sway; missions. Adi have filled their emp y And my locks are turning gray. idle dreams no more enthrall me. T1 ey have pa t with child.lood'a play Nobler dreams of duty call mo, For my locks are turning gray. Each year prints, with ghostly flngei Deeper marks of file s de ay; Short, the time 1 still mav linger, For'my looks are turning gray. WlLMINGTt n, Ohio. LOLA PULASKI- J -OB- The Victim of CircumstaL tial Evidence, A Story ot Niliilistic Plottings and Crimes. ••— BY LEON EDWARDS. CHAPTER III. A strange meeting, in which a victim and executioner are chosen. , After leaving her father in their own private apartments, Lola went to those on the same floor, occupied by Madam Berger and her family. the widoAv of Madam Berger was had been a Russian soldier Avho assas Binated in Asia at the instigation of his chief officer, it was said. The widow had a small pension, flrhich she eke l out by ornamental sew ing, and in this way maintained herself and her zon aud daughter. The son, Ivan Berger, was now tall, a young man of three and twenty, fair, and strikingly handsome. He was a student at ihe royal polytechnic col¬ lege, and in America he would have graduated and been at Avork for him Belf long before; but it is the obstacles policy of Russia to place all possible education of in the way of the higher the poor. Elizabeth Berger, the daughter, was about eighteen years of age, and as fair of feature and perfect in ioriA as the de endant of a Norse viking, which, without doubt, she was. a i The quartern occupied by Madam Berger and her family wire much like thqse of Count Pulaski and his daugh¬ ter. noble-looking I Madam Berger, a (matronly laly of five and forty, was isewiug near the stove with her fair (daughter, and royal Ivan, student, in the half-military stand¬ Uniform of a was ing near by, Avitli a troubled look on his face, when the door opened and Lola Pulaski entered. ( Madam Berger and Elizabeth met the beautiful girl with a warmth of man¬ ner that the best actors in the world could not have assumed. Ivan’s face brightened up at held once, it, and as he took her hand and as if loath to let it go, he said: “I have been wa.ting for you, Lola.” “I came as so n as I could,” she re¬ er*o lied. “The others should have been ere by this time.” “Dr. Mulek and Peter, the student, called half an hour ago, and said they would return about this time. Hark! there they are at the door now.” Ivan strode to the door and admitted two men; one stout, short, middle-aged and with the heavy beard and eye¬ glasses that d stinguLh the German professor; this was Dr. Mulek, a Ni¬ hilist and a plotter who had so far baf¬ fled all the skill of the Government detectives. The other man was known as “Petei the student.” He was a tutor in the coll-ge, aud, so far a' face and foim could be made out under his heavy coat and fur mu Her, he was thirty years of age, tall, well buillt, and with dark, restless, snake like e>es. “Ha, yonr maje.-.ty,” said Dr. Mul k, saluting Lola as if she av< re in tru h a queen, “you haA'e kept your subjects anxiously waiting.” intentionally,” “But not have slie replied. v “And now that we found oui queen,” said Peter, hi3 gleaming eyes fastened oa her face, “we are ready tc obey.” wish would “I that you not call me 'queen' ” said Lola. “But why not?” asked Peter. “For many reasons, but one is suf¬ ficient; I hate the name.” “Then your friends will not offend by let using it,” said Dr Mulek. “But us to the council; the chief is wait¬ ing for us.” Bidding Madam Berger and Eliza¬ beth good-night, Lola took Ivan’s arm, to the evident disappointment of Peter the student, who amde as if he would act as her escort. The four went out a back door to a narrow back street, along which they walked "Where hurriedly. iane intersected the wide, well-lit s reets they stopped and looked al/out them, to see that they were neither followed nor observed. At length they came to a basement restaurant, through the ice-covered windows of which dull lights glowed. They went in and nodded to ttie few bearded men drinking at little tabb-s. They passed through a door that ■opened on a dark stairway at the end of a room. but They made no inquiry as to the way, went lightly up the steps, and after traversing a labyrinth of cold, dark halls, Peter, who wi h Dr. Mulek, was in the advance, stopp. d before a door, and. ait*-r coughing throe times, gave three liah fc little knocks on the panel. The door eued bv a masked was oi figure, die s<*d in a I'tig black gown, which vu! faoteiied at the waist with s red cord. sword This figure held a drawn in its right hand, and raping the Hade s > that the g itter ng point was aimed s' might at ihe lent of LYter, a voice deeoand m nl d wnanded: “Who comes here?” “Your friends," replied Dr. Mulek, coining forward and acting as spokes¬ man. “How shall I know you to be friends ?* asked the sentinel. “By virtue of certain tokens and words. ” “Have all present the words and tokens.” “We have,” answered the four visitors in concert. “Advance, one at a time, and giv« me the grip, the pass-word, and the name received at the last meeting,” s; id the sentinel, tiansferring his sword to bio left hand, while he extended his right for the grip and bent his head to catch the secret ward. Lola, in deferen. e to her sex, was the first to face the ordeal. She tinglot ed, linki d the fingers of her right hand about the man’s, and whispered: Number Seven ” “I am “Amagic number,” replied the man; *but it is powerless Avithout the pass wor( ] of our no q,i e order.” He bent his head 1 >wer, and she ut* tered, with a dulling whisper, the awful word: “Death!” “Dtadi to whom?” “To the oppressors of the people.” “YVho are the Romanoff.” oppressors?” “The race of “Number Seven, the answer is right; advance to tha rohing-room, assume Avitb the attire of secrecy, and be ready hand, heart, and life to aid us.” “I am ready,” replied Lola, and she passed the sentinel and entered a room behind him. This room was dimly lit, yet she could see scores of black garments hanging from pegs, and a small table was piled with black masks. Laying aside her hood and cloak, Lola Pulaski put on a black gown and mask; and, as she was fastening the crimson cord at her waist, her three companions ent< r d, haA-ing passed the ordeal of the outside se tinel. They Avere challenged by anothei guard in much the same way, after leaving the dr ssing-room, and tlnn were admitted into a hall, in which were seated several score of sombei figures about 1 ng tables, A\lnle a man, evidently the presiding officer of the mee ing, occu; ied a higher chair at the further end of the room. As Lola and her companions suspended en¬ tered, each dreAv from a bag near the dcor, a piece of square paste¬ board, containing a number. Lola dreAv the figure “3,” and, as she held it up, she called out: “I am three.” In the same way, the others gave their numbers. On entering this place, the Nihilists, for such they were, not only d isguised themselves, but every n'ght they changed the figures by Avhich tiny were designated, their real names be¬ ing concealed, so as to guard against treason. But though masked, and known foi the night as “Number Three,” it was evident that Lola Pulaski was rec agnized by the men and women pres¬ ent. Every black face was turned toAvard her as she advanced, and a subdued murmur that sounded like applause went round the room. When all were seated, the presiding officer rose and said: “For the information of those who have just come in, I w.ll say that a vital matt; r is before us, and we shall be glad to In ar the vole* s of all.” “What is the quesii n?” asked Lola. “You must all be aware,” said the presiding officer, “that the secret ser¬ vice of the Czar is now being reor¬ ganized.” ” the “ We are, was response. “You aiso knoAv that a new and more vigoro s chief has b en placed at tlie head of the secret service; I need not name him. ” “General Paul, the Prince of Hos¬ cow,” came tile response, in voices ol every key. named him, I need “Yon have so not. ” “But what of General Tanl?” asked Lola, ri.-ing, and speaking in low, thr lling a cents. “If he is permitted to live, then the sons of freedom must parish or dis¬ band,” said the man. thousands,” said “It is one liie or Peter, the student, whose voice Lola recognized, lives; work¬ “We care not for we are ing for l b r<v, aud this man comes in our way. We have just voted that he must die.” “Have you decided how it is to be done?” asked Lola. “We have.” “How?” “The work must be done by one hand.” "Whose hand is that to be!” “For every number announced at the entrance I have placed said a corre¬ sponding number in this bag,” the presiding officer, holding up the ar¬ ticle in qu. stion. “Let one of our comrades advance and draw; and the me whose number is first drawn mu^t io the deed.” “Let number twenty-seven draw,” said Pe ter, holding up his own num¬ ber, which was thirtee n. “It mutters not wbo draws; if there is no objection number twenty-seven will advance,” said the chief. Number twenty-seven was Ivan Berger. Holding up his own number, he ap¬ proached the man with the bag. The o t euing was just large enough for the young man's ban 1 and arm. A painful sib nee followed, Tke band was ins* rte-d, and the face of tvf enty-soven was averted. A few seconds that seemed like min¬ utes in length, and then the young man drew' out a number, and held it uq> to the sight of all. three. It w as a blood-red figure “The person holding the corr sponl ing number w’ill advance,” said ihe chief. Lola Pulaski left her seat; it wa ; well that she was masked, or the hor¬ ror in her eyes and the deathly pallor of her face wmuld have betrayed her weakness. The chief handed her a dagger and said: “Number three, you are our chosen avenger. General Paul must die, and at your hands.” She took the dagger, bowed, and re¬ turned in silence to her seat. CHAPTER IV. “the sons and daughters of liberty." “Let me congratulate you, Number Three,” said 1 eier the student, when Lola had come back and taken her seat, which enhanced to he he iele him. “I supposed,” she whimpered with a little laugh, that had in it a touch of sarcasm, “that you would be disup ponded.” “Why so?” “Bt caus i you were so eager to draw the pri e.” “I will do that work for you, or anv other work that you may command,” sa d Peter in a tone intenh d to be very affe -Donate. She did not appear to heed iliis, foi the attention of all wai called at that moment to the m..n at the head of the table. “My friends,” he su'd in a low, solemn voice, “we are about to enter on a new year, ami it seems to us a year of work, of trials, perhaps oi death. During the year just closed many of our fri nds have oied rii the scaffold; hundreds have been sent to a living death in the quariLs if Siberia, and the same fate may be ours before ar oilier new year comes. Yet vve shall struggle on, strong in tie belief that those who continue faithful t > ihe end will see the de traction of tyranny and the elevation of the interrupted people. by the The speaker avjs subdued shuttling of feet and a mur¬ mur of api lause. “I have no more io say to-night,” he continued, “except lliat it is right that we who have so oft n met for work, should on this occasion give some time to pleasure. Wilhout more formality, I declare the council adjourned.” speak¬ The instant tlie chief ceased ing he blended in with the people on the floor. While they were in a confused j throng, and as if by magic, (lie dis¬ guises we^o laid aside and some of the men gathered them up and carried them to the room from which they had been taken. The lights, which had been burning low, now shot up to their full brillian¬ cy and the hall was filled with men of every rank above the common laborer, or rnujik, and by many beautiful women, whose p : cturesqm dresses sur¬ passed in effect the dazzling costumes of the Emperor's ball. Mystery and magic seemed to rival in the strange place. The bare tables, about which the conspirators, masked and somber, had just been sitting, were suddenly covered with snowy cloths, on which were placed gLttering silver and sparkling ^Waiters from their own number brooglit in the most d licious wines and the richest viands, and soon a ram feast, seasoned bv wit and enlivened with laughter, was in full blast. It must not ^ thought thati the meet ngs of tlm mil Juts dually ended in this way. This was a special occasion, which a cole- the bration of the new year, bells in a hundred ste pies w ere an nouncing, and toward the pred iction of which ea li had contributed accord ing to his or her means. The meal over, a band appear-d at one end of the hall, in the same magical way, and the tables vanished in sections, in short order. Clearly, these people, who had de voted their best energies to the over throw of the Ilussian Empire, were under- not a lot of brooding fanatics, but stood the pleasures of life and Avere re solved to enjoy them m season. Pulaski, the _ Lola as soon as music struck up, became the center of attrac tion, though she positively refused the to dance, ’* to the annoyance of Peter r^nBer-er „ n l the dis lands^meTacebe- D! ointment of fameSowed whose at r n ali e ^hewas Hie wa known known to o au, for ior did aiu tl.ev n e not delight to call her th ir qu ; en -but swin d manv'admirars sicken bv by her her many aurmrers, nor nor vu *. a hint dropped of the terrible miss.on to which slie was ass.gned. No rne emi d her the awful under tak ng and it was generally believe l that no one could so well carry it on^. After watching the dancers for sonic time and receiving the homage of her frii n Is—who called tliemse.v s “The Sons and Daughters of Libertv.” Lola drew Ivan Berger t j one side and wh.s pered: “I w t to leave without attracting attention.” “You wish to go home?” “Yes, and at once, Ivan.” “Ilian,” replied the gallant youth, “] slial 1 b i happy to be your servant and escort.” They let the hall without being no¬ ticed, and were again out under the st ,i\s on the frozen street. They hurried back over the same loute by which they had come aid they found the street deserted, except¬ ing a slu eving poli email here and there as they ( r ssed the wider aVv nues tli it best 11 eir course. They hardly exchanged a word t il they were inside t lie street door of tli strange old h »uso, in which they had their lespective homes, tlnn Ivan said: “Wait, Lola, let me speak with von before you go to a our room. It will not da t) let our relatives know what you are selected for.” “do on, Ivan,” she said, quietly, “I am listening.” that “Iota I slmdd red wheu figure Three app, are I.” “For me, or for General Paul?” she asked. “For you, Lola; curse him, and curse his calling, and curse hi* r .ce!” said the young man, passionately. me.” r You must not fear for r But I do fear for you. Do you not know that, vvliil • a hi ndred of our op¬ pressors have been slain wiihin the last f w years, the avenger has always been det sted?” “I am aware of that,” she said, quletlz. cannot expect to escape.” “l’iien you “I give no thought t > myself." “But I do; your life is to me more than the cause which wo have both so much to heart. I am but a poor beg ; ar student, and am. therefore, in no' condition to say wh.it I feri; but, Lola-” “Go on, Ivan.” "You must not do this thing.” oath “ Would you have me break my ?” "No, Lola, but you must not endangei your life. ” “Endangermy life?” she said slo>/ly. d “Do you not know that if I tail* to do this work, I would at once be¬ come tlio victim of the N.hil.sis’ dag¬ gers?” of that, Lo’a.” “I am aware “Then why try to stop me, if I am fated?” “It is that I may take your place. Leave the work to me. \\ hat matters it if one so useless to kirns If and o li ers perish . It 1 must, die, et it c in savmg troni n.i.i onj who is so deal ic 1 lie last words i soun led , . ... li ve a ciy, and Ivan Berger ha f raised Ins hands ts it he would embrace her, then lack mg the courage, he let them fall lieai ily by Ins side. “Ivm, you are a brave, true frienl,” said Lola, impressively, and at the same time laying her hand on h s arm, “I appreciate the sacrifice you propose, but ic must not be.” “I will anticipate you in the deed,” n said, desj erately. disobey lie“No, no, you must not me. Come, it is cold here. We can talk of this again.” “When?” “Some time before the next meet¬ ing.” “But by that tiino it must be don".” “Will you lc t me be the judge? said, So far I have m de no mistako,” she leading him to 1 I 13 gloomy stone stairs, down which a dim light came. obey¬ “I have grown so accustom d to ing you,” said Ivan, as lie followed her, “that I cannot break myst If of the habit at once.” In the upper hall they parted, Lola going to her own quarters and Ivan doing the same. He surprised . , at finding .. Ins was moth r and his sister not only up bat en ertaining a visitor. This visitor had laid aside Ins tor cloak and appeared in 1ln In ill.ant uniform of a Major of (ho Imperial Guaids. was young, with fine dark fca t and a f.«nve that was well-pro Ironed rather than stately almg Han knew the man lor, conc “Wt. 0 &d ‘ he8Sed hm as Cmn r o • an nngeasorable lM)nr ^ y git . fricnd u trger> ” said the ( yourg soldier, by way of explaining his ! preSeIlcr * ’ “but I had news of import U(je to communicate, and beli ving yq at j , m Berger and Miss Eliza i [ )e th would rem,iin up to see the old year oll t J came round to deliver it.” j feeing that her mother made no com ; ment ’ with an unmistakable lar)( e of a ,; miration at the young sol Si r, hastened to say: “And deeply graceful we but’for are, Count 0rloff not only for this all your efforts to assist us.” - o k>ff bowed, and then went j Co ,, Dt r | on j ie ] la d a favorable op j portmii [ t J y of talking with the Czar at he ball that evening, and that he had j | | reqente(1 the case of Madam Birgers amil wllh a ROO(1 chance of sue- 1 ces ,s/ Th ne r a e V j J this w . j When ! ,,, M adam , Ber - e rs h,18band , , d e j . n A ” ia ■ , 1 " r gC S ' m ° f . ™° ne / "T due . llm by thi ^^nment, i not only for Ins se - viceg bit alsi for binds wh ell he had , Ig d of his own t> c rry on the c m > ,al - n a ? ainst the Turcomans to a sac ’ CusH fnl , i,sue. laoney'not only had not hem p a j,[ But was jiositiAely refused to Madam Bf rg r,so that instead of behg comparative afi.uet.ee she was re d Qc< d to nearly beggarlv, Coant Crli)flrs , at l ie r had been a m , e of Colone l Berger, ® and in this way t ,e young s ddier became acquaint¬ ed wdh ihe family. From the first he was in love with the fair Llizabeth, and, being a man of large means, he would have assisted the i nfortnnate family if he could have done so without hurting their feelings, for the noble poor are unfortunately sensitive and proud. thanks those of “I must add my to my mother and sister,” said Ivan, with per.eet courtesy, yet with a percepti¬ ble coldness, “but I cannot hope that your efforts in our Ik li ilf will avail.” “But I can assure \ou the Emperor promised to look into the case,” said the Count, earnestly. “He wou’d have less time for halls and t\ tes,” said Ivan with seme bittt r ness, “if he looked into one thousandth part of the eases that require his at¬ tention.” “That may he,” said the young offi¬ cer, stroking his mustache anliis’ng, “yet the Czar takes no pleasure in Lalla or ft tes. ” Count Orloff bowel to Madam Ber¬ ger and Ivan, but Elizi both, her sew¬ ing st. 11 in her left hand, followed him to the hall and said: “You must pardon he my bro'her; he is maddened that cannot help us ” “On my honor, fair Elizabeth,” said llie Count taking her hand and press¬ ing it to his lips, “I admire Ivan’s frankness, nor do I blame him for being soured. Would that he might let me show that I am his friend, and that you would permit me to be more.” Count Orb ff bowed, and Lee a ap i eared in the lia’l with a lamp to light him down to the street. [TO BE CONTINUED..! THE CASE DECIDED In the Behring Sea Matter— j Adverse to Petition. j The Behring sea case was taken up Tuesday in the United Stales supreme court, pursuant to an order made by the chief justice. Tile courtroom was filled with spectators. 'Ihe United St tes was represented by Attorney Gem nil Miller and Solicitor General Taft, and the g v ernment > f Great Britain by Jo eph II. Choate, of New York, and Calderon Carlisle. Vice president Morton, Repre¬ sentative Grt-enlufige a <1 Ben Buller, of Ma-sa« hu etts. ami Mr. Stockdale, of Mississippi, were among the auditor*. Calderon Carlisle opoced lor Great Britain. A fter cons derable argument on both sides the attorney general in his argu¬ ment opposed the m tion for leave to file a petition for a writ of prohibition on the following grounds: First—-That the supreme court lias no « ower j n (m y case to issue a writ of pro pjbition to the Sitka c urt. because it is not a district court of the Unite I States, mere |y a territorial court. Ho ^ limher thnt lhc quest ion of juris¬ diction of the Alaska court which the petitioners seek to present cannot bo eaised on the record of the admiralty pro ceedings on file with the supreme eo irt, because the face of these proceedings show j irisdiction in the Alaska court, an d after sentence in such cases, he aagued, prohibition “will not issue.” j a concluding his argument he held that, co ceding all the facts averred in petition, the question of depends the jurisdic tion of the Alaskan court upon the ext nt of the dominion of the United Vjtatcs in Behring sea. LOWER INTEREST Wanted by Alliancemen of North j Carolina. A Raleigh dispatch says: The Far mer->’ Alliance members of the legislators held a caucus Fiiday night on the bill to reduce per cent. the There rate of was interest much f discussion om 8 to o .1 the proposed change, but it was decided that it was expedient to make the change. The vote was overwhelmingly in favi>r ol this. Inquiry Avas made o alliancemen aud tl)e y all said they would s and to. her anil that the passage of the bill was certain. The allium emeu are in a large majority. Of course, the bank peo* j e w jh antagonize the bill, and ihe op* p OHen ts of it. Iifhn that it will crippU tli; i terests of the state. Two Profitab e Professions. In discussions and articles on The 1 Choice of a Profession,” two of the most I lucrative professions of all have been for j gotten, These are ihe professions of a i jockey and “strong man.” At a festive ; meeting, \i/.., the annual dinner of the Jinicr.u k Club, du iug the past week, said: a former steward of the Jockey-Club “Cases now exist where a jockey receives a salary e jual to that of a Secretary of I State, and jockeys even of the second | rank receive, I think, payments whi h place them in a position, from a financial I point of view, considerably ahead, 1 may j say, of the bulk of their employers ’ 1 Besides these salaries, (or retainers, as they are called,) the jockeys receive the j authorized and regular riding fees, and | it is no exaggeration to say that at the 1 present moment at least half a dozen of ! them are earning, in connection with their riding, in the shape of retainers, riding fees and presents, $25,000 a year i apiece, and in one or two cases even I m ' ,re reference to the earnings - of “strong men, ’ bandow is reported to , have said, connection wdn the com in * test in which he took part on Wednes i dav, that by his defeat he lo-t more than ^ lhe savings of only two years and , L'e f th two J ^ statements are facts, 1S n r S on to dm.bt that they are, we need not wonder at the large number nf would-be “strong men” and jockeys, , p .. « u (q., z ,.tte * - ABOUT THE SAME THING. nc—Now, my darling, you know how strong is my love for you. Do not say you will be a sister to me. She—No, George, I will not say so. You — He—Then you will— She—Y'ou may be a brother to me,
