The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1859-03-11
THE GUNMAKER OF MOSCOW.
4 tale Of tie Empire uadey Peter tie Great

4 tale Of the Empire under Peter TIE Great.
The time at which We open our story is mid
winter, and towards the close Of lhe seventeenth
century. Russia IS the scene.
In the suburbs Of Moscow, and very near
The Alos5wa, stood an humble cot, which
betrayed a neatness Of arrangement and show
oi taste that more than made up for lis small
ness Of size. Back Of the col was an ariizan's
shop and out-beiIdings. This shop was devo-
ted to the manufacture Of firearms, mostly
Some swords, aud other edged weapons, were
made here upon special application.
The master Of this tenement was The hero Of
eur tale, Ruric Newell. We find tim Standing
BY bis forge, watching the white smoke as IT
curled up towards the throat of the chimney.
RE was young man, not over three-and-
twenty, and possessed frame OF more than or
dlnary symmetry and muscular development.
He was not arge-not above medium size
But single glance al the swelling chest, the
the broad shoulders, ami the Sinewy ridges of
the bare arms, told al once that ha was master
ct great physical power. His father had been
k!iled in the Ibea late war with The Turks aud
the son, leaving his mother with sutilelrncy
OF suslenance, went 10 Spain soon after The be-
reavemeat. There he flunl work in the most no.
ted armories; and now, well gersed in the trade,
be had returned 10 his native city 10 follow his
calling, and support his mother.
Near by stood boy Paul PrePof,-a bright,
iatr.lzen, lad, some d!teen years Of age, Is no
had bound himsefto the guumaker loF the Pui
pose ot learning he art.
Claudia Newell, RuTic's mother, was a noble
looking woman, aud the light OF her still hand
some countenauce was never brighter than
when gazing upon her boy. She had thank
lui, loving heart, and a pTayeridi hopeful soul.
''Il is showing again, faster than eYer," re-
marked Paul, as he took his seat al the Supper
| table, in company with the others.
..Ah," returned Ruric, resting his knIe d
few moments while he bent his ear 10 listen to
the voice Of the storm. II had hoped 'troud
snow 90 more tol the present. The snow is dee p
enough now. And how it blows"
''Aeyrr mind" spoke the dame, in trust
ful, easy tone, at must storm when ;, listeth,
and w can only thank GOD that we have sh-l-
ter, aad pray for those who have none"
''Amen!' responded Ruric, fervcntjy.
The meal was at length eaten, and the table
sci back, AMI shortly alter Paul retired 70 MS
bed.
RuIic drew his chair close up 10 the fire.
place, aad leaning againt the jam, &e bowed
his head in absorbing thought This bad be-
come habit with him Of late. lis mother
bayi0s ob.erveI these fits ct abstraction, b.
came uneasy and pressed Rurlc 70 tell her what
q vas over "hicd lie vas 50 c5astaCliy aud -
moodliy 6757dia5. Being thus urged, Ruric
confessed that II was Ct Kosaiad Fa!aai TIE of-
phan daughter Of uJo!rmaa, and G3W tie
ward d Olga, the powerful and LaugAty Duke
OF inlal he vas thinking. Ruricss father, anu
The father Of Rosaiind, hai been CopTa4rs in
arms ~ their youth, and their Children had
been Piaymars. Bot when the elder Newell
was slain IN battle, Rufic ~as yeta BOY, aud the
widow aad her ION fe" a'3ed poor and OBSCURE
whiIe EalIai, more i5rluaa,s, bad fisrn 10 :
tiEh rank, and dying, len R-sallu1 tide and
fortune.
TIE young people, however, had ~. fJrS5'
len zach oltrr. Ruic loved ResaluI with all
,,'e ir''of OF rs erias' AMI Ge Iii assured that
t'53 as i''r' -AS ''e ana His no
''.s. S'' 07|i.''5 '''e matter On 'Hat stormy
''7''.' 'o41 A''-0A % '''1 o~-7E @ooE Siat,.ea
mem
- '0eFF any one 1rFr! 'aP sunnl.-F asN-
60 aa BE "!'r"rl the door, 51WiHs !I's head aao
s.-5.o'oS MS eyes from '''e cf'';hS s"o" AEi.h
o"s ,."'e.
rs 'r'ulH'I voice ifoFn lae SiEgian
ID. Is Oou ;; I'D name iel ne 10, or !
S"'.l !'r''sh.
= Aeh i2'io" qHichiy,, SAID haric. "iiere
give me your !heIe-now caHr."
iae yoHth found the thIckig-giovrd hand
sL"vtI with the s9'tesi iuT-and having led the
ih'is'O4e applicant inlo the haiI be cioSrd the
door, ana laen led ihe way 10 the klic'Rn.-
v 'l5o0i speaking, ha.!c turned and gazrd up
on Ii.+ he5-coaer. ne stranger, 1cto icaS Q
GL4-Ay lesLfo+S o. c'cefiaiA'hs 1ci4t H1aRRtr
o. nm h@Tic lrHS, was mgnb-a1a ha8!.sa