The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-03-03

r
ent. The snow is deep enough now
And how it blowsl"
Never mind syoke the dame in ,
trustfull, easy tone, ''it must storm wber
it listeth, and We can only thank God tba
we have shelter, and pray for those who
have none'
amen !" responded Ruric, fervently
The meal was at length eaten, and tie
table set back, and shortly afterwards
Panl retired to bis bed.
Ruric drew bis chair close up to the
fire place, and leaning against the jam
pc bowed bis head in absorbing thought.
This had become habit with him of late
His mother having observed these fits of
abstraction, became uneasy aud pressed
Ruric to tell her what it was over which
he was SO constantly and so moodily
brooding. Being thus urged, Ruric con-
fessed that it was of Rosalind VaIdai (tbe
orphan daughter of noblemaD, and now
the ward OF Olga, the powerful and haugh-
ty Duke of Tula) he was thinking. Ru-
rios father. and the father of Rosalind,
had been comrades in arms in their youth.
and their children had been play ates.
But when the elder Newell was slain in
battle, Ruric was yet boy, and the wild
ow and her son remained poor and OBJ.
scure; while Valdai, more fortunate, had
risen to high rank, and dying, left Ro-
saiind title and a fortune.
The young people, however. had not
forgotten each other. Ruric loved Rosa
lind with all the fervor of his being, and
he felt assured tDat Rosalind returned bis
love. As be and his mother sat debating
the matter on that stormy night, loud
knock upon the outer door startled them
"Is there any one here !" the gunma-
ker asked, as he opened the door, bowiDg
his head and shielding bis eyes from the
driving snow with one band.
"Yes," returned a voice from the Sty.
gian darkness. In Gods name let NE
in, or shall perish"
"Then follow quickly" said Ruric.-
'Here-give me your hand.-There-
now come
The youth found the thickly- -gloved
hand-gloved With the softest fur-and
having led the invisible applicant into the
lall be closed the door, and then led the
way to the kitchen Without speaking,
Ruric turned and gazed upon the new
,omer. The stranger. aotO araS equally
Of aScertainaag 2cILat manner Of
nan Rur1c acaS, was a monk-snd bab-
ted something like one OF the Black monks
If St. Michael. He was of medium hight,
md possessed rotundty of person which
vas conical to behold.
At length, after warming himself by
he fire, the guest asked if be could be
ecoumodated with some sleeping place,
md being answered in the affirm ative,
3uric showed him to cham Der end then
etired himself
The next morning, after breakfast the
Monk went with Ruric to his shop, and |
with much interest the various
veapons therein. Rurio questioned him
loosely as to whether be had ever met
lim before. but the Monk replied evasive.
y, and after saying that in case the gun
maker should ever, in any great emergen-
y. need friend, that he might apply to
i'm, be took bis leave.
Towards the middle of the after noon,
ust as Ruric had finished tempering
ONE parts of gun-lock, the back
oor of his shop was opened and two men
ntered. They were young men, and
od-looking. The gunmaker recognized
hem as the Count Conrad Danonof and
is friend Stephen urzen.
81 think | speak With Ruric Newell
aid the Count moving forward.
"You Go, returned Ruric. not at all sur
rised by the visit, since people Of all
lasses were in the habit of calling at bis
lace to order arms.
"You are acquainted with the Lady
iosslipd Valdail" be said.
II am" answered Ruric, now begin.
,g to wonder.
well, SIR" resumed Dam monof, With
,uch haughtiness, "perhaps my business
an be quickly and satisfactorily settled.
/ is my desire to make the Lady Rosa
nd my wife"
Rurio Newell started at these words,
nd he clasped his hands to hide their
&c 'emulousncss But be was not long de-
atiDg upon an answer.
"And why have you come to me with
lis information, sir 7" he asked.
"Ruric Newell, you shall not say that
id not make myself fully understood, and
ence | will explain" The Count spoke
lis as speaks a man who feels that be is
Ding very condesceDding thing. and in
,e same tone be proceeded 1.-The Lady
osalind is of noble parertage and very
ealtby. Ny own station aud wealth are
,ual with hers. | love her. and must
ave her for ny wife. have been to
,e the noble Duke, her guardian, and be
bjects not to my suit. Bot he informed
e that there was one irpedlment. and
lat was her love for you. lie knows
III well-as | know, and all must know
that she could never become your wife; ,
ut vet be is anxious not to interfere too
uch against her inclinations, So sim l
c denial from you to the effect that you