Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1859-03-15

arisen to her feet. and taking one of her
hands in both his own he pressed 1t 10
his lips Ii was with difficulty he spoke.
But the emotions of his soul became ca I'm
at length, and then he received Rosalind's
promise that she would never permit her
hand to be disposed of to another by the
Duke of lula. Ruric informed her OF
the visit of Count Damonof TO his shop,
its purpose and the result. Rosalind was
astonished and alarmed. Still, she could
not believe that the Duke meant TO be-
stow her hand upon Damonof. The
Duke owed him money, she said, and
might perhaps be playing with the Count.
Rurlc started as a new suspicion fash
ed upon him. Had the Duke sent Da-
monoff upon that mission on purpose to
get him into a quarrel. Aye" thought
the youth to himself, "the Duke knows
that [ have taught the sword-play, and he
knows that the Count would be no match
for me. So he thinks In this subtle man
ner TO make me an instrument for Kidding
him of a plague" But tie youth was
careful not to let Rosalind know of this.
He thought she would be unhappy if she
knew that duel was likely to come off
between himself and the Count.
After some minutes of comparative
silence, Ruric took leave of RosaIind, and
was soon In the open court. Here he
entered his sledge, and then drove to the
barracks in the Khitagorod, where he in
quired for young friend named Orsa,
lieutenant of the guard. The officer was
quickly found, and as he met Ruric his
salutation YVES warm and cordial. After
the first friendly greeting had passed,
Ruric remarked, :" may have meeting
with Conrad Count Dauionof. He has
sought a quarrel-lnsulted me most gros-
sly-aimed blow at my head-an nd /
knocked him down. You can Judge as
we'll as what the result must be-"
Most surely be will challenge you"
cried the officer excitedly.
g So think" resumed Ruric, calmly.
And now will you serve me in the
event?"
With pleasure"
And thereupon Ruric related all that
had occurred at the time of the Counts
visit to his shop, and then took his leave.
He reached home just as his mother
was spreading the board for dinner. He
often went away on business, and she
| thought not of asking him any questions.
On questioning Paul, in the shop, in
the afternoon, Ruric, to his great surprise,
learned that The Black Monk had been
| there during his absence, to purchase a
dagger that he had drawn out of the
| boy minute account of he visit of Urzen
and Damonoff, and that he seemed to be
much pleased with Ruric's conduct. AS
they were talking, Urzen called and pre-
scented a challenge from the Count. Ru-
rlc at once referred him to his friend, and
he took his leave.
That evening, about eight o'clock, a
sledge drove up 10 Ruric's door, and
young Orsa entered the house. He call
ed Ruric aside, and informed him thai
the arrangements had all been made.
Danonoff is in a hurry" he said,
land we have appointed the meeting al
ten o'clock tomorrow forenoon. Ii will
take place at the bend cf the river Just
beyond the Viska Hill"
I" And the weapons 2" asked Ruric.
Swords" returned Orsa. The
Count will bring his own, and he gives
you the privilege Of selecting such an one
as you chose
| SOu, Visa, IOl yCul hlLuucSS
thus far, and you may rest assured that
shall be prompt
Suppose call here in the morning
for you &" suggested the visitor.
Z" | should be pleased 10 have you do
so,' the gunmaker said and thus it was
arranged.
On the following morning Ruric was
up betImes, and at the breakfast table not
a word of the one all-absorbing theme
was uttered. After the meal was finish
ed the gunmaker went out to his shop,
and took down from one of the closets
long leathern case, in which were two
swords. They were Toledo blades, and
of most exquisite workmanship and finish.
Rurlc TOOK out the heaviest one, which
was two-edged weapon, with . cross
hit Of heavy gllded I2etal. He placed
the point upon the floor, and then, with
all his weight be bent the blade till the
pommel touched the point The 1.-the
steel sprarg back to its place with sharp
clang, and the texture was no. started =
Then he struck the fiat of the blade upon
the anvil with great force. The ring
was sharp and clear, and the weapon re-
manned unframed.
by 81. Michael, SAID the gunmaker
to his boy, " Moscow does not contain an
other blade like that. Damascus never
saw a better"
4" think you are right, my MASTER"
the boy returned, who had beheld the
trial of the blade with unbounded admira-
ton. g But" he added, 4" could you not
temper blade like that 90
" Perhaps, if had the steel. But /
have 1t not. The steel of these two blades
came from India, and was originally in
one weapon-a ponderous, two-handed
affair, belonging to Bengal chieftain.-
The metal possesses all The hardness of
the finest razor, with the elasticity of the
most suitable snrino Nv old ,,.s,o