The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1859-03-16
THU GINN.:. M'lNlNAN.
TALE o. THE ENB. q UNDER PETER TUE GREAT
CH ArTER

application.
The master Of thi, tenement was the
hero Of our tale, Ruric Nevcl. We find
him standing by his forge. watching the
'0.ait'- Ike a. ft casisd- ~. tnE s,ds a.
throat OF the chimney. lie was a Young
man. not over thrce-and-twenty. and pos
>Cs~cd a frame Of more than ordinary SYM
metrv and muscular development. lie
was not large-not above a medium size
but 4 single glance at the swelling chest.
the broad shoulders. and the sincwy
ridges of the bare arms, told at once that
he was master Of great physical power
His father had been killed in the then
late war with the Turks. and the son.
leaving his mother with a sufiicicncv of
su>tenancc, went 10 Spain soon after the
bereavement. There he found work in
the most noted armories and now. we'll
verscd in the trade. he had returned to
his native city To follow his calling, and
support his mother.
Near by stood boy-Paul Peepoh'-a
bright, intelligent lad, some fifteen years
of age, who had bound himself to the
gunmakcr for the purpose Of learning the
art
Claudia Newell Ruric's mother was a
noble looking woman, and the light of
her still handsome cOuntenancc was new
er brighter than when gazing upon her
boy. She had a thankful. loving heart,
and prayerful, hopeful soul.
1T is showing again. faster than ever,
remarked Paul, as he took his seat at the
supper table. in company with the others.
"Ah. returned Ruric. resting his knife
q few moments while he listened to the
voice of the storm. Il had hoped twould
/ snow no more for the present. The snow
! Is deep enough now. And how it blows ~
Never mind spoke the dame, in a
| truSttul. easy tone. 1T must storm when
| it li~teth. and we can only thank God
that we have shelter, and pray for those
| who have none
Amen :" responded Ruric, fervently.
The meal was at length eaten, and tn,
/ table set back, and shortly afterward,
Paul retired to his bed.
Ruric drew his chair close up to the
! fireplace. and leaning against the Jam hC
| bowed his head in absorbing thought
This had become habit with him OF late
| His mother having observed these fits o
| abstraction, became uneasy and presse,
Ruric 70 tell her what it was over which
he was 50 constantly and so moodilr
brooding Being thus urged, Ruric con
fc- ed that il was of Rosalind Naldai lth
orphan daughter of a nobleman, and nov
the ward of Olga. the powerful an,
naughty Duke Of Tulal he was thinking
Buric'> father. and the father Of Rosalnd
had been comrades in arms in their youth
and their children had been plavmates.-
But when the elder Newell was slain il
battle Ruric was vet boy. and the wild
. !. 4 1 Il
scure while Naldai. more fortunate. ha
risen to a high rank. and dying left Ross
linda title and fortune.
The Young people. however had no
forgotten each other. Ruic loved Ros;
lind with all the feryor of his being. an
ne frlt 2sSurr,t tIiuI ne>siInu rcturneu n
love. A~ ne and his mother sat dcbatin
the matter on that stormy night, lou
| knock upon the outer door startled then
Is there any one here ," the gunms
kcr asked. as he opened the door. bowin
his head and shielding his eyes from TIA
driving snow with one hand.
YES. returned a voice from the SNg
an darkness. In Gods name let me il
or shall perish"
Then follow quickly" said Ruric.-
''lIerc-.givc me your hand. There-no
come"
The youth found the thickly glove
hand-gloycd in the soitc,t fur-and ha'
ing led the invisible applicant into I'll
hall he closed the door. and then led III
way to the kitchen. Without speaking
Ruric turned and gazed upon the ney
conner The stranger. ,~Lo ,ras cyt,glly d
/ e'rons ef osc,rtuajag 'rdat manner ef Dpu, Il
nc tras was monk. and habited somethn
} lTl-. y,f Al. Rl,.l- - NJ
. ael. lie was of medium height and 10
. scssed a rotundity Of person which w
! comical to behold.
. At lcnghth, after warming himself I
/ the fire. the guest asked if he could
. accommodated with some sleeping plac
and being answered in the atiirmativ
!. Ruric showed him to chamber and the
3, retired himself.
The next morning after breakfast. Il
Monk went with Ruric to his shop. al
t. examined with much interest the vario
. weapons therein. Ruric questioned hi
closely as to whether he had ever m
Z him before, but the Monk replied evasiy
ly. and after saying that in case the gu
maker should ever. in any great emerge
cy. need friend, that he might apply
him. he took his leave.
Towards the middle of the afternoc
. Just aS Ruric had finished tempcring sol
y parts of gun-lOck, the bacl-door of
e shop was opened, and two men entert
s They were young men, dressed in COS
ii turS, and both of them stout and 90,
E looking. The Cmmaker recognized tn,
!. n the Count Conrad Damonotf and
r friend Stephen Urzcn.
:. - think | speak with Ruric Nevc
c. said the Count, moving forward
IS You do returned Ruric. not at
&c surprised by the visit, since people of
, classes were in the habit of calling at
;. place to order arms.
= You are acquainted with the La
re Rosalind Naldai?" he said.
1g Il am. answered Ruric. now bcginni
& to wonder.
: well. sir" resumed Damonoff, "
+ much hau-htincSS. perhaps my busin
81 can be quickly and satisfactorily settl
lf 1t /. my desire to make the Lady ROsali
: my wife.
Inn Ruric Newell started at those words, a
a he clasped his hands to hide their trcr
" lousness. But he was not long debat
upon an answer.
And why have YOU come to me W
he this information, sir?' he asked.
be "Ruric Nevel, you shall not say tha
ire ire did not make myself fully understo
m and hence | will explain The Coz
lld spoke this as speaks n man who {,
be be that he Is doing n very condesccnd
of thing, and in the same tone he proc
lot ded: The Lady Rosalind is of nc
lie parentagc and very wealthy. Ny own
his tion and wealth are equal with hers.
=" love her. and must have her for my "
! have been to see the noble Duke,
HF guardian, and he objects not to my 5
=, But he informed me that there was
ia n impedimcnt and that was her love
urf YOU He knows full wcll-as know.
eT- as all must know-that She could never
VS. come your wife: but yet he is anXi
ear not to interfere too much against her
~ ~ clinations. So a simple denial from \
aP- to the effect that YOU can never claim
hand. is all that is necessary. ! hav
paper here all drawn up, and all tn;
q, require is simply your signature. Hel
ith It is only n plain. simple avowal on '
ur part that YOU have no hopes nor thou;
SS. IG. of seeking the hand of the lady in /
cH riage.'
~ ~ AS the Count spoke he drew pa
ery from the bosom Of his marten doul
- ! anu haNlng optntu IL III Hdn'ltu II
ua, wards the gunmaker. But Ruric too
not lie drew back and gazed the Wis
sternly in the face.
bot. "Sir Count" he said, calmly and firl
- you have plainly stated your proposit
and will as plainly answer. | cal
sign the paper
H. "Ha' gasped Damonof in quick
.I mIo sion. DO you refuse.'
son. Most fatty"
ll, bite "But YOU will sign - Kissed Damol
ton turning pale with rage. Hero it is--s
en- If YOU would livc-sign!"
any Perhaps he cannot write" sugge
GE Crzen, contemptuously.
, Then he may make his mark, rel
nm. ed the Count, in the same contempt
tone.
tf 1T might not require much more
ing to induce me to make my mark
manner not at all agreeable to YOU,
.rs the youth retorted, with his teeth
,a,d' set, and the dark veins upon his |
4 at starting more plainly out do YOU
\. l q. anarra1 xutfh mo