Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-03-10
THEGUNMAKER OF MOSCOW.
Tale of the Empire under Petef the
Great.
CHAPTER /.

The time at which We open our story is
NJ ,,I- " inter, and towards the close of the
seventeenth century. Russia is the scene.
In the suburbs OF Moscow, and very near
the river Mvskwa. stood an humble cot,
which betrayed neatness of arrangement
and show of taste that more than made up
for its smallness of size. Back OF the cot
was an artisans shop, and other out-build-
ings This shop was devoted to the man.
fracture OF firearms, mostly. Some swords,
and other edged weapons, were made here
upon special application.
The maste! of this tenement was the hero
of our tale, Ruric Newell. We find him
standing by his forge. watching the white
smoke as it curled up towards the throat OF
the chimney. He was young man, Tot
ever three-and twenty, and possessed a
frame of more than ordinary symmetry and
muscular development. He was not large
not above the medium size-but d sing lie
glance at the swelling chest, the broad
shoulders, and the sinewy ridges of the bare
srms, 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 suf-
fcieney Of sustenauee. went to Spain soon
after the bereavement. There he found
work in the most noted armories; and now.
well yersed in the trade, he had returned to
his native city to follow his calling, and
support his mother.
Near by stood g -boy--Paul Peopoff-a
bright, intelligent lad, some 6:teen wears Of
age, who had bound himself to the gun
maker for the purpose of learning the art.
Claudia Newell Ruric's mother, was q no.
ble looking woman. and the light of her
still handsome countenance was never
brighter than when gazing upon her boy
She had thankful, loving heart, aud a
prayerful, hopeful soul.
'-lt is showing again, faster than ever
remarked Paul, as he took his seat at the
supper-,abIe, in company with the others
"Ah," returned Ruric, resting his knife q
few moments while he bent his ear to listen
10 the voice of the storm. 81 had hoped
'twould snow no mpre for the present
The snow is deep enough for the present
'NeVer mind" spoke the dame in trust.
ful, easy lone, dit must storm when il list.
e.h, 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 the
table set back, and shortly sfterwsrds Pau
retired to his bed.
:. Ruric drew his chair close up to the fire.
place, and leaning against The jam he bow.
ed his head in absorbing thought. This
had become habit with him Of late. His
mother having observed these fits of sb.
straction, became uneasy and pressed Ruris
to tell her what it was over which be was
so constantly and SO moodily brooding.--
Being thus urged, Ruric confessed that il
wss of Rosalind Valdai Qhe orphan daugh'
ter OF noblenan. and now the ward o.
Olga, the powerful and naughty Duke q
Tu.a) he was th ming. Ruric's father ant
the father of Rosaind had been comrade,
in arms in their youth, and their children
had been playmates. But when the eide
Newell was slain in battle, Ruric was yet !
DOy, anu tHc ucT , JH EciuuiuCt
poor and obscure; lille yaldai, more tor
tunate, had risen to high rank, and dying
left Rosaiind title and fortune.
The young people, however, had not for
gotten each other. Ruric loved Rosslin
with all the fervnr of his being. and he fel
assured that RosaIind returned his love-
As he and his mother sat deba ing the mat
ter on that :ormy night, loud knock upol
the outer door startled them.
ais there any one here," the gunmake
asked, as he opened the door, bowing hi
head and shielding mis- eyes from the driving
snow with one hand.
"Yes," returned voice from the S'ygiar
darkness. ain Gods name let me in, or
shall perish"
"Then follow quickly" SAID Ruric.--
"Here-giye me your hand. There-nov
come"
The youth found the thickly -gloved ham
-gloved with the scteet fur-and havin
led the invisible applicant into the hall h
closed the door, and then led the way t
the kitchen. Without speaking, Ruric turn
ed and gaz-d upon the newcomer. Th
stranger. rho ,cas equally desirous Of ascsr
q tanning phst msnner of man Ruric ra:
was a monk-and hsbited something lik
one of the Black monks Of St. Michael =
He was OF medium hight, and possessed
rotundity of person which was comical t
behold.
A: length, after warming himself by tn
fire, the guest asked if he could be accom-
modated with some sleeping p lace, and bs
ing answered in the affif ma i've, Ruric shus
ed him to chamber and then retir, d hin
self.
The next morning, after breakfast, III
Monk went with Ruric to his shop, snd e,
smined with much interest the variou
weapons therein. Ruric questioned hin
closely as to whether he had ever net hil
before, but the Monk replied evasively, an
after saying that in case the gunmaks
should ever. in any great emergency, nee
friend, that he might apply to him,
took his leave.
Towards the middle of the afternoon, ia.
as Ruric had finished tempering some parl
of a gun-lock, the back door of his sho
was opened, and two men entered. The
were young men, dressed in costly fur
and both of them stout and good-lookihg
The gunmaker recognized them as th
Count Conrad Daufanutf and his fr;en
Stephen Urzen.
"l think speak with Ruric Novel; sa
the Count, moving forward.
"You do" returned Ruric, not at all su