The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-03-10
THE GUNMAKER OF MOSCOW.
ArALE or rns EXPIRE UNDER pErRR THE GREAT

The time at which we open our story is
mid-wintcr, anil towards the close Of the sew
ea,s:nth century Russia is the scene. E
In the suburbs of Moscow, and very near
tao river M,s,sya, stool an humble cot,
watch b,taved neatness Of Arrangement
anl shoys of taste that more than made up
for its san due IS Of s.zs & Back ofethe cot
was an arsi, shop, sni other out-baia-
il s. Tais s.,,p W., devoted to the MANI
fs.turs oftir.-a,.ns, m,stly. So:nc swords,
.1lotl. el,ei W .apons, were made here
upoa sp.:ial application.
TIE master Of this tenement was the hero
cfour tall. Rnric Newell. We find him stan
ding by his forge, watching the white smoke
a. it curiel up towards the throat of the
caimnes He was young man, not over
thre.-anl-;yen:y, and possessed a frame OF
,n,re than ordinary symnetry and muscular
Development. He was not lsrge-aot above
madlm size bat single glance at the
swelling chest, the broad shoulders, and the
.sin.Sy rid ,.s Of the bare arms, told at once
tla. be was master OF great physical power
His father iisl been killed in the then iats
war witt! tn. i.ks, AMI tn. son, leaving his
m,th.r with : sudi;iency OF sustenanc.
went to ,pan soon after the bereavement =
.Thes. h. f,u ii work in the most not ID arm
ores I'd now, well versel in the trade, he
had retained to his native city t. follow his
calling, and support his mother.
Near b. stood a boy-Panl Peepof-s
bright ints lg'nt lal, some fifteen years o
,xss. who al bound hins,if to the ganma
ker for tn. purpose Of lernin the art
Claudia Newell. Riric's mother, was a noble
looking wo,nsn. and the Light Of her still
.hanl so.nv cou,itenance was never brighte1
than VIXEN sstin- upon her boy. She has
thanLfl, loving heart, and . prayerfnl
hopeful seus -,aaa @ .aa ..r
sit il .ies;ag again, faster than ever,
remark Il Paul a. ne took his seat at tht
sappxr-tsiAe, in comyany with the others.
....A.,, returned Ruric, resting his knife Q
sf.x moments while he bent his ear to listen
.t,.t,s voic. Of the storm. II had hoped il
s.would .snow no more fol. the present. The
sssssasa Is deep enough now. And how il
blows " btss y hr1a1rr7 p eais. faa ss.l4a
u ,.Nsyer hiind, y spoke the dame, in trust
fnl, easy tone, at must storm when it listcth
AID We can only thank God that we havs
a.shslter,, and pray for those who have none :
.ss.s..Ameni' responded Ruric, fervently.
sss The meal was .at length eaten, and the ia
,.b,s. set back. aud shortly, afterwards Paul re
tired to his bed '.,a.i 81 e s''a
80 Ruric drew his chair close up to the fire
p's,e,ss,d l.an'n. against the jan h, bowed
lis headin % ,otbing thought. This had be
come habit NTH him of late His r,nothe
havms b:4rvsd these fits of abstraction, be
same uneasy snd pfsssed Rurieto tell he
what it wSs cssf which heswas so constant,
ard 50 mopdily hrooding. Being thus urged
Ruric confessed that it was of Rosalind Val
; dsi (the orphan daughter Of q noblelnan, an'
DOW the ward Of Olga, the powerful ant
s naughty Duk. Of Tula) he was thinking. :
Ruric's sfaths. and the father Of Rosalin'
had boen comrades in arms in their youth
aad their children had been playmates. Blu
when the elder Newell was slain in battle
$ Ruric was yet boy, and the widow and he
son remained poor and obscure; while Val
= dai. mora fortunate. had risen to a high rank
:. and dying, left Rosalind title and fortune
The young people, however, had not for
gotten each other. Rnric loved Rosalin'
= with ell the fervor of his being, and he fel
: assured that Rosalind returned his love- A
: hs.and his mother sat debating the matterol
that stormy night . loud knock upon tn
Suter door startled them.
'Isthsfs any one heres" the gunmake
asked as he opened the door, bowing hi
head and shielding his eyes from the drivin
:SsoW With one hand,
Yes returned voice from the stygial
darkness "ln Gods name let ne in. or