The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-03-05

rel with me-"
"seek I'll seek what will have. win you
sisng''
"0nce moreno"
"Theo, by heavens, you shall saw What IL is to
Ih war. such as nc! How's that"
As these words passed from tho Count's lips ia
A low hirsing whisper, he aimed "a blow with bis
fat at RuEo's head. Tho gunmater had not
dreamed Of such a dss;srdiy act, aud ho was not
for e. Yet he lodged it, aud as tue
Count drew back Ruric dealt him a blow upon
the brow that teiIed him to the floor like dead
OK.
.gsxare Stephen Utzcp.' he whispered to the
Counts companion, AS shat individual made u
movement AS though he w0aid Come forward.
Il am not myself cow, aud you ase safest where
You are
q feS moments. and he seemed 30 conclude that
he had better avoid a personal encounter.
Conrad Damonon slowly rose to his teet aud
gazed into his antagonists face a few moments Ia
silence. His own face was doataly pale, sGd his
whole frame quivered
"Ruric Novel;" he said, in q kissing, maddened
tone, "you will hear from me. / eau overlook
your pieheian stock"
And with this he turned away.
paul." said the gunmaker, turning TO his boy,
after the men had gone, "not a word of this 10
my mother. BE sure"
On the following morning. as Raric pre-
paripg for breakfast, he saw olga, the Duke, pass
by, aud strike OF into the Borodino road. Now.
thought be, 10 the time TO call on RosaInd; and
~ soon as he had eaten his breakfast be prepared
for tbs visit. He dressed well, aud no man 10
Moscow had nobIer look when the dus: of toll
was removed from his brow aud gsrb.
lie took a horse and sledge, and started eff for
the kremlin, within which the Duke resided.
10 one Of tho sumptuously furnished apart.
meuts OF the palace OF the DGSe of lula sat Ro-
saiind Taldai. She was a beau'ifJl girl; moulded
in peril CT form, with the full flush of health aud
vigor, and possessing fGce9Of peculiar sweetness
aud Intelligence. She was only nineteen years OF
age. and she had been ten years an orPhsp.-
There notbug of the aristocrst in her look
nothing proud nothing naughty, but gentleEess
and love were the true elements OF her soul.
How now, 2enoGicE" asked Rossiiud. as her
wsitius-maid entered.
There Is gentleman below who would see
you" the girl replied.
.'rhen tell him cannot see him." said Rosa
iipd, trembling.
"bue IL 10 Kuric Newell, my mistress"
"Ruric." exclaimed the fair maiden, starting
up. while the rich blood mounted 10 her brow
aud temples. SO, glad he has come. Ny
prayers are surely answered. Lead him hither.
Xenotie"
the girl departed, aud ere long afterwards Raric
entered the apartment. He walked uuickiy TO
where Rossnd had arisen to her feet and taking
one Of her hands in both his own be pressed it to
his lips. 1t was win difficulty he spoke. Bnt
the emotions vi his soni became calm at length,
aud then h. recsirsd RJsliin,iS pTomiSe that she
another by TIE Duke Of T,tia. Ruric Informed Der
Of the visit of Count Damonoif to his shop, it's
purpose and the result. Ross.ind astonshed
aud alarmed. Still, she could not believe that
the Duke meant TO bestow her han nd upon Damon
off. The Duke owed him money, she said, and
might perhaps be playing with the Count.
kuric started az "A new suspicion flashed upJu
him. Had tue Duke cent DamoDof upon that
ulission on purpose 20 get him into QUARREL
Aye" thought this Youth to himself. "ths Duke
knows that have taught the sword play, and he
knows that ;he Count would be no match Tor me-
80 he thinks in this Subtle manner - make
instrument for Kidding him OF plague. But
this youth was careful aot to let Rosalind know
OF this. He thought she wonld be unhappy if she
auew that a duel was likely to come en- between
himself and the Count.
After some minutes Of comparative silence,
Ruric took leave of R0sslnd, and WAS soon in the
open court. Here he catered bis siedge and then
drove TO the barracks in the Khitagorod, where
he i4qured for young friend named Orsa, a
lieutenant OF the guard. The officer Was 4aickiy
found, aud as he met Ruric his salutatlun was
warm and cordial. Alter the first friendly greet
iDgs had passed, Ruric remarked, Il may have Il
meeting with Conrad Count Damouoff lie has
sought qusrrei-insul;ed me- most grossly
aiuieda blow at my head-aud | knocked h im
do"n. You can judge as well rs l what the result
must be-
Most surely he will challenge you,' cried the
officer, eICtedy.
$50 l think" resumed Ruric, calmly "Aud
with pleasure
Aud thereupon Ruric related sill that had oc.
Cured at the time OF the Counts visit TO bis shop
aud then took his leave.
He reached home just as his mother was
spreading the board FOX dinner. He often wen.
away ON business, ald she thought not of ask Ing
aicl ATTY question:.
On questioning Paul, in the shor. 10 the after
Ruric, TO his great surprise learned tta; the
Black MONK had been there GurIog his absence
20 purchase a dagger; that hs had drawn out oil
the boy minute account of the visit OF Ut3eu
aud Damonof, aud that be seemed to he much
pleased with Ruric's conduct. As they were talk
ing, Cr1en called aud presepteda challenge from
toe Count. Ruric at uuce referred bil1 to bis
fcienG, ana be TOOK his leave.
Thst evening, about O'clock. sedge drove
up to Ruric's door, aud young Or5a entrred the
house. He called Raric aside, aud informed him
that the arraH Sements had all be4u made.
"pamonO6 is ia e hurry" lie said land We
have appointed the meeting at ten O'Clock to
III ;rrow i1reDoou. 1t will take place ut the beud
Of the river, Jlst beyond the Viska Hill"
sand the weapons: z" asked RUric
swords returned 0rsa. THE Count will
bring bis own, and he gives you the privilege Of
selecting such an Que rs you Choose
Il thank you, Orsa, for your kindness thus far,
and you may rest assured that | shall be prompt
suppose call here in the morning for you 70
suggested the visitor
II should be pleased to have you do So" tue
gunmaker said; and thus il was arranged.
Ga the following morning Kuric was up be-
times, aud at the breakfast tab'e not u word of the
QUE al absorbing theme was uttered. Alter the
meal was finished the guumsker went out to his
shop, aud took down from one of the closets q
long ieafhern case, in which were two swords
They we're Toledo blades, and of Laost exquisite
workmanship aud finish. Ruric took out the
heaviest one, which two.edged weapou
With a cross hi!t OF heavily gilded metal. He
placed the poiUt upon the floor. aud then, with
Al! his weight bent the bade till the pomnol
hEH
to lis place with sharp cIaug, aud the texture
was Tot starte !. Then no struck the 1 1t of I'd.
blade upon the anvil with great free. The ring
HGs sharp and clear, and the weapon remained un-
harmed.
"By st. Michas)," saii the gunnaker to his bow.
"hoscow does not contain another blade like that
Damascus never cav Il better
"ithink you are right, my MASTER" the boy re-
turned, who had beheld the trial OF the blade wi
uaSounded admiration. But" he added ..couil
yua not temper blade like that?"
''Pe-haps, if l had the steel. Bot have It not
The steel OF thess two blades came from India, and
was orisinsliy ia one weapon-a pondrous, two.
handed affair, belonging TO a Bengal chieftain-
The metal Possesses ell TIE hardbess'of the nest
rs4or. with the elasticity Of the most suhtte
spring. My Old master ut Toledo gave Tie these as
memento. Were to mention the sum Of morey
he was once offered tor the lsrses. oIs yen would
hardly credit it,"
After this Raric gave Paul a few directions
about the work, promising to be back before
night. JUST then Orsa drove up TO the door
R1ric vas already. His mother WAS in the
kitchen. lie wen; to her with a smile upon his
face. Tie pat bis arms about her and drew her to
his bosom.
''uod bless You. my mother. shall come bach. ~
He said this. and tneh he kissed her
He dared stop to speak 10 more, bat opened the
door and passed out.
"Have you good weapon!" asked orsa as the
horse started 90.
Il have Ruric said. quietly: "aud one which
has stood more tests than most swords will haar ;,
And aitef some lurther remarks, be related the
peculiar circumstances attending the making nj
the sword. and his possession of it, -
At length they struck upon the river. and in
half an hour more they reached the annoin,ed
spot The day was beautiful. They had bsen uno,,
the ground bat few minutes v hen the other psr,y
came IN sight around the bead Of the river III.
A0Hk acdS there also.
As soos as the Count aud his second and surgeon
had arrived, and the horses had been secured. the
lieutenant proposed that they should repair to an
old building which was close at hand
AYE added DamoRDff.-"Let us have this I'm