Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1859-03-09

IL not. lie drew back and gazed the VS.
itor sternly in the face.
"Sir Count" he said, calmly, "you
have plainly stated your proposition, and
1 will as plainly answer. L cannot sign
the paper"
'Ha !" grasped Damonoff, in quick
passion. "Do you refuse?"
"Most fatty"
"But you will sign it !" hissed Dam
onoff, turning pale with rage. "Hsre it
is-sign! If you would live--sigu !"
"Perhaps he cannot write," suggested
Urzen, contemptuously.
"Then he may make his mark" re-
Joined the Count, in the same contempt
uous tone.
''It might not require much more ur
giDg to induce me to make my mark in
a manner not at all agreeable to you. sir, "
the youth retorted, with his teeth now
set, and the dark veins upon his brow
starting more plainly out. "Do you seek
a quarrel with me?"
.'Seek?-I seek what will have
Will you sign?"
"Once moreno ]"
"Then. by heavens. you shall know
what it is to thwart such as me! How's
that?"
As these words passed from the Counts
lips in a low, Kissing whisper, he aimed a
blow with his fist a. Ruric's head. The
gunmaker had not dreamed of such a
dastardly act, and he was not prepared
for it, Yet he lodged it, and as the
Count drew back Ruric dealt him a blow
upon the brow that felled him to the floor
like dead OK.
"Beware, Stephen Urzen!' he whis-
pered to the Counts companion, as that
individual made movement as though
he would come forward.
81 am not myself now, and you are
safest where you are"
The man thus addressed viewed the
gunmaker few moments, and he seemed
to conclude that he had better avoid a
personal encounter.
Conard Damonoff slowly rose to his
feet, and gazed into his antagonists face
a few moments in silence. His own face
was deathly pale. and his whole frame
! !quivered.
"Ruric Newell" he said, in Kissing,
maddened tone, "you will hear from me.
I can overlook your plebeian stock"
And with this he turned awaw.
"Paul." said the gunmaker. turned to
his boy. after the men had gone, "not a
word of this to my mother. Be sure.'
On the following morning, as Ruric
was preparing for breakfast. he saw Olga,
the Duke, pass by, and strike off into the
Borodino road. Now, thought he. is
the time to call on Rosalind; and as soon
as he had eaten his breakfast he prepared
for the visit. He dressed well, and no
man in Moscow had nobler look when
the dust of toll was removed from his
brow and garb.
He took horse and sledge, and star
ted off for the Kremlin, within which the
duke resided.
In one of the most sumptuously fur.
nished apartments of the palace Of the
Duke of Tula sat Rosalind Valdai. She
was beautiful girl; nodded in perfect
form, with the full flush of health and
vigor, and possessing face of peculiar
sweetness and intelligence. She was
only nineteen years of age, and she had
been ten years an orphan. There was
nothing of the aristocrat in her look
nothing proud, nothing naughty /; but
gentleness and lore were the true ele.
ments of her soul.
"How now. Zenobie?" asked Rosalind
as her waiting maid entered.
''There is a gentleman below who
would see you," the girl replied.
! "Then tell him / cannot see him, -
said Rosalind, trembling.
"But it is Ruric Nevil, my mistress .
"Ruric !" exclaimed the fair maiden,
starting up, while the rich blood mounted
to her brow and temples. go, l am glad
he has come. My prayers are surely
answered. Lead him hither, Zenobie."
The girl departed. and ere long after
wards Ruric entered the apartment. He
walked quickly to where Rosalind hac
arisen to her feet. and taking one of hel
hands in both his own he pressed it te
his lips. 1t was with difficulty he spoke
But the emotions of his soul became calm
at length, and then he received Rosalind'
promise Mat she iUould neper permit he,
hand to be disposed Of to another by til.
Duke of Tula. Ruric informed her of the
visit of the Count Damonoff TO his shop,
its purpose and result. Rosalind wa:
astonished and alarmed Still, she could
not believe that the Duke meant to be.
stow her hand upon Damonoff. The
Duke owed him money, she said, and
might perhaps be playing with the Count
Ruric started as a new suspicion fash.
ed upon him. Had the Duke sent Da-
monof upon that mission on purpose to
get him into quarrel. "Aye." thought
the youth to himself, "the Duke knows
that l have taught the svord-plsy, and