The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-03-10
BY DAVIS g. CREWS
THE GUNMAKER OF mUsCOW.
TALE OF THE EMPIRE UNDER
PETER TIE GREAT.
CHAPTER I.

Ihc l'ie aI WHICH Wo open our story il
mid winter, and towards the close of tn,
seventeenth century. Russia is the scene
In the suburbs Of Muscow, and YER,
hear the river Moskwa, stood an humble
cot, which betrayed a neatness Of arrange
tnent and show of taste that moro thar
made up for its smallness of size. Back
Of the cot was artisans shop, and other out
buildings. This shop was devoted to the
manufacture Of fire arms, mostly. Some
swords, and other edged weapons, were
made here upon special application.
The master of this tenement was the he
TO Of our tale, Ruric Novel. We find lin,
standing by his forge, watching the white
smoke as it curlcd up towards the throat ol
the chimney. lie was a young man, not
over tl!rec-and-twentv, and possessed Il
frame CT more than ordinary symmetry and
muscular development. lie was not large
not above medium size-but single
glance at the swelling chest, the broad
shoulders, and the sinewy ridges of the
bare arms, told at once that lie 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
sufficicncy of sustcnancc, went to Spain
soon after the bereavement. There he found
work in the most noted armories and now
well verscd i'll the trade, he had returned to
N at 10, {,lI I, 7
support lis mother.
Near by stood a boy-Paul Pecpoff-a
bright, intelligent lad, some fifteen years Of
age, who had bound himself to the gunma-
ker for the purpose of learning the art.
Claudia Nevel, Ruric's mother, was a no.
ble looking woman. and the light of her
still handsome countcnance was never
brighter than when gazing upon her boy.
She had thankful, loving heart, and Il
prayerful, hopeful soul.
1T is showing again, faster than ever ro-
marked Paul, rs he took his seat at the sup
portable, in company with the others.
'Ah,' returned Ruric, resting his knife a
few moments while lie bent his car to listen
40 the voice of the storm. Il had hoped
'twould snow no more for the present. Tie
snow is deep enough now. Aud how it
Llowsr
Never mind,' spoke the dame, in a trust
ful, easy tone, it must storm when it lis
tctll, and we can only thank God that We
have shelter, and pray for those who have
none'
Amen" responded Euric, ccrvcntly.
Tie meal was at length eaten, and the
table set back, and shortly afterwards Paul
retired TO his bed.
Kurlc drew his clair close up to the fire.
place, and leaning against the jam, he
bowed his head in absorbing thought. This
had become habit with him of late.-
His mother having observed these fits Of
abstraction, became uneasy and pressed
Ruric to tell her what it was over which he
was so constantly and so moodiy brooding.
Being thus urged, Eurc confessed that it
was of fosalind Valdai (thc orphan daugh-
ter of a noLleman, and now the ward of
Olga, the powerful and naughty Duke Of
Tula) he was thinking. Ruric's father, and
the father Of Rosalind, had been comrades
in arms in their youth, and their children
had been playmates. But when the elder
Nevel was slain in battle Ruric was vet a
boy, and the widow and her son remained
poor and obscure while VaIdai, more for
tunate, had risen to a high rank, and dying,
left ltosalind title and fortune.
The young people, however, had not for,
gotten each other. Ruric loved Rosa!ind
with all the fcrvor Of his being, and llc felt
assured that ltosalind returned Ills love-
AS he and his mother sat debating the mat
ter on that stormy night, a loud knock upon
the outer door startled them.
is there any one hero 2 the g1nmakcr
asked, as he opened the door, bowing his
head and shielding lis eyes froul ging
snow with one hand.
Yes returned n voice from the Styeian
darkness. lin Gods name let mo in, or 1
shall perish
linen follow quickly said Ruric. IIcrc
give me your hand. Thcrc-now Gomez
Tile youth had found the thicky gloycd
hand-gloved with the softest fur-and
having led the invisible applicant into the
hall, hc closed the door, and then led the
way to the kitchen. Without speaking,
Ruric turned and gazed upon tile new COM
er. Inc stranger, who was equally dcsi.
rous of ascertaining what manner of man
Ruric was, was monk-and habited some.
thing like ono Of the Black monks of St.
Michael. lie was Of medium hight, and
possessed rotundity Of person which was
comical 10 behold.
AT length, after warming himself by the
fire, the guest asked if lie could be accom-
modated with some sleeping place, and be-
r i,O answered in the affirmative P,r;o