Smyrna times., 1859-03-10
THE GUNMAKER OF MOSCOW.
Il Tale Of tke Empire under Peter the Great.
CHAPTER l.

century. Russia is the scene.
10 TIE suburbs OF Moscow, and very near II
Fivee Moskwa, stood an humble cot. which h
tryed neatness of arranger.en ent and show
taste that more than made up for its ma!lne
0 SIZE. Back OF the cot was an artisans sbo
and other out-bulldings. This shop was deyC
TED to the manufacture of firearms, Mostly
Some swords, and other edged weapons, wer
made here upon special application.
The master of this tenement was the hero @
OUT tale, Ruric Newell. We find him stanJin,
by his forge, watching the white smoke as !
curled up towards the throat of the chimney
he was young man, not over three-and TWEEN
", and po sesSed frame of more than ordnar,
symmetry anl muscular development. He wa:
not large-not above medium size-but a sin,
gle glance at the swelling chest the broad
shoulders, and the sinewy ridges Of the bare
arms told at once that be was master of orea,
physical power. His father had been killed in
the then late war with the Turks, and the son.
leaving his mother with q sutiiciency of suste-
nance, went to Spain soon after the bereaye.
ment. There he found work in the most noted
armOres; and now, well versed in the trade, be
had returned TO his native city to follow his call
lng. and support his mother.
Near by stood boy-Paul Peepoff-a bright.
intelligent lad, some fifteen years of age, who
had bound himself 10 the gunmaker for the
purpose of learning the art.
Claudia Nevel, Ruric's mother, was noble
looking woman, and the light of her still hand
srne countenance was never brighter than
when gazing upon her boy. She had a thank
iuL, loving heart, and prayertul, hoping soul.
alt Is sno%ing again, faster than ever" re-
marked Paul, as he took his seat at the supper
table, in company with the Others
"Ah," returned Rurc, resting his knife few
moments while he bent his ear to listen to the
voice Of the storm. 81 had hoped 'twoud
snow no more for the present. The snow is
deep enough now. And how it blows"
"NeVer mnd," spoke the dame, in a trustful,
easy tone, e" 1t must storm when it listeth, and
we can only thank God that we have shelter,
and pray for those who have none"
"Amen!" responded Ruric ferventlv.
The meal was at length eaten, and the table
set back, and shortly afterwards Paul retired to
bis bed.
Rlrc drew his chair close up to the fire.
pace, and leaning against the Jam he bowed
bis head in absorbing thought. This had be-
come a habit with him of late His mother
having observed these fits of abstraction, be-
cane uneasy and presse ed Ruric to tell her what
II was over which he was So constantly and so
mOodIIy brOodng. Being thus urged, Ruric !
confessed that it was Of Rosalind Vadai (the |
orphan daughter of nobleman, and now the |
ward Of Olga. the powerful and naughty Duke |
Of Tuia) he was thinking. Ruric's father, and |
the father of Rosallnd, had been comrades in |
arms 10 their youth, and their children had .
been paymate5 But when the elder Newell
was slain in battle, Ruric was yet boy, and
The widow and her son remained poor and OBJ
IL, Ii. L.
to high rank and dying, left Rosalnd title
and a fortune.
The young people, however, had not forgot
len each other. Ruric loved RosaInd with all
the fervor of his being, and h felt assured that
Rosallnd returned his love. AS he aud his mo-
ther sat debating the matter on that stormy
Right, a loud knock upon the outer door startled
them.
"ls there any one here !" the gunmaker ask
ed, as he opened the door, bowing his head and
shielding his eyes from the driving snow with
one hand
"Yes," returned voice from the Stygian
darkness. Ia Gods name let me in, or
shall perish"
"Then follow quickly" said Ruric, "Here
give me your hand.-There-now come"
The youth found the thckly-gloved hand
glOVed with the softest fur-and having led the
Invisible applicant into the hall he closed the
door, and then led the way to the Kitchen
Without speaking, Rurc turned and gazed
upon the newcomer. The stranger, tch0 loas
equally deSirOus Of GScertaiaing Chat manner
81 man RWric lOGS, was monk-and habited
Something like one of the Black monks of St.
Michael. He was of medium hight and DOS.
sessed rotundity of person which was comical
TO behold.
At length, after warming himself by the fire,
the guest asked if he could be accommodated
With some sleeping place, and being answered
ln the affirmative, Rurc showed him to cham
Der and then retired himself.
The next morning, after breakfast, the Monk
went with ruric to his shop, and examined with
much interest the various weapons therein
Rurlc questioned him closely as to whether he
had ever met him before, but the Monk replied
eVasvely, and after saying that in case the gun
maker should ever, in any great emergency,
need friend, that he might apply to him, he
took his leave.
Towards the middle Of the afternoon, just as
RlrIc had finished tempering some parts of
gun-lock, the back of his shop was opened, and
two men entered. They were young men,
dressed in costly furs, and both of them stout
aud good-looking. The gunmaker recognized
them as the Count Conrad Damanof and his
friend Stephen Urzen.
al think speak with Ruric Newell" said the
Count, moving forward.
"You do returned Ruric, not at all sur
prlsed by the visit, since people of all classes
were in the habit OF calling at his place 10 or.
der arms.
"You are acquainted with the Lady Rosalnd
VaIdai I" he SAID.
al am" answered Rurc, now beginning TO
wonder.
sWell, sir" resumed Damonon, with much
haughtiness,. "perhaps my business can be |
quickly and satisfactorily settled. 1t is my de.
sire 10 make the Lady Rosalind my wife,"
Ruric Newell started at these words. and he !
clasped hts hands 10 hide tIteir tremnlousness. |
aud why have you cofae TO me with this
Information, sir r. he asked.
"Rnric Novel. YOU sh1ll not say that | did
not make myself fully understood, and hence |