The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1859-03-16

Nbull ffllilt lDtNdIl sAIll IlbI III ~'ll |
now. and you are safest where YOU are"
The man thus addressed viewed the
gunmalcr a few moments, and he seemed |
to conclade that he had better avoid a
personal encounter
5nrad Dainoncf sT0wfs' r0Sc-rv i9- 4
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. |
can overlook your plebeian stock
And with this he turned away.
paul, said the gunmaker, turning TO !
his boy. after the men had gone. mot 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 of into the Bo-
rodino road. Now, thA Aght he, is the
time to call on:Rosalinf: 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 Slcdge. and started
off for the Kremlin. within which the
Duke resided.
In one of the sumptuously furnished
apartments of the palace of the Duke of
Tula sat Rosalind Naldai. She was a beau
tiful girl nodded in perfect form, with
the full flush of health and vigor. and
possessing a face of fpeculiar sweetness and
intelligence. She was only nineteen wears
of age, and she had been ten years an or
phan. There was nothing of the aristo-
crat in her look-nothing proud. nothing
naughty; but gentleness and love were
the true elements 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
I Rosalind, trembling.
But it is Ruric Newell, my mistress"
"Ruric - exclaimed the fair maiden.
starting up, while the blood mounted to
/ her brow and temples. 20. ] am glad he
has come. Ny prayers are surely answer
ed. Lead him hither Zenobie."
/ The girl departed. and ere long after
wards Ruric entered the apartment He
walked quickly to where Rosalind had
/ arisen to her feet, and taking one of her
! hands in both his own. he pressed it to
/ his lips. 1t was with difficulty he spoke
lBtAN Niit 0llollpIl> ol Ills soul DtGdlilt cain
at length, and then he recsircd Rosqliads
promise that she 1o0,tid nerer permit her iard 10
| be disposed Of 10 another by the Duke of Tala.
Ruric informed her of the visit OF Count
/ DamOnotf to his shop. its purpose and the
result. Rosalind was astonished and alarm
| ed. Still, she could not believe that the
Duke meant to bestow her hand upon Da-
! monoif. The Duke owed him money. she
said, and might perhaps be playing with
the Count.
Ruric started as new suspicion flashed
upon him. Had the Duke sent Damonotf
upon that mission on purpose to get him
into quarrel. Aye, thought the youth
>" l'r'sef tho, Duke LnQw. that ] have
taught the sword-ptav, and he knows that
the Count would bc no match for me. 81
he thinks in this subtle manner to make
me an instrument for Kidding him of a
plague But the youth was careful not
TO let Rosalind know ofthis. lie thought
She would he unhappy if she knew that a
duel was likely to come off between him
self and the Count.
After some minutes of comparative i.
lencc, Ruric took leave of ROsalnd, and
was soon in the open court. Here he en-
tered his sledge, and then drove to tn,
barracks i'll the Khitagorod, where he in
quired for a young friend named Orsa,
lieutenant of the guard. The officer wa
quickly found, and as he met Ruric hi
Salutation was warm and cordial Afte
the first friendly greetings had passed. Ru
ric remarked, Il may have a meeting witt
Conrad Count Damonoff. He has sough
quarrel-insulted me most grosslv-aim
ed blow at my head-and Knocked hin
down. You can judge as well as | wha
the result must be-
Most surely he will challenge YOU.
cried the officer. eXcitedlv.
so | think, resumed Ruric. calmly
And now will you serve me in the event?
with pleasure"
And thereupon Ruric related all tha
had occurred at the time of the Count
visit to his shop, and then took his leav,
! He reached home just as his mother wa
spreading the board for dinner lie oite
went away on business, and she though
; not of asking him any questions
On questioning Paul, in the shop, in tn
afternoon, Ruric. to his great surpris,
learned that the Black Monk had bee
, there during his absence, to purchase
dagger: that he had drawn out of I'll
boy a minute account Of the visit of Urze
t and Damonotf, and that he seemed to |
ulutll llltt>ttl Win INullC tonlucl. =
they We're talking, Urzen called and pr
;. sented a challenge from the Count Rur
at once referred him to his friend. and |
! took his leave
: That evening. about eight O'Clock.
= sledge drove up to Ruric's door and youI
;, Orsa entered the house. He called Rm
aside. and informed him that the arrang
!, ments had all been made
- Danpp9tf in a hurry - lp said
: we have appointed the meeting to
- o'clock tomorrow forenoon. 1t will taL
;. place at the beud of the river Just beyoT
, the Niska Hill"
"And'the weapons ?" asked Ruric
: Swords returned Orsa. The Cou
!, will bring his own, and he gives YOU Il
= privilege of selecting such an one as Y,
! choose"
4 Il thank you, Orsa, for your kindne
=" thus far, and you may rest assured tnat
! shall be prompt.
!" Suppose ! call here in the morning
your" suggested the visitor.
z Il should be pleased to have you do so
(, the gunmaker said; and thus it was q
!" ranged.
On the following morning Ruric was
!, betimes, and at the breakfast table not
-, word Of the one all-absorbing theme v
~ uttered. After the meal was finished 4
- gunmaker went out to MS shop. and to,
= down from one of the closets long leat
= ern case. in which were two swords Tn
~ were Toledo blades. and of most exquisi
~ workmanship and finish Ruric took o
+, the heaviest one, which was a two-edg
. weapon with a cross hilt of heavily gild
). metal. He placed the point upon the tlo'
~ and then. with all his weight he bent
~ blade till the pommel touched the poil
"a The 1.-the steel sprang back to its pla
- ~ with a sharp clang, and the texture "
not started. Then he struck the flat of I
m :, blade upon the anvil with great force.
= The ring was sharp and clear, and
a. weapon remained unharmed
a by St. Michael, " said the gunmaker
/ his boy. Moscow does not contain ano
- er blade like that Damascus never 5
mr. better
ITS Il think YOU are right, my master,
ar boy returned, who had beheld the trial
the blade with unbounded admiration
,er But" he added. could You not tenn
ct, a blade like that? p
to- perhaps. if had the steel. But ha
it it not. The steel ofthcse two blades ca
or from India. and was originally in G
weapon-a pondrous, two-handed afii
ly, belonging to Bengal chieftain. Them
IN, tai possesses all the hardness of the fin
rot razor. with the elasticity of the most 81
tie spring. Ny old master at Toledo g,
as me these as memento. Were / to IN
ton the sum of money he was once of
ed for the largest one, you would har
of, credit il.
I" After this Ruric gave Paul few dir
tions about the work, promising to
Gu back before night. Just then Orsa drt
= up to the door.
ms Ruric was all ready. His mother was
the kitchen. lie went to her with n sn
:. upon his face. He put his arms arou
- her and drew her to his bosom.
p "God bless you, my mother sh
:, come back" He said this, and then
ow kissed her.
- no mora