M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1859-03-10

dai, more fortunate, had risen to a
high rank, and dying, left Ro8alind a
title and a fortune.
The Young people, however, had
mot forgotten each other. Ruric loved
Rosalind with all the fervor of his
being, and he felt assured that Rosa
lind returned his love. AS he and his
mother sat debating the matter on
that stormy night, loud knock upon
the outer door startled them.
"ls there any one here?" the gun.
maker asked, as he opened the door,
bowling his head and shielding his
eyes from the driving snow with one
hand.
Yes" returned voice from the
Stygian darkness. "In Gods name
Let me in, or | shall perish"
"Then follow quickly" said Ruric.
"Ilcre-givc me yonr hand. There
how come"
The youth found the thickly. .gloved
hand -gloyed with the sottest fur
and having led the invisible applicant
into the hall he closed the door, and
then led the way to the kitchen. With.
out speaking, Ruric turned and gazed
upon the newcomer. The stranger,
1chO acaS equally deSirOuS of Gscer-
tanning What manner If man RHric
lcaS, was a monk-and habited some
thing like one Of the Black monks Of
st. Michael. lie was OF medium
hight, and possessed u rotundity ot
person which was comical to behold.
At length, after warming himself by
the fire, the guest asked il he could
be accommodated with some sleeping.
place, and being answered in the at,
tirmative, Ruric showed him to u
chamber ard then retired himself
The next morning, after breakfast,
the Monk went with Ruric to his
shop, and examined with much inter-
est the,various weapons therein. Rn-
ric questioned nm closely as to;syhoth.
er he had ever met him before, but,the
Monk replied eyasivoly, andafter say
ing that in case the gunmaker should
ever, in any great emergency, need a
friend, that he might apply to him, he
took his leave.
Towards the middle of the after
noon, just as Ruric had finished tenn
pering some parts Of q gun.lock, the
back door Of his shop was opened,
and two men entered. They were
young men, dressed in costly Eurs, and
both Of them stout and gooG-looking.
The gunmaker recognized them as the
Count Conrad Damonof and his friend
Stephen Urzen.
81 think speak with Ruric Nevel," !"
said the Count, moving forward.
"You do" returned Ruric, rot at
all surprised by the visit, since people
of all classes were in the habit Of call.
ing at his place to order arms.
"You are acquainted with the La
dy Rosalind Valdai?" he said.
81 am" answered Ruric, now be.
ginning to wonder.
"Well, sir" resumed Damonoff,
with much haughtiness, perhaps my
business can be quickly and satisfac-
torily settled. 1t is my desire to make
the Lady Rosalind my wife"
Ruric Nevel started at these words,
and he clasped his hands to hide their
tremulousness. But lie was not long
debating upon an answer,
"And why have you come to me
with this information, slr!" he asked.
"Ruric Nevel. you shall not say
that | did rot make myself fully un-
derstood, and hence will explain. y
The Count spoke this as speaks man
who feels that he is doing a very con-
descending thing, and in the same
tone he proceeded: "The Lady Rosa.
lind is Of noble parentage and very
wealthy. My own station and wealth
are equal with hers. | love her, and
must have her for my wife. | have
been to see the noble Duke. her guar
dian, and he objects not to my suit
But he informed me that there was
one impediment, and that was her
love for you. lie knows full well--as
| know, and as ali must know-that
she could never become your wife; but
yet he is anxious not to Interfere too
much against her incinations. So a
simple denial from you, to the effect
that you can never claim her hand, is
all that is necessary. l have a paper
here all drawn up, and all that | re-
quire is simply your signature. Here
it is only aplain, simple avowal on
your part that you have no hopes nor
thoughts of seeking the hand of the
lady in marriage"
AS the Count spoke he drew a pa.
per from the bosom of his marteL
doublet, and having opened it he
handed it towards the gunmaker. But
Ruric took it not. He drew back and
gazed the visitor sternly in the face.
"Sir Count" he said calmly and
firmly, "you have plainly stated your
al T iii n, ,lo;nly an