Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-12-28
surprising beauty of the no.


Il know she is beautiful, my son; and
also that she is good-at least so l think"
"Then what but love could move me with
deep thought for her? On, my mother, do
love her. love her with the whole strength
of my heart and soul.''
''Alas, my Turic, she will never dare love
thee"
lyon know not that" the youth quickly
replied, his eyes burning deeply, and his
open brow flushing. "Did I not know she
loved me, be sure l would never have al
| lowed my thoughts such range We were
children together, and even then We loved.
Fate has dealt differently by US in the years
that have passed since those childhood
times; but yet am sure her love for me is
not changed, save as increasing age must
| change all the emotions of our natures into
! deeper, stronger lights and shades
"But think, my boy. You, mere artisan;
she, the offspring of nobility and the ward
| of duke-a stern, cold, proud aristccrat
who looks upon people Of our station only
| as harsh masters look upon their beasts of
burden. ! fear you will find little else but
misery in such course of thought
sat least, my mother, I will see Rosalind;
and if she loves me as love her, and if she
! would accept my hand
"Hush, my boy. Do not cherish such
hopes. Why should she mate with thee
when the richest mobiles of the land would
kneel for her hand?"
"Hold," cried Ruric, starting to his feet,
his handsome face flushed and his bright
eye burning. ''Speak not thus-at least, not
now. t1atter not myself, but I claim a
soul as pure and heart as noble as any man
in the land. My mind is as clear; my hopes
are as high; my ambition as true to real
greatness, and my will as firm as any of
| them. If Rosalind seeks the love of true
heart, and the protection of stout arms and
determined success, then fear not to place
myself by the side of any sutton in the land.
But if she seeks immediate wealth, and the
glitter for some high-sounding title, then
ali, know she does not. But let it pass
now; will see her,"
Claudia would not oppose the wishes of
her son, and she said no more upon the sub
ject. For while nothing more was said,
until Ruric remarked upon the increasing
force of the storm.
"Hark!'' exclaimed his mother, bending
her ear in a listening attitude. "Was that
knock upon our door?''
''Surely no one is out on such a night that
could seek shelter here,' continued Ruric
"You must have"
The youth did not finish his sentence, for
at that moment the knock came so loud that
it was not to DO mistaken. The youth
caught up the candle and fastened to tho
door. He opened it, but the blast came
roaring in, whirling cloud of snow into
Rurics face, and distinguishing the light
at once.
SIS there any one here?' the gunmaker
asked, bowling his head and shielding his
eyes from the driving snow with one hand.
eyes, returned thevoice from the Stygian
darkness. "In Heavens name let me in, or
l shall perish.''
''Then follow quickly" said Ruric. 'sHere,
give me your hand. There-now Gomez
The youth found the thickly-gloved hand
-gloyed with the softest fur-and having
led the invisible applicant into the hall,
he closed the door, and then led the way
into the kitchen. AS soon as the candle
was re-lighted Ruric turned and gazed upon
the new conner. He was monk-and hab-
tied something like ono of the Black Monks
of st. Michael He was of medium hight,
and possessed rotundity of person which
was conical to behold He was fat and
wieldy, and waddled about with laughable
steps. His huge, black robe, which reached
the waist with q sash of the same color, and
the snow, which lay upon his shoulders and
back, presented striking contrast. Rurlc
brushed away the snow with his own hand,
and having taken his visitors thick fur
bonnet. the latter took a seat near the
fire.
Before word was spoken the youthful
host carefully examined his guests features;
and the latter seemed equally DESTROYS of
discovering what manner of people he had
fallen in with. The monks face was pe-
culiar one. The features we're very dark
and prominent, and almost angular in their
strongly marked outlines. His brow was
very fair in mental development, and his
eyes were dark and brilliant. The slight cir
Gle of hair that escaped from beneath the
tight skull cap which he retained upon his
head, was somewhat tinged with silver,
though his face did not betray such advanced
age as this silvery hair would seem to indi-
cate.
'-You have been caught in severe storm,
good father,' said the youth, after his guest
had somewhat recovered from the effects of
the cold.
"Aye-that have I, my son." the monk re-
turned, in deep, rumbling voice. II left
the Kremlin this morning, little thinking of
such change. This storm has commenced
since I started on my return. About half q
mile from here my horse got foundered in
the snow, and I left him with an honest
peasant, and then started to make the rest of
my way on foot; but reckon I'd wildly. The
driving storm blinded me, and the piling
drifts swallowed me up at every dozen steps.
My body is not very well adapted to such
work. Ha, ha, ha! But I saw your light,
and determined to seek shelter here for the
night. By st. Michael, but this is the most
severe storm; yet you are comfortable here.''
said Ruric. my mother could hardly sur
vive winter in some of the dwellings which
stand hereabouts.'
The monk made no answer to this save a
sort of commendatory nod; and shortly after
wards the youth asked
':Do you belong here in the city, good
father?''
"Aye-at present do,' the monk replied.
And then, with a smile, he added ~ sup
pose you would like to know whom you have
thus received? My name is Vladimir, and
my home is wherever may chance to be on
Gods heritage. At present I am residing
here in Moscow. There-could you ask me
to be more frank?'
Ruric smiled, but he made no direct replv.
He was too deeply interested in the face of
the monk to enter with much eagerness into
the conversation. At length the guest asked
if he could be accommodated with some
sleeping place, and being answered in the
affirmative, the youth lighted another candle
and conducted him to chamber which was
located directly over the kitchen, and which
was very we'll warmed by means of several
iron tubes that connected with the furnace
below.
Mother" said Rurc, as soon as he had