The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-27

tIl6SlS, anu the BOOu WOHldH was ioICou w
believe that they were caused by some
thing more remote than the business of
the forge or the lathe. The youth now
sat with his brow resting upon his hand,
and his eyes bent upon the hearth. For
half an hour he had not moved, and his
face wore an anxious, troubled look.
"Ruric, my son." spoke the mother, at
length, in low, kind tone, "what is it
that occupies your thoug hts 80 muchr
The young man started and turned his
gaze upon his mother.
"Did you speak to me, mother?' he
asked, after having recalled his mind to
things about him.
eyes, my boy" she said. 81 did speak
to you. l asked you what it was that
occupied your thoughts"
As she spoke thus she moved her seat
close to where Ruric sat, and placed her
hand upon his arm.
"Tcll me, my boy" she added, in a
low, persuasive tone, "what it is that
dwells thus upon your mind"
Ruric reached out and took his moth
er's hand, and having gazed for some mo-
ments into her face, he said:
"I was thinking-and l have been
thinking much of late, my mother-of-
of-Rosalind Valdai"
Claudia Newell started as she heard
that name, and for the while the color
forsook her cheeks,
"What, my dear boy-wkat of her
have you thoughtr' she asked, tremu-
lously.
"What, but of one thing could | think,
my mother? You have seen herr"
eyes, Ruric."
"And you have marked the graco-the
loyeliness-the surprising beauty of the
noble girlY'
81 know that she is beautiful, my son;
and also that she is good-at least, so ]
think"
"Then what but love could move me
with deep thought of her? Oh, my
mother, l do love her. l love her with
the whole strength Of my heart and
soul"
"Alas, my Ruric, she will never dare
love thee"
"You know not that" the youth
quickly replied, his eyes burning deeply,
and his open brow flushing. "Did not
know she loved me, be sure / would never
have allowed my thoughts such range.
We were children together, and even
then we loved. Fate has dealt differ
emily by us in the years that have passed
since those childhood times but yet l
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, a mere ar
tisan; she, the offspring of nobility and
the ward of duke-a stern, cold, proud
aristocrat, who looks upon people of our
station only as harsh masters look upon
their beasts of burden. ] fear you will
fine little else but misery in such course
of thought"
cat least, my mother, I will see Ro
salind; and if she loves me as l 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 hand9
"Hold," cried Ruric, starting to hi
feet-his handsome face flushed, and hi
bright eve burning. "Speak not thus, a
least not now. l hatter not myself, bu
claim a soul as pure, and a heart as no
BILE, as any man in the land. My mint
is as clear; my hopes are as high; m.
ambition as true to real greatness, ant
my will as firm, as any Of them. If Re-
salind seeks the love Of a true he ,rt, an
the protection of stout arms and deter
, mined success, then l fear not to plac
6 myself by the side of any suitor in til
land. But if she seeks immediate wealth
and the glitter for some high-soundin
title, then-ah, l know she does not. Bu
let it pass now; will see her."
|, Claudia would not oppose the wishes {
. her son, and she said no more upon tn
: subject. For a while nothing furtht
: was said, until Ruric remarked upon th
- increasing force of the storm.
i clark" exclaimed his mother, benz
J, ing her ear in listening attitude. "W;
y that knock upon our doorT
"Surely no one is out on such nigf
! that could seek shelter here" continue
. Ruric. "You must have"
y The youth did not finish his sentenc
for at that moment the knock came {
~ loud that it was not to be mistaken. Tt
I youth caught up the candle and hastene
= to the door. He opened it, but the bla.
. came roaring in, whirling cloud of sno
! into Ruric's face, and extinguishing til
= light at once.
.. "Is there any one here9" the gunmakt
! asked, bowling his head and shielding h
= eyes from the driving snow with OF
y hand. ......
|, eyes" returned voice from the st,
4 gian darkness. "In Heavens name Il
me in, or l shall perish"
s "Then follow quickly" said Ruri
3 "Here, give me your hand. There-no
come"
The youth found the thickly-glove
h hand-gloved with the softest fur-an
having led the invisible applicant int
q the hall, he closed the door, and then lie