Daily Republican., 1879-12-30

The dark monk reached forth and
took the youthful artisans hand, and
with more than ordinary emotion, said:
'You touch the harp-stripgs of the
soul with a noble hand, my son, and II
any deed Of kindness can give me Joy,
it will be deed for you. We may
meet again, and until then can only
say, God bless and prosper thee"
| With these words the monk turned
away, and ere Ruric could command
presence of mind enough to follow him
he had gone from the house. The youth
wished to say something, but amid the
varied emotions that went leaping
through his mind, he could gather no
connected thoughts. After the monk
had gone Ruric returned to his bench
and resumed his work. He asked the
boy If he had ever seen the strange man
before, but Paul only shook his head
and answered obviously.
"What d. you mean - the gun
maker asked, looking the boy in the
face. "Do you think you have seen
him before ?"
81 cannot tell, my master. may
have seen him before, and | may not.
But surely you would not suppose that
my memory would serve you bstt4r than
your own"
Ruric was not fully assured by this
answer. He gazed into Paul's face, and
he fancied he detected some show of in
telligence there which had not been
spoken. But he resolved to ask no
more questions at present. He had
asked enough, he thought, upon such
subject, and he made up his mind to
bother himself no more about it, feel.
| ing sure that if his hoy knew anything
which would b. for his masters inter-
est to know it would be communicated
in due season. So he applied himself
anew to his work, and at noon the pis-
tolls were finished.
Towards the middle Of the afternoon,
lust as Ruric had finished tempering
some parts Of gun-lock, the back door
of his shop was opened and two men
entered. They were young men,
dressed in costly furs, and both ofthem
stout and goo1-looking. The gunmaker
recognized them as the Count Conrad
Damonoff and his friend Stephen Urzen.
~ think speak with Ruric Newell"
said the count, moving forward.
"You do" returned Ruric, not at all
surprised by the visit, since people of
all classes were in the habit of calling
at his place to order arms.
The count turned shade paler than
before, and his neither lip trembled;
but Ruric thought that might be the
result of coming from the cold into a
warm atmosphere. However, he was
soon undecsived, for the counts next
remark was significant.
''You are acquainted with the Lady
Rosalind Valdai ?" he said.
~ am" answered Ruric, now begin
ming to wonder.
"Well, sir" resumed Damonoff, with
much haughtiness, "perhaps my bus
mess can be quickly and satisfactorily
settled. 1t is my desire to make the
Lady Rosalipd my wife,"
Ruric Newell started at these words,
and be clasped his hands to hide their
tremulousness. But he was not long
debating upon an answer.
"And why have you come to me with
this information, sir p he asked.
"You should know that already. Do
you not love the lady ~
"Sir Count, you ask me strange ques-
ton. What right have you to question
me upon such theme !"
"The right that every man has to
pave the way for his own rights" re-
piled DsmonotF, sharply. "But if you
choose not to answer, let it pass. |
know you do love the lady. And now
| ask you to renource all claims to her
hand"
Sir Count, your tongue runs into
strange moods of speech. | reEounce
all claims to Rosalind Valdai's hand ?
Vast so you meant 7
"Aye, sir-precisely SOL
"Perhaps you will inform me what
claims l may have in that quarter"
Ruric replied, with some tremulousness
in his tone, for the very subject was
one that moved him deeply.
"Ruris Newell, you shall not say that
l did not make mysslffully understood,
and hence l will explain" The count
spoke this as speaks man who feels
that he is doing very condescending
thing, and in the same tone he pro-
ceeded: "The Lady Eosalind is OF no.
bic par.ntage and very wealthy. My
own station and wealth are equal with
hers. My station, at all events. She
may possess the undivided right to
more property than | do. But that
matters not.
love her, and must have her for
my wife. Ihave been to see the no.
BILE duke, her guardian, and he OBJ
iects not to my impeachment, and that
was her love for you. He knows full
well-as know, and as all must know
that she could lever become your
wife; but yet he is anxious not to inter-
tere too much against her inclinations.
So q simple denial from you, to the
Effect that you can never claim her
hand is all that is necessary. You. un-
ierstand me trus.. We seek this
only for tho fair ladys own good. OF
course, you must be aware that the
luke would never consent to her union
With you; and yet he would wish to
have your denial to show to Rosalind
Rhen he announces his decision. | |,
have paper here all drawn up, and
Ill that will be necessary is simply
vour signature. Hsre-it is only a
plain, simple avowal on your part that
you have no hopes nor thoughts Of
,eeking the hand Of the lady in mar
.iage."
As the ooun. spoks he ersw rapsr