Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-12-28

SAINT PAUL SUNDAY
panied the gunmaker to his shop, and there
he spent. some time in examining the quaint
articles of machinery that were used in the
manufacture of arms. .
Ruric was engaged in finishing pair of
pistols, and for some minutes the monk had
stood silently by his side watching his move
ments. At length the youth stopped in hia
work and laid the pistol down.
"Excuse me, good father" he said, rather
ne1vously, at the same time looking his visi-
tor in the face; "but must ask you ques
ton. Where have I seen you before?'
Glow should I know?' the monk answer
ed, with q smile
"Why," resumed Ruric, with some hest
tanoy, II knew not but that you might en-
tighten me. Ihave surely seen you some
where.''
"And are there not hundreds whom you
have seen in this great city-aye, thousands
whom you Nigh recognize as you recog-
nize me?"
"Ah-it may be so; but not like this.
There may be a thousand faces I would rec
collect to have seen, but not one of them
wonld excite even a passing emotion in my
soul. But your face calls up some powerful
emotion-some startling memory of the
past-which bothers me. Who are you, good
father? What are you? Where have we met
before? Was it in Spain?'
"No," said Vladimir, with shake of the
head. And then, with moro serious shade
upon his face, he added-''Let this pass
now. will not deny to you that there may
be some grounds for your strange fancies;
but assure you most sacredly that until last
night never came i'll direct companionship
with you before;-at any rate, not to
my knowledge. You have acted the Good
Samaritan towards me, and hope may
some time return the favor.
"No, no. quickly responded the youth;
"if you return it, then it will be favor no
more. 1 have only done for you what every
man should do for his neighbor; and so far
from needing thanks fox my services, I
would rather give them for the occasion, for
l know Of n source of joy so pure and IN
contaminated Us that feeling in the soul
which tells US we have done good act.''
The dark monk reached forth and took
the youthful artisans hand, and, with more
than ordinary emotion, said:
''You touch the harp-strings of the soul
with noble hand, my son; and if 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
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 his boy if he had ever the strange
man before, but Paul only shook his head,
and answered dublous]y.
"What do you mean?' the gunmaker
asked, looking toe boy in the face. ''Do you
think you have seen him before?''
II cannot tell, my master. I may have
seen him before, and may not. But surely
you would not suppose that my memory
would serve you better 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 intelligence
there which had not been spoken. But
he resolved to ask no more questions at pres
ent. He had asked enough, he thought,
upon such a subject, and he made up his
mind to bother himself no moro about it,
feeling sure that if his boy knew anything
which would be for his masters interest to
know, it would be communicated in due
season. So he applied himself anew to his
work, and at noon the pistols were finished.
Towards the middle of the afternoon, Just
as Ruric had finished temperipg some parts
of a gun-lock, the back door of his SHOP was
opened and two men entered. They were
young men, dressed in costly iurs, and both
of them stout and good-looking. The gun
maker recognized them as the Count Con
II think speak with Ruric Newell" said
the count, moving forward.
"You do" returned Ruric, not at all sur
prised by the visit, since people of all clas-
ses were in the habit OF calling at his place
to order arms.
The count turned shade paler than be-
fore, and his neither lip trembled; but Rurio
thought that might be the result of coming
from the cold into warm atmosphere.
However, he was soon undeceived, for the
counts next remark was significant.
"You are acquainted with the Lady Rosa.
lind Valdai?" he said.
II am" answered Ruric, now beginning
to wonder.
swell, sir" resumed Damonoff, with
much haughtiness, "perhaps my business can
be quickly and satisfactorily settled. It is
my desire to make the Lady Rosalind nv
wife,
Ruric Newell was startled at these words,
and he clasped his hands to hide their trem-
ulousness. But he was not long debating
upon answer.
"And why have you come to me with this
information, sr?'' he asked.
''You should know that already. Do you
not love the lady?'
''Sir Count, you ask me strange cues
tion. What right have you to question me
upon such a theme?''
''The right that every man has to pave the
way for his own rights" replied Damonoff,
sharply. "But if you choose not to answer
let 1t pass. I know you do love the lady.
And now ask you to renounce all claims to
her hand'
''Sir Count, your tongue runs into strange
moods of speech. I renounce all claims to
Rosalind Valdai's hand?-Was't so you
meant?''
''Aye, sir-precisely so.''
"Perhaps you will inform me what claims
may have in that quarter" Ruric replied,
with some tremulousness in his tone, for the
very subject Was one that moved him deeply.
"Ruric Newell, you shall not say that I did
not make myself fully understood, and hence
will explain" The count spoke this as
speaks man who feels that he is doing a
very condescending thing, and in the same
tone he proceeded: ''The Lady Rosalind is
of noble parentaga and very wealthy. My
own station and we A1th equal with hers.
My station, at all events. She may possess
the undivided right to more property than I
do. But that matters not. love her, and
must have her for my wife. have been to