National Republican., 1879-12-27


but think, my boy You, amore artisan;
sbe. the offspring Of nobility and the ward Of
duke-a stern, cold, proud arlstocrat, 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"
"At least, my mother will SEQ Rosallnd
and If she loves me as love her, aud If she
would accept my band"
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 fcot-
his handsome face flushed aud his bright eye
burning. Speak not thus--at least, not now.
ilatter not myself, but claim u soul as
pure, aud heart as noble, rs any mau in the
land. My mind Is as clear my hopes arc "a
high my ambition as true to roal greatness,
aud my will as firm ns any of them. If Rosa
lind socks the love of true heart, aud the
protection of stout arms aud determined sue
cess, then | fear not TO place myself by tho
side of any suitor in the land. But if she
seeks immediate wealth, and the glitter for
s0mo high sounding title, then-ah, I know
sbo does not. But let 1t pass now will see
her"
Claudia would not oppose the wishes of her
sou. and sho said no more upon the subject
For n while nothing further was said, until
Ruric remarked upon the increasing force Of
tile storm
"Harkl" exclaimed his mother, bonding
hcr ear in listening attitude. Was that
knock upon our doOr2"
Surely no ono Is out on such night that
could seek shelter here" continued Ruric.
You must have"
Tho youth did not finish his sentence for at
that moment the knock came so loud that it
was not TO be mistaken. The youth caught
up the candle and hastened to the door. He
opened 1t, but the blast camo roaring in, whirl-
ing cloud Of snow into Ruric's face and OK
tnguishing the light at once.
as there any one hero3" the gunmaker
asked, bowling his head and shielding his eyes
from the driving snow with one hand.
Yes" returned voice from the Stygian
darkness. "In heavens name lot mo in, or l
shall perish"
Then follow quickly" said Ruric "Horo,
give me your hand. There-now come"
The youth found tho thckly-gloved hand
-gloved with the softest fur-and having led
the invisible applicant into tho hall, ne closed
the door, and then led the way into the
kitchen. As soon as the candle was relighted
Rurc turned and gazed upon the newcomer.
He was II monk-and habited something like
one of the Black Monks of st. Michael. He
was of medium height and possessed II rotund-
ity of person which was comical to behold.
| He was fat and unwieldy and waddled about
with laughablc steps. His huge, black robe,
which reached from his chin to his toes, was
| secured about the waist with sash of the same
| color, and tho snow, which lay upon his
shoulders aud back, presented striking con-
trast. Ruric brushed away the snow with
his own hand, and having taken his visitors
| thick fur bonnet, the latter took seat near
! the fire.
| Before a word was spoken, the youthful
| host carefully examined his guests features ;
and the latter seemed equally desirous of dis
| covering what manner of people he had fallen
in with. The monks face was a peculiar one.
| The features were very dark and prominent,
and almost angular in their strong Unmarked
outlines. His brow was very fair in mental
| development, and his eyes were dark aud bril-
| liant The slight circle of hair that escaped
from beneath the tight skull.cap which lie re-
tanned upon his head, was somewhat tinged
with silver, though his face did not betray
| such advanced ago us this slvery hair would
| seem 20 indicate.
"You have been caught in a severe Storm
good father" said the youth, after his guest
had somewhat recovered from the effects of
the cold.
"Ayo-that have l, my son." the monk re-
turned, in deep, rumbling tone. ~ left the
Kremin this morning, little thinking of such
a change. This storm has commenced since
started on my return. About half mile from
here my horse got foundered in the snow, aud
| | left him with an honest peasant. and then
| started TO make the rest of my way on foot;
but rcckoned wildly. The driving storm
blinded me, and the piling drift swallowed me
up at every dozen steps. My body is not worry
| well adapted to such work. Ha, ha !! ha! But
| saw your light and l determined to seek
shelter here Tor the night. By St. Michael,
| but this is a most severe storm yet you are
| comfortable here"
AYE, father, we try to be com Portable"
said Rurlc. "My mother could hardly SUR
vive II winter in some of the dwellings which
| stand hereabouts."
| Tho monk made no answer to this save Il
sort of commendatory nod aud shortly after
wards the youth asked:
"Do you belong here in tho city, good
fatherN
| "Aye-at present do" tho monk replied.
| And then, with smile, he added: Il sup
pose you would like to know whom you have
| thus received2 My name is Vladimir and
| my homo Is wherever | may chance to be on
Gods heritage. AT present am residing here
in Moscow. Thoro-could you ask me to bo
more frankY"
Ruric smiled, but he made 10 direct reply.
Ho was too deeply interested IN the faco of the
monk to enter with much eagerness into con-
versation. At length tho guest asked If he
could be accommodated with some sleeping
place, and being answered in the Affirmative,
tho youth lighted another candle and con-
Quoted him to q chamber which was located
directly over the kitchen, and which was very
well warmed by means of several iron tubes
that connected with the furnace below.
Mother" said Ruric, as soon as he had re-
turned to tho kitchen, "who is that man ?"
How should knowW
"But have you never seen him before p"
| Ruric asked, in an earnest, oager tone.
"I cannot tell my son. His face most
| surely calls up some strange emotion in my
mind but think never saw him before"
"And yet he seems familiar TO me-" the son
resumed. "Those eyes | surely have seen
| before, but to save my soul 1 cannot re-.
| member when or where"
| And so RuriC pondered and ponderod, but to
no avail. After he had retired TO his bed he
lay awake and thought of the strange faco I;
and all through the night his dreams were but
startling visions of the Black Monk.
CHAPTER III.
| STRANGE PROCEEDING.
When Ruric came down in the morning he
found the monk already there and break fast
nearly ready, But little was said during the
moal. The monk seemed busy with thoughts