The daily gazette., 1879-12-27

lnat occupies your thoughts so much?"
the young man started and turned
MS gaze upon his mother.
"D'd you speak TO me, mother" he
asked, after having recalled bis mind TO
things about him.
yes, 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 bis arm.
"Iell me, my boy" she added, in a
low, persuasive tone, "what ii is that
dwells thus upon your mind"
Kuric reached out and took his
mothers hand, and having gazed for
some moments into her face, he said:
81 was thinking-and | have been
thinking much OF late, my mother-of
-of-kosalind Valdai.''
Claudia Newell started as size he ard
that name, and for the while the color
forsook her cle,k
"What, my dear boy what OF he
have you though: ?' she asked, tremur
lously. =
"What, but of one thing could |
think, my mober? You have seen
her?"
"Yes, Ruric."
"And you have marked the grace
the loveiness-the surprising beauty
of the noble grip"
"I know 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, do love her. / 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 l would
never have allowed my thoughts s"ch
range. We were children together, and
even then we loved. Fate has dealt di :
terently by us in the years that have
passed since those childhood times; but
yet 1 am sure her love for me is not
changed, save as increasing age must
change all the emo; ions of our natures
into deeper, stronger lights and shades"
"But think, my boy: You, mel e
artisan; she, the offspring Of nobility
and the ward of duke-a stern, cold
proud arstoc: at, 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"
cat least, my mother, 1 will see Rosa
lind; 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 no. thus,
at least not now. | flatter not myself
but claim soul as pure, and hea
as noble, as any man in the land. My
mind is as clear my hopes are as higl
my ambition as true to real greatness
and my will as firm as any of them. II
Rosalind seeks the love of true heart,
and the protection Of stout arms and de-
termned success, then fear not to place
myself by the side of any sutor in the
land. But if she seeks immediat c
wealth, and the glitter for some high
sounding title, then-ah, l know she
, does not. But let it pass now; | will
see her."
Claudia would not oppose the wishes
of her son, and he said 10 more upon
! the subject. For while nothing
further was said, until Ruric remarked
upon the increasing force of the storm
"Hark !" exclaimed his mother, bend
! ing her ear in listening attitude. "Was
| >, IN, f,ttr Hpnr pD
"SuIely no one is out on such night
) that could seek shelter here" continued
, Rurc. "You must have"
The youth did not finish his sentence
) for at that moment the knock came SC
, loud that it was not to be mistaken
: The youth caught up the candle ant
FASTENED to the door. He opened it, but
= the blast came roaring in, whirling 6
2 cloud of snow into Rurlc's face, and ex-
+ tinguishing The light at once.
dis there any one here?" the gun
; maker asked. bowling his head ant
shielding his eyes from the driving SNOW
r with one hand.
2 eyes," returned a voice from th'
| Stygian darkness. ain Heavens name
+ let me in, or shall perish"
, "Then follow quickly" said Ruric
| "Here, give me your hand. There-nov
/, come"
The youth found the thickly-glovet
y hand-eloved with the softest fur-an,
t having led the invisible applicant int
the hall, he closed the door, and then LEI
S the way into the kitchen. As soon a
S the candle was re-lighted Ruric turned
/, and gazed upon the newcomer. He wa
r monk-and habited something lik'
b one of the Black Monks of st. Michael
He was of medium hight, and possessed
a a rotundity of person which was comica
n to behold. He was fat and unwieldly
d and waddled about with lauehabl
e steps. His huge, black robe, whicl
reached from his chin to his toes was Sc
:. cured about the waist with sash of tn
e same color, and the snow which la,
II upon his shoulders and back, presented
G a striking contrast. Ruric brushed
IS away the snow with his own hand, AM
g having taken his visitors thick fur bon
/ net, the latter took a seat near the fire
h Before word was spoken, the youth
l. full host carefully examined his guest
|. features and the latter seemed equal
e desirous of discovering what manner @
= people be had fallen in with. Th
monks face was peculiar one. Th
e features were very dark and prominent
n and almost angular in their strongly
4. marked outlines. His brow was yer
IF fair in mental development, and his eye
IS we're dark and brilliant, The slight Gil
IL. th.t oec.paJ from happaf