Daily Republican., 1879-12-30

to things about him. .
"Yes, my boy" she said. 81 did
speak to you. | asked you what 1t wai
that occupied your thoughts"
As she spoke thus she moved hel
seat close to where Ruric sat, and plac
ed her hand upon his arm.
"Tell me, my boy" she added, in
low, persuasive tone, "what 1t is that
dw -is thus upon your mind"
Ruric reached out and took his
mothers hand, and having gazed fol
i some moments into her face, he said:
Wwas thinking-and l have been
thikng much of late, my mother-of-ol
-Rosalind Valdai."
Claudia Newell started as she heard
that name, and for the while the color
forsook her cheeks.
"What, my dear boy-what OF her
have you thought :" she asked tremu-
lousy.
"What, but OF one thing could
think, my mother' You have seen
her %
"Yes, Ruric."
"And you have marked the grace
the loveliness-ths surprising beauty
OF the noble girl"
al 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 heri Oh, my
mother, do love her. | love her with
the whole strength Of my heart and
soul"
"Alas, my Ruric, che will never dare
love thee"
"You know not that" the youth
quickly replied, his eyes burning deep
| ", and his open brow flushing. "Did
| not know she loved me, be sure |
would never have allowed my thoughts
such range. We were children togeth-
or, and even then We loved. Fate has
dealt differently by us in the years that
have passed since those childhood
times; bat vet | am sure her love for
me is not changed, save as increasing
age raust change all the emotions of our
natures into deeper, stronger lights
and shades"
"But think, my boy: You, a mere
artisan; she, the offspring of nobility
and the ward Of duke--a stern, cold,
proud aristocrat, who looks upon peo-
pls of our station only as harsh masters
look upon their beasts of burden. ]
fear you will lind little else but misery
in such course of thought"
"At least, my mother, will see Ro.
salind; and II 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 Rurie, starting to his
feet-his handsome faoe flushed, and
his bright eye burning. Speak not
thns,-at least, not now. flatter not
myself, but claim a soul as pure, and
heart as noble, as any man in the
land. ny mind is as clear; my hopes
are as high; my ambition as true to
real greatness, and my will as firm, as
any Of them. II Rosalind seeks the
love Of a true heart, and the protec-
ton Of stout arms and determined sue
cess, then fear not TO place myself by
the side Of any sutton in tho land. But
If she seeks immediate wealth, and the
glitter Of some high-sounding title,
then-ah, know che does not. But
let it pass now: will see her,"
Claudia would not oppose tho wishes
Of her son, and she said no more upon
the subject. For q while nothing furth-
er was said, until Ruric remarked upon
the increasing force Of the storm.
clark" exclaimed his mother, bend
ing her ear in a listening attitude.
was that a knock upon our door,"
"Surely no one is out on such a
night that could seek shelter here"
continued Ruric. "You must have"
The 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
FASTENED to the door. He opened 1t,
but the blast came roaring in, whirling
a cloud of snow into Ruric's face, and
extinguishing the light at once.
SIS there any one here!' the gun.
maker asked, bowling his head and
shielding his eyes from tho driving
snow with one hand.
eyes," returned voice from the
Stygian darkness. SIN Heavens name
let me in, or shall perish"
"Thsn follow quickly" said Ruric.
"Here give me your hand. There
now come" 49,
The youth found the thickly-gloved
hand gloved with the scftest fur--and
having led the invisible applicant into
the h all, he closed the door. and then
led the way into the kitchen. As soon
a. the candle was rs-lighted Ruric
turned and gszed upon the new conner.
He was a monk--and habited something
like one Of the Black Monks Of st.
Michael. He was Of medium hight and
,osssssad a rotundity OF person which |