The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-12-27
ah, know she does not. But let it pass

now; l will see her.'
Claudia would not oppose the wishes OF
her son, and she said no more upon the sub
ject. For while nothing further was said,
until Ruric remarked upon the increasing
force of the storm.
''Harkr' exclaimed his mother, bending
her ear in listening attitude. 'Was that
knock upon our door"
''Surely no one is out on such night that
could seek shelter here, }" continued Rurlc.
"You must have"
The youth did not finish his sentence, Tor
at that moment the knock came so loud that
it was not to be mistaken. The youth caugnt
up the candle and fastened to the door. he
opened it, but the blast came roaring in,
whirling cloud of snow into Rurlc's face'
and eXtinguishing the light at once
SIS there anyone here?" asked the gun
maker, bowling his head and shielding his
eyes from the driving snow with one hand.
EYES," returned voice from the Stygian
darkness. ''In Heavens name let me In, or
I shall perish"
Then follow quickly said Ruric. Here,
give me your hand. There-now come"
The youth found the thickly-gloved hand
-gloved with the softest fur-aDd having
led the invisible applicant into the hall, he
closed the door and then led the way into
the kitchen. As soon as the candle was re-
lighted, Ruric turned and gazed upon the
newcomer. He was monk-and hablted
something like one of the Black Monks OF
st. Michael He was of medium height and
possessed a rotundity of person which was
comical to behold. He was fat and I'M
wieldy. and wadded about with laughable
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
the snow, which lay upon his shoulders and
back. presented striking contrast. Rurlc
brushed away the snow with his own hand,
and having taken his visitors thick fur bon
net, the latter took a seat near the fire.
Before word was spoken, the youthful
host carefully examined his guests features;
and the latter seemed equally DESTROYS OF
discovering what manner Of people ne had
fallen in with. The monks face was pc
culiar one The features were very dark
and prominent, and almost angular i'll their
strongly-marked outlines. His brow was
very fair in mental development, and his
ewes were dark and brilliant The slight
circle of hair that escaped from beneath the
tight skull-cap which he retained upon his
head, was somewhat tinged with silver,
though his face did not betray such advanced
age as this silvery hair would seem to indi-
cate.
''You have been caught in severe storm,
good father,'' said the youth, after his guest
had somewhat recovered from the effects OF
the cold.
''Aye-that have /, my son. the monk re-
turned, in deep, rumbling tone. Il left
the Kremlin this morning, little thinking of
such change. The storm has commenced
since l started on my return. About half
mile from here my horse got foundered in
the snow. and | left him with an honest
peasant, and then started to make the rest
of my way on foot: but I reckoned wildly.
The driving storm blinded me. and the piling
drifts swallowed me up at every dozen steps.
Nv body is not very well adapted to such
work. Ha, ha, ha! But l saw your light,
and [ determined to seek shelter here for
the night. BY st. Michael, but this is
most severe storm! yet you are comfortable
here"
cave father, we try to be comfortable"
said Ruric. ''My mother could hardly sur
viye winter in some of the sllings which
stand hereabouts."
The monk made no answer to this save
sort of commendatory nod; and shortly at
forwards the youth asked:
''Do you belong here in the city, good
faher?"
"Aye-at present do.' the monk replied.
And then, with a smile, he added: Il sup
pose you would like to know whom you have
thus received? My name is Vladimir, and
nv home is wherever | may chance to be on
Gods heritage. AT present l am residing
here in Moscow. There-could you ask me
to be more frank?'
Ruric smiled, but he made no direct reply.
He was too deeply interested in the face Of
the monk to enter with much eagerness into
conversation. AT length the guest asked if
he could be accommodated with some Sleep
ing place, and being answered in the affirma-
tive, the youth lighted another candle and
conducted him to a 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
returned to the kitchen, ''who is that man"'
Chow should lnow"
"But have you never seen him before?"
Ruric asked in an earnest, eager tone.
II cannot tell, my son. His face most
surely calls up some strange emotions in
my mind, but think | never saw him be-
fore"
"And yet he seems familiar to me-" the
son resumed. "Those eyes l surely have
seen before, but to save my soul cannot re-
member when or where"
And so Ruric pondered and pondered, but
to no avail. After he had retired to his bed
he lay awake and thought of the strange
face; and all through the night his dreams
were but startling visions of the Black
Monk.