The daily gazette., 1879-12-27
CHAPTER ii.
A STRANGE PROCEEDING.

Wien Ruric came down in the morn
ing he found the monk already there, and
breakfast nearly ready. But liLtle was
said during the meal. The monk SEEM
ed busy with thoughts of bis own, and
Ruric was wholly engrossed In studying
the strange mans features, and ponder
ing upon the various doubts and surmis-
e, that hau entered his mind. After the
meal was over the monk accompanied
the gunmak to his shop, and there he
spent some time in exam ming the quaint
articles of machinery that we're 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 movements. At length the
youth stopped in his work and laid the
pistol down.
"Excuse me, good father" he said,
rather nervously, at the same time look
ing his visitor in the face "but must
ask you question. Where have seen
you oefore?"
"How should l know ?" the monk an
swered, with smile.
"Why," resumed Ruric, with some
hesitancy. ~ knew not but that you
ullRnJ tnnRnbtH iuo. udNo Surcly Sccu
you somewhere"
"And are there not hundreds whom
YOU have seen in this great city-aye,
thousands whom yon might recognize
as you recognize me "'
"Ah-it may be so ; but not like this.
There may be q thousand faces | would
recollect to have seen, but not one of
them would excite even passing emo
ton in my soul. But your face calls up
rfnI ofa , m
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 a shake of
the head. And then, with a more seri-
GUS shade upon his face, he added-"Le
this pass now. l will not deny to you
that there may be some grounds for your
strange fancies but 1 assure you mos
sacredly that until last night l never
| came in direct oompanionship with you
| before at any rate, not to my ..nowl-
edge. You have acted the good Samari-
tan towards me, and hope l may some
time return the favor"
mo, no." quickly responded the
youth "if you return it, then it will be
a favor no more. l have only done for
you what every man should 30 for his
neghbor and so far from needing
| thanks for my services 1 would rather
give them for the occasion, tor | know
of no source of joy so pure and uncon-
tamiuated as that feeling in the soul
which tells us we have done a 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 IL will
be deed for you. We may meet again,
and until then caE only say, God bless
and prosper thee"
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 leaplng
through his mind he could gather no con-
neeted thoughts.
After the monk had gone Ruric res
turned to his bench and resumed his
work. He asked his boy If he had ever
seen the strange man before, but Pau
only shook his head, and answered du'
biously.
"WIat do you mean ?" the gunmaker
asked looking the boy in the face. "Dd
you think you have seen him before 2
81 cannot tell, my master. l may have
seen him before, and l may not. But
surely you would not suppose that my
memory would serve you better thar
your own"
Ruric was rot fully assured by this an
swer. Hegazed into Paurs face, and ht
fancied he detected some show ofintelli
gence there which had not been spoken
But he resolved to ask no more question!
at present. He had asked enough, hi
thought, upon such subject, and h'
made up his mind to bother himself M
more about 1t, feeling sure that If hi
! boy knew anything which would be fo