The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-01-02

I may have in that quarter" Ruric re-
piled. with some tremulousness In his tone,
for the very subject was one that moved
him deeply.
..Rurie Newell. you shah not cay that
did not make myself fully Understood. and
hence l will explain" The count spoke
doing very condescendiag thiBe. and in tho
same tone he proceeded: The Lady Rosa
lind is OF noble parentage and very wealthy.
My own station and wealth are equal with
hers. My station, at all events, She may
possess the undivided right to more pro-
perty than / do But that matters not.
| love her, and must have her for my wife.
have been to see the noble duke, her
guardian. and he objects not to my suit
But he informed me that there was one
i'm pediment. and that was her love for you.
| He knows full well-as know, and as all
must know-that she could never become
your wife; but yet he is anxious not to in
| terfere too much against her inclinations.
So'a simple denial from you, to the effect
that you can never claim her hand, is ell
that is necessary. You understand me, /
| trust. We seek this only for the fair
lady's good. OF course, you must be
aware that the duke would never consent
| to her union with you; and yet be would
wish to have your denial to show 10 Rosa
lind when he announces bis decision. |
have paper here all drawn up, and all
| that will be necessary is simply yoar sig
nature Here--it is only a plain, simple
avowal on your part that you have no
hopes nor thoughts of seeking the hand of
| the lady 10 marriage.
As the count spoke he drew a paper
from the bosom of his marten doub-
let, and having opened it he handed it
towards the gunmaker. But Ruric took
| it not. He drew back and
gazed the visitor sternly In the face.
Sir Count" he cried, 10 tone full of
noble indignation. what do you suppose
am? Do you mean to tell me that Olga,
Duke of lula, has commissioned you to
obtain such renunciation of me?'
Stephen" spoke the count, turning to
his companion. you heard the iostruc-
tons the duke gave me this morning ?"
Aye" returned Urzen. directing his
speech to Ruric. Il did hear; and you
have have stated the case plainly
II may be as much surprised as your
self, resumed the count, haughfily, ''at
this strange taste of the duke. Why he
should seek this signal from you [ can only
imagine upon his desire TO call up no re
grets in the bosom of his fair ward. He
knows that she was once intimate with you,
aud that she now feels warm friendship
for you. For her sake he would have this
signal from you.
But how for her sake?' asked Rurie.
Why, returned Damonoff, do you
not see? Rosalind, in the simplicity OF
her heart. may think that yeu-a-that
you might claim her love; and ont of pure
principle grant it to you simply because
YOU were the first claimant -
But / never claimed her love- said
Ruric, warmly. IF she loves me, she
loves me from her own heart. With the
noble duke never spoke but once, and
then he came here for me to. temper his
sword. If you would marry with the lady.
do SO; and if you seek help 10 the work,
seek it from those who have some power
10 the matter
You mistake, SIR" said the count,
holly. L seek not po,oer now. l only
seek a simple word from one who may have
some infueDce-even as beggar, having
saved the like of king, may, through
royal gratitude, WELD AN influence. Will
you sligo the paper2"
Now, all this seemed very strange to
Rurle, and he knew that there was some
thing behind the curtain which he was not
permitted to know. He knew the proud
and stubborn duke we'll enough to know
that he never would have sent such a
message as this bat for some design more
than bad yet appeared. In short, he
could not understand the matter at all.
i :. looked 2. dark and complex; such eondue.
the man from whom it now appeared to
have emanated Ruric poDdered upon
this few moments, and be made up his
mind that he would on no account Weld an
atom to the strange demand thus made
upon him.
Sir Count" he said, calmly and firmly
you have plainly stated your proposition.
aud will as plainly answer. [ cannot
sign the paper"
Hal gasped Damonoff, in quick pas
sion, DO you refuse?"
Most fatty"
For few moments the count gazsd in-
| to Ruric's face, as though he doubted the
evidence of his own senses
1t is the dukes command" he said, at
length.
The Duke of lula holds no power of
command over me" was the gunmaker's
calm reply
Beware! Once more 1 say: Sign this
paperI''
You but waste your breath, Sir Count,
| 10 speaking thus You have my answer"
by heavens Ruric Nevei, you shall
sign this the count cried, madiy
Never. sir
but look you. sirrah Here ia my
whole future of life based upon my hopes
of union with this fair girl Her guar
dian bids me get this paper OF you ere
can have her shand. And now, do you
think I'll give it up So easily? Mol I'll
hive your name to this, or I'll have your
lifei''
Nov your tongue ruus away with you,
sir Count. | have given you my answer.
BE sure that only one maa Oh earth can
prevail upon me to place my name upon
| that papeT.
And who is he?'
L mean the emperor"
But you will sign i'll" Kissed Damonoff
turning pale with rage. Here it is-sigu!
1t you would live -signl'
Perhaps he cannot write" suggested
UrZen, contemptuously.
Then he may make his mark reioin-
ed the count, in the same contemptuous