Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-01-02
VOL. LII. NEW SERIES, VOL. XVI.

VOL. LII. NEW SER
: but claim soul as pure, and heart a
noble, as any man in the land. Nj,
| mind Is as clear; my hopes are as high
my ambition as true to real greatnes
and my will as firm, Is any of them. L
Rosalind seeks the love of true heart
and the protection of stout arms and de
termned success, then | fear not Il
place myself by the side of any suitor il
the land. But if she seeks immediat,
wealth, and the glitter for some high
sounding title, then-ah, know she does
not. But let it pass now | will see her
Claudia would not oppose the wishes
of her son. and she said no more upon
the subject. For a while nothing further
was said, until Ruric remarked upon the
increasing force of the storm.
''Hark 2" exclaimed his mother, bend
ing her ear in a listening attitude. Was
that a knock upon our door?
Surely no one is out 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 SC
loud that it was not to be mistaken
The youth caught up the candle and
hastened to the door He opened it,
but the blast came roaring Ill, whirling Il
cloud of snow into Rurics face, and cx-
tinguishing the light at once
rs there any one here?" the gum
maker asked, bowing his head and shield
! ing his eyes from the driving snow with
one hand
Yes" returned voice from the
Stygian darkness. In Heavens name
let me in, or | shall perish"
'Theu follow quickly" said Ruric.
Here, give me your hand. There-now
come"
The youth found the thickly- -gloved
hand-gloved with the softest fur-and
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
n monk-and habited something like one
of the Black Monks of St. Michael He
was of medium height, and possessed
rotundity of person which was comical to
behold. He was fat and unwieldly, and
waddled ahout with laughable steps
His huge, black robe, which reached
from his chm 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 a striking
contrast Ruric brushed away the snow
with his own hand. and having taken his
visitors thick fur bonnet, the latter took
a seat near the fire
Before word was spoken, the yorth-
ful host carefully examined his guests
features; and the latter seemed equally
desirous of discovering what manner of
people he hadfallen in with. The monk s
face was peculiar one. The features
were very dark and prominent. and al
most angular in their strongly marked
outlines. His brow was very fair in
mental development, and his eyes 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 ad-
vanced age rs this silver hair woull seem
to indicate
''You have been caught i'll a 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
returned. i'll deep. rumbling tone. Il
left the kremlin this morning, little think
ing of such change This storm has
commenced since | started on my return.
About half mile from here my horse got
foundered in the snow, and / left him
with M honest peasant. and then started
TO make the rest of my way on foot but
| reckoned wildly. The driving storm
blinded me, and the piling drifts swal-
lowed me up at every dozen steps. NV
body is not very well adapted to such
work. Ha, ha, ha, But | saw your
light, and | determined to seek shelter
here for the night BY St Michael, but
this is a most severe storm yet you are
comfortable here
Ave, father, We try to be comfortable"
said Ruric MY mother could hardly
survive a winter in some of the dwellings,
which stand herabouts.
The monk made no answer TO this save
sort of commendatory nod; and shortly
afterwards the youth asked
do YOU belong here in the city, good
father?'
"Aye-at present do" the monk re-
piled. And then, with smile, he add
ed: I suppose you would like to know
is Vladimir, and my home is wherever
may chance TO be on Gods heritage. At
present ! am residing here in Moscow
There-could you ask me to be more
frank 2
Ruric smiled, but he made no direct
reply. He was to deeply interested in the
face Of the monk to enter with much
eagerness into conversation. At length
the guest asked if he could be accommo-
dated with some sleeping place, and be-
ing answered in the affirmative, the youth
lighted another candle and conducted
him to a chamber which was located di-
rectly over the kitchen, and which was
very well warmed by means,of several iron
tubes that connected with the furnace be-
low.
Mother" said Ruric, as soon as he
had returned TO the kitchen, ''who is that
man ?"
''1Iow should l know?''
But have YOU never seen him before?"
Ruric asked, in an earnest. eager tone.
= cannot tell, my SON His face most
surely calls up some strange emotions in
my mind, but | think l never saw him
before"
And yet he seems familiar to me-"
the son resumed. Those ewes | surely
have seen before, but to save my soul l
cannot remember 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
the Black Monk.