Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-01-02

+; '.You touch the harp-strmgs OF thu sou
with noble hand, my son and II any
t deed of kindness can give me Joy 1t will
be n deed for you. We may meet again
: and until then can only say, God bless
, and prosper thee"
1 With these words the monk tIrned
, away, and ere Ruric could col nand
presence of mind knough to follow him
he had gone from the house. The youth
; wished to say something, but anil the
varied emotions that went lcaping though
his mind he could gather no connected
r thoughts.
After the monk has gone Ruric r1turn'
ed to his bench and resumed his wcrk.
He asked his boy if he had ever seen The
strange man before, but Paul only shook
his head, and answered dubiously.
''What do you mean?" the gun m ker
asked, looking the boy in face. 'D" You
think you have seen him before ?
Il cannot tell, my master. l may have
seen him before, and I may not. But
} surely you would not suppose that my
memory would serve You better than
your own.
Ruric was not fully assured by this
answer He gazed into Paurs face, and
he fancied he detected some how of III
telliCence there which had not been
spoken But he resolved to ask no more
questions at present He had asked
enough, he thought, upon such suhIect,
and he made up his mind to bother him
self no more about it, feeling sure II his
boy knew anything which would be for
his masters interest to know 1t would
communicate d i'll due season. So he ap-
| IL -. uf
noon the pistol were finished.
Toward themiddle ofthe afternoon. just
as Ruric had finished tempering some
parts of a gun-lock. the back door of his
shop was opened and two men entered.
They were young men, dressed in costly
furs, and both of them stont and good
looking The gunmaker recognized them
as the Count Conrad Damonoff and his
friend Stephen Urzen.
Il think / speak with Ruric Newell,
said the count, moving forward.
"You do" returned Ruric, not at all
surprised by the visit, since people Of all
classes were in the habit of calling at his
place to order arms.
The count turned shade paler than
before, and his neither lip trembled; but
Ruric thought that might be the result
of coming from the cold into warm at
mosphere However. he was soon I'M
deceived, for the counts next remark was
| significant.
"You are acquainted with the lady
Rosalind Naldai?" he said.
Il am," answered Ruric, now begin
ming to wonder.
"Well, sir" resumed Damonoil, with
much haughtiness, perhaps my business
can be quickly and satisfactorily settled.
1t is my desire to make the Lady Rosa
lind my wife"
Ruric Newell started at these words, and
he clasped his hands TO hide their tremu-
business. But he was not long debating
upon an answer.
'And why have you come to me with
this information, sir?" he asked.
You should know that already Do
you not love the LADY,"
''Sir Count, you ask me strange
question. What right have You 10 qnes-
ton me upon such a theme?
''The right that every man has to pave
the way for his own rights" replied
Damonoff. sharply. 'But if you choose
not to answer, let it pass. | know you do
love the lady. And now ask you to re-
nounce all claims to her hand"
''Sir Count, you tongue runs into
strange moods of speech. Irenounce all
claims to Rosalind Valdai's hand WAIST
50 you meant =
AYE, precisely so.
perhaps YOU will inform me what
claims | may have i'll that quarter,
Ruric replied, with some tremulousness
in his tone, for the very subject was one
that moved him deeply.
"Ruric Newell, you shall not say that |
did not make myself fully understood,
and hence / will explain" The count
spoke this as speaks man who feels that
he is doing a very condescending thing,
and in the same tone he proceeded: ''The
Lady Rosalind is Of noble parentage and
very wealthy. Ny own station and
wealth are equal with hers. My station,
at all events. She may possess the I'M
divided right to more property than L do.
But that matters not. I 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 i'll
formed mo that there was one impedi-
ment 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
interfere too much against her inclina
tions. So a simple denial from You, to
tho effect that you can never claim her
hand is all that is necessary. You I'M
derstand me, trust We seek this only
for the fair lady's own good. OF course,
You must be aware that the duke would
never consent to her union with you and
vet he would wish to have your denial te
show to Rosalind when he announces his
decision. | have apaper here all drawn
up, and all that will he necessary IL sim
ply your signature. Herc-it is only a
plain, simple avowal on your part that
you have no hopes nor thoughts of seek
ing the hand of the lady in marriage"
As the count spoke he drew paper
from the bosom Of his marten donblet,
and having opened it he handed 1t to-
wards the gunmaker But Ruric took it
not He drew back and gazed the visi-
to I sternly in the face.
''Sir Count. he cried, i'll Il tone full of
noble Indignation. what do you sup
pose | am? Do you mean to tell me that
Olga. Duke Of Tula, has commissioned
you to obtain such u remuneration Of
me 2"
stephen, spoke the count, turning TO
his companion, ''you heard the instruc-
tions the duke gave mo this morning?"
AYE" returned Urzon, directing his
speech to Ruric. 81 did hear and you
have stated the case plainly"
81 may be as much surprised as your
self, - resumed the count, haughtily, ''at
this strange taste of the duke Why he
should seek this signal from you | can
only imagine upon his desire 10 call up
L. e.
He knows that she was once intimate
with you, and that she now feels warm
friendship for you. For her sake he
would have this signal from you.'
''But how for her snkc - asked Ruric
why" returned Damonof, edo you
not see? Rosalind i'll the simplicity of
her heart, may think that you-a-that
you might claim her love and ont of
pure principle grant it to you simply he
cause you were the first claimant"
but I never claimed her love-" said
Ruric, warmly-"If she loves rae, she
loves me from her own heart With the
noble duke ! never spoke but once, and
then he came here for me 10 temper his
sword. If you would marry with the
lady, do so and if you seek help in the
work seek it from those who have some
power i'll the matter"
''iou mistake, sir, said the count,
hotly. 81 seek not l,0reJ' now. only
seek IL simple word from one who may
have some influence as II beggnr
having saved the life of king, may,
through royal gratitude, WELD nn inilu
encc. Will you sign the paper?
Now, all this seemed very strange to
Ruric, and ho knew that there was some
thing behind the curtain which he was
not permitted to know He knew the
proud and stubborn duke well enough to
know that he never would have sent such
a message as this but from some design
more than had yet appeared In short
he could not understand the matter ut all
II looked dark and complex such con
duct WIS IN direct conflict whit nature
IL