CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1901-10-10

She walked slowly, and she fancied
she could hear the beating of her
mistress heart In the hall stood
the duke with some half dozen of his
own male attendants. He took the
hand of the countess as she ap-
preached him and gazed earnestly
into her face, but he did not speak.
He led her toward one Of the draw
ing rooms, and when they entered
there they found the humpbacked
priest already in waiting. Rosalind
came well nigh fainting when she
saw this miserable villain ready for
his work. She knew now that the
priest was like the master.
"You see, my dear countess"
spoke the duke in a low, hypocritical
tone. "that we have all prepared. |
trust we shall have no trouble be-
fore this holy man.
This last sentence was spoken in
threatening tone, but it had no
effect upon Rosalind. She hardly
heard the words he spoke.
Come, father" said Olga, turn
ing now to the priest. 1--WE are
ready
Savotano moved forward and
mumbled a Latin prayer. Then he
looked upon the twain before him
and directed them to kneel.
.+No. no, no." gasped the fair
countess, trembling for the first
time. Il cannot do that"
"kneell' Missed the duke between
his clinched teeth, and as he spoke
he grasped the maiden more firmly
by the arm and forced her down.
She uttered quick cry of pain as
she felt the unmerciful grip, but
she could not resist the strong arm
OF her prosecutor.
"Now go onp The ui.e c-ird as
he held the maid dsEn. '"o on,
Savotano. and Lei I, bLsi1c,s be
done as soon as possible
"Hold."
II was a voice of thunder which
spoke thus. and it came from the
door. The duke started TO his feet,
and he beheld Ruric Novel. the gun
maker. approaching the spot. But
the youth came not alone. Behind
him came the huge bulk OF Vladi-
mir. the monk. and more still. back
of the monk came the widow. Clau-
dia Neycl. and the boy. Paal, and
then there were. besides all this,
heavy tramp of feet in the hall and
the clang Of steel.
Hold. Stop this aecursed mock
eryw Ruric shouted as he strobe up
the apartment.
Miserable dog~ gaspcd the duke,
mad and frantic with rage. How
dare you come hither?'
"Look We. proud duke" the monk
interposcd. coming quickly forward;
81 am at the bottom of all this. l
have come to stop this foul work."
Rosalind had started to her feet
when she first heard Rurie's voice,
and now. as the monk spoke, ray
of hope daried TO her. soul, and,
with quick bound, she reached her
lovers side
''Ruric, Ruricl" 1t was all she
could say, and. with flood of tears,
she pillowed her head upon his bos-
ON, and his stout arms were wound
fondly about her.
"Fcar not" he whispered, "for,
oh. Rosalind. thou art safe now"
The mad duke saw the movement,
and, with bitter curse, he started
toward them.
snow. by the living gods" he
shouted, with his fists clinched and
his eyes flashing fire, "you have
come to your death, What, no,
there! Without! Slaves, where are
YEP"
In moment more the side door
was thrown open. and dozen of the
dukes servants came rushing in.
"Haw Olga cried. "You are in
time. Seize these dogs! Kill them
on the spot if they offer one act of
resistance. At them now! Down
with the dogsv'
"Holdw IL was Vladimir who
spoke, and every arm dropped as
they heard that voice. II was diff
ferent from the voice they had
heard the fat monk use before.
The duke started as though
thunderbolt had burst at his feet.
"Who art thou ?" he gasped, stag
gering farther back.
"0lga, duke of Tula," spoke the
monk in tones which sounded
strange for him, because they were
so different from those he had been
wont To use. 81 am thy mnsterW