Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-07-12

claims 8e3 0300
BY ST. anl, sir count, q
tongue runs into strange mo0dS II
speech renounce al claims toE
Rosalind Y aldai's hand Vast solE
You meant ??''
9 Aye, Sir, precisely 50. !"
g erhaps you will inform ma
what claims I may have upon the
lady Ruric returned, 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 u viii e1-''5
plain. !" The count spoke this IS
speaks q man who feels that he is
doing q very condescending thing
and in che same tone he proceeded: s
t.The Lady Rosalind is Of noblei
parentage and very wealthy. Myi.
own station and wealth are equal
with hers my station, at al events.
She may possess the undivided right
to more property than I dos but
that matters not. ! love her and
must have her for my wife. I have
been to see the noble duke, her
guardian, and he objects not to myif.
suit, but he informed me that there's
was one impeachment, and that wassz
her love for you. He knows full
we'll, as I know, and as all must
know, that she could never become
your wife; but yet he is anxious not
to interfere too much against, herr
inclinations. So a simple denial
from you to the effect that you can
never claim her hand is all that IS !.
necessary. You understand me, I
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 yet he would wish to have
your denial to show to Rosalind
when he announces his decision. T.
have paper here all drawn up,
and all that will be necessary is sim
ply your signature. Here. It is
only plain, simple avowal on your
part that you have no hopes ner
thoughts Of seeking the hand of the
lady in marriage" /,
: As the count spoke he drew pa
per from the bosom of his marten
doublet, and, having opened it, he
handed it toward the gunmakef.
But Ruric took it not. He drew
back and gazed the visitor sternly
in the face. ''
F@Sir count" he uttered in a tone
full of noble indignation, what d..
you suppose I am? Do you mean
to tell me that Olga, duke of lula,
has commissioned you to obtain
such a remuneration of me?"
'Stephen," spoke the count, turn
ing to his companion, ttyou heard
the Instructions the duke gave me
this morning?'' -. - s.
"Aye," returned Urzen, directing
his speech to Ruric; 81 did hear,
and you have stated the case plain
ly." = Il:
= Il may be as much surprised as
yourself" resumed the count haugh-
thy, Eat this strange taste Of the
duke Why he should seek this sig.
nal 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 init
mate with you and that she now
feels a warm friendship for YOU.
For her sake he would have this sig
nal from you" .
t"sBht how for her s.:,;;e:::' asked
Ruric. -. s
'Why," returned Damonofff; do
you not see? Rosalind in the SIM
plicity Of her heart may think that
you-a-that you might claim her.
love and out Of pure principle grant
it to you simply because you were
the first claimant" I'll.
"But I never claimed her love, -
said Ruric warmly. 1ttlf she loves
me, she loves me from her heart.
With the noble duke 1 never spoke :
but once, and then he came here
for me to temper his sword. If you
would marry with the lady, do SO, S
and il you seek help in the work
\ I,