Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-08-16
IooN1uEUED.J

Kopani was not little surprised
when he found that the priest had
been there during his absence, but
before he could make any further
remark the count awoke. He felt
very faint, but that strange sickness
of the stomach was lessened. The
surgeon prepared some suitable dill.
uents, and, having called in the
woman, he gave directions that they
should be given in large quantities,
and also directed her to prepare
some strong barley water for the pa
tjent to drink as he wanted bever-
age.
All the vials were replaced upon
the sideboard and then refilled with
liquids somewhat like those they
had before contained. But the nurse
was directed not to use them. Ev-
erything that her patient was to
take she was to keep under her own
charge in the kitchen, and she was
also most particularly cautioned
against allowing the priest to gain
anything from her. But Kopani
meant to be sure on that score. He
had a little business to transact, and
then he was coming back to spend
the night himself by the counts
side. He meant at all events that
the poisoner should have no more
opportunity to exercise his diabol-
zeal science upon the sick nobleman.
He promised the count that he
should have safe and competent
watchers thereafter.
It was fairly dark now, as Ruric
could see by raising the curtain and
looking out. He had no idea it was
so late. Time had passed without
his notice. He moved to the side
of the bed and took the invalid's
hand.
II must go now" he said. ~But
If you are willing I wall come
again.
"You will come," uttered Conrad
in reply, returning the grasp of the
hand with all his feeble power. "Oh,
you must come often now. I hope
shall live. Perhaps I shall. If I
do, shall owe my life to you. And
God knows-for the feeling is even
now firm in my soul-that I will
always remember how you saved
me, and l will never think, never,
of the sad blow you struck me.
Come to me when you can,
for now now as God lives, I
speak the truth-now l love you!'
"God bless and keep youp' muir
INJURED Ruric in husky, tremulous
voice. And with these words, COM
ing from the very depths of his
soul, he turned away and left the
room. He heard the voice of the
count as he moved toward the open
door and thanked God that twas a
blessing which fell upon his ears.
All, those who know mot what
true forgiveness is know not the no.
liest emotion Of earth!
Ruric had left, his sledge at a
neighboring inn, and as soon as he
gained the street he bent his steps
that way. He had gone half the dis
lance from the residence of the
count to the inn and was just upon
tie point of crossing the street
when he heard his name pronounced
by some one behind him. He stop
ped and looked around and saw a
man approaching him.
1t was too dark to distinguish
faces plainly even at a: usual CONVEX
sational distance, yet Ruric was not
long in concluding that the man
who had thus hailed him was a
stranger. He was a medium sized
man and so closely enveloped in his
bonnet and pelisse that his form and
features would have been hidden
even had it been lighter than it was.
did you speak to me 2" asked the
youth as the man came up.
les, s1r. Is your name Ruric
Nevel?''
1T isl i
"Then you are wanted few mo-
ments at the residence of a ieuten-
ant named Orsa."
"Alaric Orsa?" asked Ruric.
<'The same"
"But he does not live here in the
Kremlin."
'He is here now, at any rate, and,
would see you"
: *'But you said he was at his resi-
dence,": suggested our hero, who
was fearful that some evil might Be
meant for him -: ., - =
:. "Iaknow nothing to the contra
y, sir" the stranger returned
promptly. AL I can say is Alar;c
Orsa has fallen upon the ice and
hurt himself severely and upon be-
ing informed that you were near b.:
With q sledge he asked that you
might BE sent for" zzz.S &.