Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-08-02
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80 All Ii . returned the young girl.
with dubious shake of the head,
s there IS the mystery. For the life.
Of me T cannot tell. He knew me
he knows every body and yet he has
not been long IL the city if one
might judge from his conversation
But what did he stop you for?
Where was it 2" asked Rosalind ca
gerly. Il. . rs.
was in the church he stopped
mein our Church. f st. Stephen.
He was at the altar, land he beckon-
ed to me <as 7 rose to come out. 3. I
went to him, and he asked about
you" 81. . ...z.s.
! IS - About me ~ !. ). st.: %. 81: III:
& es, and about Rurics Newell . s.
81 - 9 And what about us?" the maid
en- asked, blushing. s-. u. BE-
He asked me If I thought yon
loved the young gunmaker. He was,
so kind and he appeared SO anxious
to know and then he. seemed to take
such an interest in Ruric that 7
could not refuse to answer him. (.
%"Butswhat did you tell l1im?''S p
q ldshim you did love Ruric. /
told him how you had been children
together and how you would now
give your hand to him sooner than
to the proudest noble in the land.
He asked me some things about the
duke, but I would not. tell him..
When must tell Of evil If I tell the
TRUTH t.! will not speak if I can prop.
ely avoid it."
"7ou were right, Zenobie. You
were very right about this last part,
but you should not have told ali you
knew concerning Ruric and me-" =
u hope I did nothing wrong Oh,
1 should be proud to acknowledge
my love for such man."
"Aye, and so lam, my little
sprite. l love Ruric with my whole
soul and would be proud to give him
my hand this day, but that is no rea-:
son why you should tell Of it,
"Surely, my mistress, I meant no
harm" the young girl cried eagerly.
Flush, Zenobie: I do not blame
you; only would have you careful"
"And would be careful. But, oh,
you could not have resisted him. He
drew it from me almost ere l knew
it. He put his questions in such
strange manner that I could not
speak without telling what he want
ed to know. He did not say, Does
she Love Ruric Nevel?' but he took it
for granted that such was the case,
and then ere I was aware Of it he
had made me say so. But he surely
does not mean you harm, nor does
he mean harm to Ruric. He is a
good man, I know"
81 wish l could see him." returned
Rosalind half to herself: -
"fou cannot mistake him if you:
ever do see him, my mistress. :. He is
a. strange looking man, and, then,.
he dresses differently from most Of
our church officers. = He dresses all
in black-today it was in black vel
vet: But his shape is his most strik-
ing characteristic. He is. the fat
test man in Moscow: His belly.
shakes wEenzhe laughs, and his chin
seems to sink clear out of sight. He
would be a funny; man and would
make me laugh if he did not puzzle
me So" = :,
"And did he ask you about any,
thing else?''
j: NO. only he asked me if l knew
how the duke stood with the emper-
or, and l told him l thought he
stood very well. Then he said he
had heard that they had had some
dispute concerping the duel between
Count Damonof and Ruric. But
/ told him,I guessed that had result
ed In no estrangenlent, for the duke
was as much at court as ever. And
after that he told me about the duel,
as he was there and saw:nearly the
whole Of the affair."" ;. ~ = -, I:
And Zenobie went or and told all
that the monk related about Ruric''s
bravery, and Rosalind listened now
attentively >and eagerly, It was a
theme that pleased her. The at
tendant saw how gratefully the ae-
count came upon the ears of her
mistress, and she closed the recital
with some opinion Of 5 her own
wherein Ruric Nevel was held I'D aa
9 pattern after which all men who
wished to win the love Of woman
should be made. s..S .&:z= 4.
But be6ure any answer could be !:
made BY Rosalind the door Of the
apartment was opened, and the duke
entered. He. smiled very kindly ass
he bowed to. his ward, and then,
with 9 wave Of his hand, he motions ;
ed for Zenobie e, withd raw, and aft ]
er the attendant was gone he took . !