Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-06-22

returned, gazing up for moment
and then letting his eyes droop
again. At length he resumed, q
had made up my mind to tell you all
ere you spoke"
There was something deep and
significant in Ruric's tone, and his
mother quickly caught the spark.
"What is it? ?" she tremblingly ut
tered, moving her chair nearer to
her child's side.
'Listen," the young man said.
And thereupon he detailed the cir
cumstances attending the visit OF
the Count Damonotf to his shop.
Then he told of his own visit to
Rosalind and its result and then of
the visit of Stephen Urzen.
"And now, my mother,' he add
ed without waiting for any reply,
"you know it all. You see how |
am situated. Remember, our nation
has reached it's present point by sue
cessful war. The soul of the nation
is built upon military honor, and
since our noble emperor has opened
the way of advancement of the low
est of his subjects who are brave and
true the coward is looked upon with
disgust upon all hands. Yet, my
mother, would have you speak"
For some moments Claudia Nevel
was silent. But at length she said,
while tear glistened in her eye:
'1 have given one loved being up
to my country's good. Russia took
my husband from me, and | could i'll
afford now to lose my son. Yet
rather than one stain should rest
upon his name l would see him dead
before me. Oh, Ruric, you know
whether dishonor would rest upon
you were you to refuse this chal-
lenge."
Il will speak plainly, my dear
mother" returned the youth in a
tremulous tone, for his parents
kindness had moved him. "ln my
soul should feel perfectly justified
in refusing this meeting, for no
principle of real honor is at stake.
But we're | to back out now from
this I should never meet another
generous look in Moscow. Every
one would point the finger of scorn
toward me, and the word coward
would ring always in my ears. 1t
may be false state of things-l
feel that it really is so-but how
can l help it? 1t is the curse of all
great military epochs. Battle alone
makes heroes, and so all must meas
ure their honor by the force of their
arms. The count carries even now
upon his brow the mark of my blow,
and all will say he has right to
demand satisfaction, though know
that he provoked the quarrel on
purpose. | cannot refuse him on the
ground of station, for he is above
me in that. | must meet him."
"Then," said the mother in low,
calm tone, but with much effort,
"you shall not feel that your mother
would thwart your design. If your
own good judgment says 60, then 60.
If they bring your body to me in the
stern grasp Of death, | shall pray for
the soul that has gone and shall
hope to meet you in the home OF the
redeemed. If you come back to me
alive, shall thank God that you are
spared. But, alas, the JOY will be
cloutled with the thought of blood
upon your hands and the knowledge
that my JOY is another's grief"
"No, no, my mother" cried Ruric
quickly and earnestly. 81 will not
have fellow beings blood upon my
hand if can avoid it, Only to save
nv own life will | take his. He has
done all this himself-all, all. The
quarrel was his own, and the first
blow was his. The challenge is his,
and now is not the responsibility his
also?"
'1t is, my son, so far as he alone
is concerned. If you have respon-
sibility, it must be to your own soul.
But tell me, has not the emperor
made some new law touching this
practice Of dueling?"
eyes, but only the challenger is
responsible. The party challenged is
held free from blame in the eyes of
the law"
"Then I shall interpose no more
objections" said the mother. She
tried to speak hopefully, but she
could not hide the fearful sadness of
her heart. "Could fervent prayer
avert the blow it should not fall, but
] can only pray as one without pow
er."
A long time after this was passed
in silence. Both the mother and
son seemed to have something upon
their minds which they wished to
sav, but dared not. But the former
at length overcame her reluctance.