Cañon City record., 1901-09-12


conduct her up. Ere long after
ward the attendant returned, and
with her came Claudia Newell. Ros
alind had not seen the good woman
for over year, but she knew her a.
once. and. starting up from her seat
she bounded forward and embraced
her warmly.
"Ah. Aunt Claudia, am glad vo
have come, You will let me cal.
you aunt. as | did in those happ,
times long gone by"
"Aye. sweet Rosalind. returned
the widow. imprinting warm kiss
upon the fair white brow
The countess noticed the strang'
sadness of the woman's tone. ana
then. for the first time also, she
noticed the sadness of her look.
Aurt claudia, you look sad" she
said, while chill dread struck to
her own heart.
"Aye," the widow uttered, as
though she were afraid to venture
the question she wished to ask; Il
have been very sad because ] have
had a terrible fear. Has-has not
Ruric been here!"
"When z" uttered the maiden.
catching the whole fear now.
"Within these three days."
"Just then. Day before yester-
day he was herein the forenoon"
'.And ! have not seen him sincep
the poor woman groaned.
Not seen him? Ruric gone? Oh,
where, where:"
'He said ne was going to see the
Count Damonoff when he left here"
interposed Zenobie, who Joined in
the grief.
"Aye; so he told me-" returned
the mother. 81 have been there,
and they have not seen him since
that evening. The surgeon who at
tends the count went out to ;he inn
where Ruric put up his horse, and
the animal was still there, his own
er having not called for him"
40 God, have mercyw calculated
the young countess in a paro1ysm
OF grief.
AT this moment there came a rap
upon the door, and Zenobie went to
answer the summons. 1t was the
black monk, Vladimir, who thus de-
manded admittance. At any other
time both Rosalind and Claudia
might have been startled by the
strange visit, but now they instinc-
lively hailed his coming as source
OF hope.
Ladies'" spoke the fat monk, ap-
preaching the spot where they stood
and bowling very low, you will par
don this unseemly method of gain
ing admission here, but l had no
ether choice, for | feared the duke
would refuse me did apply to him.
/ have come to learn, if possible,
where Ruric Newell may be-"
The widow tried to answer, but
instead of speaking she burst into
tears. Rosalind struggled a moment
with the deep emotions that stirred
within her, and she, too, fell to
weeping. Zenobie was obliged TO
answer.
"Good father" said she, 1--WE here
are after the same knowledge. His
poor mother has come here to try
if she might find some clew to the
noble youth, and thus did my mis-
tress gain the first intelligence that
he was gone. Pray, good sir, do you
know anything about him. What
have you heard"
Both Claudia and the young
countess now raised their heads, for
they would hear what reply the
monk could make.
y only know that he is missing" "
Vladimir replied. "A little while
ago | called upon the sick count,
and there | learned that Ruric Ne
vel had mvsteriously disappeared,
and learned also of the noble pur-
pose for which he visited the count. =
AVE." interposed Claudia, with
sudden energy; "he went to try to
gain the counts forgiveness. don't
think they spoke falsely there. |
don't think any there would wish
him harm from any lingering re
venge."
'1No, mol" returned the monk.
"His mission thither was most nobly
fulfilled. So far from eherishing
any spirit of revenge is the count
that he will ever bear for Ruric the
holiest gratitude of his soul"
''Do you think so?" the widow
asked hopefully.
Il know it" was the monks as