Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-06-19
Ft(k G()NMAk&R
OF MOSCOW
By 8YLVANUS COBB, JES.

| meQt WHICH was ueIS 1OI uC1 O"h
private use, and she was sad and
thoughtful. One fair hand support
ed her pure brow, while with the
other she twisted the ends of the
silken sash that confined her heavy
robe. Thus she sat when the door
of her apartment was opened and a
young girl entered. This newcomer
was small, fair creature, bright
and quick, with that raven hair and
those large dark eyes of dreamy
light which bespeak the child of
Moslem blood. Her name was Zeno-
bic, and she was now about 16 years
of age. Rosalind's father had pick
ed her up on the battlefield from
which the Turks had fled, and, being
unable to find any claimant, he had
brought her home, then almost an
infant. And now she was Rosa
lind's attendant and companion.
She loved her kind and gentle mis-
tress and would have laid down life
itself in the service.
"IIow now, Zenobie?" asked Rosa
lind as she notice the girl hesitate.
"There is a gentleman below who
would see you," the girl replied.
"Tell him l cannot see him." said
Rosalind, trembling.
"But this is Ruric Nevel, my mis-
tress."
"Ruricw uttered the fair maid
en-, starting up, while the rich blood
mounted to her brow and temples.
ooh, am glad he has come! My
prayers are surely answered. Lead
him hither, Zenobie."
The girl departed, and ere long
! afterward Ruric entered the apart
ment. He walked quickly to where
Rosalind had arisen to her feet, and,
taking one of her hands in both his
own, he pressed it to his lips. He
had had a we'll formed speech upon
his lips when he entered the room,
but twas gone now. He could only
gaze into the lovely face before him
and murmur the name that sounded
so sweetly to his ears. But the emo
tions of his soul became calm at
length, and then he spoke with more
freedom.
lady" he said after he had tax
en- his seat, "you will pardon me for
this visit when you know its cause,
and you will pardon me, too, if |
speak plainly what l have to speak. !"
"Surely, SIR
"Oh, call me Ruric. Let us at
least not forget the friendship of
childhood"
"Then am not a lady," said Ros-
alind, smiling.
'No, Rosalind."
"Ah, Ruric!"
GAS we were in childhood" whis-
pered the youth.
''In all but years." returned Rosa
lind in the same low tone.
"And / may wear the same i'm
age in my heart?"
"I cannot cast it from mine if |
would"
"The image of childhood, dear
Rosalind?"
"Aye, save that it has grown to
manhood, dear Ruric."
What more could he ask for love ?
He had not aimed at this confession
so soon, but he put it not from him
now. He gazed a moment into the
fair maiden's kindling eye, and as
he saw the lovelit tear gathering
there and the happy smile working
it's way about the rosy lips and
away in the joyous dimples he
opened his arms and clasped the
fondly loved one to his bosom.
"Oh, am not deceived in this!'
he murmurcd. Speak, dearest one. "
"I cannot forget the love of the
happy times agonc," the noble girl
replied, gazing up through her hap
by tears. ooh, how many and many
an hour have ! prayed to God that
those days might return and that
the one true heart of earth ! loved
might be mine once more. Rurlc,
why should | hide the truth OF why
set it aside? To me thou art all in
all. | have no one else to love and
none to love me else save the noble
girl who brought you hither. | can
tell you no more"
Happy Ruric! Happy, at that mo-
ment, forgetting all else but the
love that cleaned out upon him
then, he clasped the cherished OBJ
ject ardently to his bosom.
But the moments flew on, and at
length his mind came to the sub
ject of his visit.
"Rosalind," he said, holding one
of her fair hands in his grasp, you
know the Count Conrad Damonoff?
"Aye," returned the maiden, with
a shudder. "He is here very often,
and he has forced himself upon my
companionship when, if he had
sense, he must have known | liked
it not"
'He is a suitor for your hand, is
! he not?