The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-11-15

TIC ISlldl htu upOn lHe luClchSluS
force of the storm.
"Hark" uttered his mother,
bending her ear in listening atti-
tude. "Was that a knock upon our
door?"
"Surely no one is out on such
night that could seek shelter here"
returned Ruric. "You must have"-
The youth did not finish the SEN
tence, for at that moment the knock
came so loud that it was not to be
mistaken. The youth caught up the
candle and FASTENED to the door.
opened it, but the blast came roar
ing in, whirling a cloud of snow in
to Ruric's face and extinguishing
the light at once.
'1s there any one here?" the gun
maker asked, bowling his head and
shielding his eyes from the driving
snow with one hand.
eyes," returned a voice from the
Stygian darkness. ON Gods name,
let me in, or | shall perish"
"Then follow quickly" said Ru-
ric. "Here, give me your hand.
There, now come"
The youth found the thickly
gloved hand-gloved with the soft
est fur-and, having led the invisi-
BILE applicant into the hall, he closed
the door and then led the way to
the kitchen. AS soon as the candle
was relighted Ruric turned and gaz-
ed upon the newcomer. He was a
monk and habited something like
one of the black monks Of st. Mi.
chael. He was of medium height
and possessed a rotundity of person
which was comical to behold. Fe
was fat and unwieldy and waddl, j
about with laughable steps. II 5
huge black robe, which reached
from his chin to his toes, was Sc
cured about the waist with a sash
of the same color, and the snow
which lay upon the shoulders and
back presented a striking contrast.
Ruric brushed away the snow with
his own hand, and having taken his
visitors thick fur bonnet the latter
/ took a seat near the fire.
Before a word was spoken the
youthful host carefully examined
his guests features, and the latter
seemed equally DESTROYS of discov-
ering what manner of.people he had
fallen in with. The monks face
was peculiar one. The features
were very dark and prominent and
almost angular in their strongly
marked outlines. His brow was
very strong in mental development
and his eyes were dark and brilliant
The slight circle of hair that es-
capped from beneath the tight skull.
cap which he retained upon his
head was somewhat tinged with sill.
yer, though his face did not betray
such advanced age as this silvery
hair would seem to indicate.
"You have been caught in a Sc
we're storm, good father" said the
youth after his guest had somewhat
recovered from the effect Of thu
cold.
"Aye, that have, my son." thu
monk returned in a deep, rumbins
tone. 81 left the Kremlin this morn
ing little thinking Of such a change
| This storm has commenced since
started on my return. About hal
a mile from here my horse got foun
dered in the snow, and | left hin
with an honest peasant and theI
started to make the rest of my wa,
on foot, bat | reckoned wildly Thu
driving storm blinded me, and tn,
piling drifts swallowed me up at ev
cry dozen steps. Ny body is no
very well adapted to such work. Ha
ha, ha. Bat | saw your light, and
determined to seek shelter here TO
the night, BY St. Michael, but thi
is most severe storm. Yet vol
are comfortable here"
"Aye, father, we try to be com
Portable" said Ruric. "My mothe
could hardly survive a winter il
some of the dwellings which stan'
hereabout
The monk made no answer t
this save d sort of commentator
nod, and shortly aftorward tn
youth asked:
''Do you belong here in The city
good father
"Aye, at present d." the mon
returned. And then, with a smile
he added; 81 suppose You would Xix
to know whom YOU have thus re
, ceived. My name is Vladimir, an
my home is wherever | may chanc
, to be on Gods heritage At presen
| am residing here in Moscow
There, could you ask me to be NOR
, frank"
{ Ruric smiled, but he made no d
, rect reply. He was too deeply il
, terested in the face of the mon
to enter with much eagerness int
I conversation. At length the que: