The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-11-29
CHAPTER III.

That night Rurlc Newell had
strange fancics while waking and
strange dreams while sleeping.
Long and deeply did he ponder up
on the strange business which had
cafeG Count Conrad to his shop,
and in no way, under no light, could
he get any reason from it. Why
he, a youth who had never spoken
with the 1road duke save once on
common business and who was so
far down in the social scale should
have been thus called upon to give
a virtual consent to the bestoWal
Of Rosalind Valdai's hand, was be-
yond his ken. He was but a poor
artisan; she a wealthy heiress and a
scion Of nobility, and she was under
the legal guardianship Of the duke,
whose word, so far as she was con-
eerned, was law. And, AGAIN, Con-
rad Damonotf was a count and re-
puted to be wealthy. To be sure,
he was somewhat dissolute; but,
then, a majority of his compeers
were the same. Now, if this count
loved the Lady Rosalind and had
asked for her hand and the duke
was willing he should have it, why
had this extraordinary proposal
been sent to the poor gunmaker?
Ruric asi'ed this question of him
self hundred times. He would be-
gin and lay down all the premises
in his mind, and then he would try
to make the deduction, but no rea-
sOnable one could he arrive at. One
thought chung to him like. a dim
specter at night, which hope would
make an angel and which fear would
paint a demon. Could it be possible
that Rosalind had told her love for
him and that the duke would pay
some Difference to it? He tried to
think so. Hope whispered that it
might be so, but fear would force
itself in and speak in tones so loud
that they could not be misunder-
stood Finally the youth resolved
upon the only reasonable course.
He concluded to let the matter rest,
so far as his own surmises were con-
eerned, until he could see Rosalind,
and that he was determined to do as
soon as possible.
On the following morning, as he
Was preparing for breakfast, he
saw Olga, the duke, pass by and
strike off into the Borodino road
"Now," thought he, sis the time for
the visit to Rosalind." And as soon
as he had eaten his breakfast he
prepared for the visit He dressed
well, and no man in Moscow had a
nobIer look when the dust Of toll
was removed from his brow and
garb.
paul" he said, entering the shop
where the boy was at work, 81 may
be back at noon. At any rate, such
is my intention, and if either OF
those men calls who were here yes.
terday you may tell them So"
But" returned the lad, eff they
ask me any Questions?"
answer them as you think best.
"And if they should ask me if yol
would fight?'
"Tell them that | hold my life az
too dear TO sell to such as they"
"But surely, my master, the count
will challenge you"
81 think he will. And" added
Ruric as an entire new though
came to his mind, ''mayhap he cam,
here to create a qu@rrel to that end
BY my soul, think he did"
81 am sure of it" said Paul.
A moment Ruric's frame quivereC
with suppressed passion. Then h
said:
"Let them come, and if the,
come, or if either of them comes
while | am gone, tell them, or him
that | am their very humble seryan
in all things reasonable"
Paul promised, and then the gun
maker turned away. In the hall h
threw on his heavy fur pelisse, and
having reached the nearest hostelry
he took horse and sledge and start
ed off for Kremlin, within whicI
the duke resided.
Within one of the sumptuousl
furnished apartments of the palac
Of the Duke Of Tula sat Rosalin
Naldai. She was a beautiful CIR
nodded in perfect form, with tn
full flush Of health and vigor an
assessing a face of peculiar sweet
ness and Intelligence. She was Onl
10 years Of are, and she had bee
ten years an orphan. Her hair wa
of golden hue. and the sunligh
loved to dwell amid the clusterin
curls. Her ewes, which were Of
deep, liquid blue, sparkled bright
when she was happy, and when sh
smiled the lovely dimpleS Of h,
cheeks held the smile even after
had faded from her lips. There W,