Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-07-19
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sYLvANUs COBB JR.

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I SYLVANUS COBB JR.
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stern grasp Of death, Isball 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, l shall thank God that you are
spared. But, alas, the joy will be
clouded with the thought of blood
upon your hands and the knowledge
l4hat my Joy is another's griefp'
mo, no, my mother" cried Ruric
quickly. and earnestly. II will not
have fellow beings blood upon my
hand if ! can avoid it. Only to save
my 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 %
ut is, my son, so far as he alone
is concerned. If you have respon-
sibiity, 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
FL 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
say, but dared not. But the former
, 1T length overcame her reluctance.
"Ruric, my son." she said, keep
ing back the tears that struggled for
utterance in their silent speech, els
there any little word you would
leave matter of moment
<sNo, no." the boy answered,
speaking calmly by effort. II am
yours, and all is yours. But I shall
not fall"
fab, be not too confident, my
ls Let no such assurance lead you
~ tn, orget your God: have heard of
tl count. It was he who slew Rut-
ger, and Momjako, too, he slew in
the duel. He is an expert swords
: man and surely means to kill you if
he cam ss~H> - ss~:T
81 am aware of that, my mother.
But do@you know that we are all
prone to overlook our own, powers
when bordering upon the feats of
others? II may be pardoned for as
suring you that the only man who
has eversyet overcome thes count at
the sword play 1was2one Of my own
scholars. While in Spain I practiced
with some of the best sword smen ii;
the kingdom. But. listen, l. will
send one word. For yourself I can
tell you nothing which you do not
know. But yet you may see Rosa
lind. If you do, tell her But you
know my soul. You can tell her as
you please. But shall not fall"
It was now late, and ere long Ru-
Jic kissed his mother and then re-
tired to his bed.
And the widow was left alone.
With her eyes she followed the re-
treating form of her beloved son,
and when he was gone from her
tight she bowed her head and sob
bed aloud. When she reached her
humble couch, she knelt by the side
\ thereof and poured forth her pent
up soul to God. When her head had
pressed the pillow, she tried to hope,
1he tried to fasten one hope in her
mind, but she looked only into the
night. Not one ray Of light reached
her struggling soul. She opened her
eyes Of promise in vain, for she
looked into q gloom so utter that
out Of its depths doomed only the
!. blackness of despair. :"
Sleep on, Ruric. But, oh, couldst
thou know how thy fond mothers
heart is racked there'd be no sleep
for theel
~ RS
- fro m coH1rnuED.l
His One Topic Of Conversation.
l. Sir Walter Scott had a clever
# friend who was once utterly baff1ed
by a stranger in stagecoach. The
friend, who wished to converse, as.
sailed the stranger on. all hands and
at last expostulated. q have talked
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