Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-09-20
| 9he Gun11laker
| Of Moscow. -

e ~ By SYLvANUs COBB. j.

ACAA ud1ucuj 1Cu IuC way w Cu0 Ad11.
She walked slowly, and she fancied
she could hear the beating of her
mistress heart. In the hall stood
the duke with some half dozen of his
own male attendants. He took the
hand of the countess as she ap-
preached him and gazed earnestly
into her face, but he did not speak.
He led her toward one of the draw
ing rooms, and when they entered
there they found the humpbacked
priest already in waiting: Rosa1ind
came well nigh fainting when she
saw this miserable villain ready for
his work. She knew now that the
priest was like the master.
lou see, my dear countess %
spoke the duke in low, hypocritical
tone, 'that we have all prepared. I
trust we shall have no trouble be-
fore this holy man." &
This last sentence was spoken in
a threatening tone, butt had no
effect upon Rosalind. She hardly
heard the words he spoke. .:.'1
"Come, father,'': said Olga, turn
ing now to the priest. owe are
ready" ~ :.
Savotano moved forward and
mumbled a Latin prayer. Then. he
looked upon the twain before him
and directed them to kneel.
= <No, no, not" gasped the !: fair
countess, trembling for the f rst
time. 81 cannot do thatp = : 80
E*Kneel" Kissed the duke between
his clinched teeth, and as he spoke
he grasped the maiden more firmly
by the arm and forced her down.
She uttered Z quick cry Of pain as
she felt the unmerciful grip, but
she could not resist the strong arm
of her persecutor.~'
:'Now 60 on" the duke cried as
he held the maiden down.. go on,
Savotano, and let the business be
done as soon as possible"
'Holdr" -: :.
It was a voice of thunder which
spoke thus, and it came from the
door. The duke started to his feet,
and he beheld Ruric Newell, the gun
maker, approaching the spot. But
the youth came not alone. Behind
him came the huge bulk Of Vladi-
mir, the monk, and more still, back
of the monk came the widow, Clau-
dia Newell, and the boy, Paul, and
then. there were, besides all this, a
heavy tramp Of feet in the hall and
the clang of steel.
"Hold! Stop this accursed mock
ery!' Ruric shouted as he strobe up
the apartment:
miserable dog!" gasped the duke,
mad and frantic with rage. GLOW
dare you come hither?'
'Look ye, proud duke" the monk
interposed, coming quickly forward;
II am at the bottom of all this. +
have come to stop this foul work."
Rosalind had started to her feet
when she first heard Ruric's voice,
and now, as the monk spoke, a ray
of hope darted to her soul, and,
with quick bound, she reached her
lovers side.
'Ruric, Ruric!'" 1t was ali she
could say, and, with a flood of tears,
she pillowed her head upon his bos-
ON, and his stout arms were wound
fondly about her.
Gear not" he whispered, <<for,
oh, Rosalind, thou art safe now"
The mad duke saw the movement,
and, with bitter curse, he started
toward them. -. .. =
: *Now, by the living gods," he
shouted, with his fists clinched and
his eyes flashing fire, ttyon have,
come to your death! What, ho,
therel Without! Slaves, where are
ye?" ~:... .-...
!: In q moment more the side door
was thrown open, and a dozen Of the
dukes servants came rushing in.
Hap Olga cried. -s*Yo1 are in
time. Seize these dogs! Kill them
on the spot if they offer one act Of,
resistance. At them now! Down.
with the dogs!' " :
~. Cas-