Warren sheaf., 1901-08-01
@ By .SYLVANUS COBB, Ir.
CHAPTER X.
A STRANGE DISCOVERY.

"A few days before the best surgeon
in Moscow said he would recover,
but now that same surgeon said he
pust fall. A strange change had
Come over him. It was not fever,
but, rather, a consuming of vitality.
He was failing fast, and no art of
medicine could revive him. Some
Thought he must be bleeding inward
lY, but others knew better than this,
because in that case there would be
some outward symptom. The wound
itself was healing, but the disease
was not. The physician and the
priest were now in daily, and the
former almost in hourly, attend
ance. The surgeon was Kopani,
and the priest was the humpbacked
Savotano.
Thus lay the count upon his bed,
weak and faint, but at present al
most free from pain, and an old wo-
man was his only attendant, the
priest having just left. 1t was just
after noon. The dying man had
just taken a powerful stimulating
draft, though it was against the in
functions of the priest, as he said
that by such means the invalid
might die bereft of sense and thus
lose his hold upon salvation. He
had just taken this draft when there
was low rap upon the door. The
woman arose to answer the sum-
mons. She conversed a few mo-
ments with the girl who had knock
ed, and when she returned to the
bed she announced that Ruric Ne
vel wished to enter.
'<Let him come in,'' whispered
the count.
"But"-
"Never mind," he interrupted as
the woman commenced thus to ex-
postulate. F'Let him come in. By
heavens, if he is my enemy let me
see him! It may serve to arouse
me-"
So the woman went to the door
again, and soon afterward Ruric
Newell entered the apartment. He
stepped lightly, noiselessly, to the
bedside, but it was some moments
ere he could distinguish objects by
the subdued light of the place. By
and by, however, he overcame the
difficulty, and he started back in
horror as he beheld the features Of
his adversary. How pale and sunk
en-! How deathlike and ghastly!
The count noticed the movement,
and he noticed the look.
"Count Damonoff," spoke the
gunmaker in a low, solemn tone, "a
few days since I heard that you were
recovering, and I thanked God.
But today they told me you we're dy-
ing, and I have come to ask that I
may take your hand ere you pass
away from earth. AS God is my
Maker and my Judge, would rath-
er lie down here and die for you
than have you pass away with a
curse, of me upon your soul or on
your lips. Forgive me for what I
have done and never again will I en-
gage in such a wicked work. For
my own life, it is my country's and
my mothers and I have no right to
throw it away, and my antagonists s
life is the sacred property of God,
which I have no right to touch but
in self defense. Forgive me-"
Slowly and heavily moved the dy-
ing man over, and then he extend
ed his thin and wasted hand.
<cRuric," he said, and his voice
was stronger now, for the potion
was working, II am glad you have
come-very glad-for I have wish
ed, above all else of earth, to see
you. I could not send for you, for
I knew not how you might come. !
have been all wrong in the things
that have passed betwixt thee and
me. I was mad and fool. I blame
you not, but rather do I thank you
for your kindness through all the
scene. Oh, I forgive you with all
my heart. And now tell me that
am forgiven"
Forgiven ?" repeated Ruric, with
trembling lip, still holding the
counts hand within both his own.
**Oh, would to God I could call you
back to life! Forgiven? Oh, God,
who reads all hearts, knows how
humble, how sacred, is my forgive
ness to you! Could I call you back,
could I wipe out the past from my
memory, I could die content"
Enough" returned the count
warmly. *'This was my hottest wish,
though pride has kept back its ut
terance. Oh, I feared you would
gloat over my death - that you
would be glad when I was gone.'' I
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