Warren sheaf., 1901-07-18

CHAPTER Wit
& e - By SYLVANUS COBB, Jr.

THE MASK FALLS FROM THE VILLAINS
FACE.
It was about two weeks after the
events last recorded that Rosalind
Valdai sat in her own apartment
with Zenobie for her companion. It.
was in the afternoon, and severe
storm was raging without.
"Now, Zenobie," spoke the beauti-
full maiden, eve have a moment
alone, the first since morning. And
now tell me about that black monk.
What did he say his name WASP"
"Vladimir.''
'Ah, yes. I have heard his name,
and if l mistake not he is a sort of
mysterious being"
"He is, my mistress, and I am just
as confident that I have seen him be-
fore as I am that I have seen you be-
fore."'
"How? Seen him before?''
eyes,"
"But where?''
"Ah," returned the young girl,
with dubious shake of the head,
"there is the mystery. For the life
of me cannot tell. He knew me-
he knows everybody-and yet he has
not been long in the city if one
might judge from his conversation"
''But what did he stop you for?
Where was it ?" asked Rosalind ca
gerly.
''It was in the church he stopped
me-in our Church of ST.. Stephen.
He was at the altar, and he beckon-
ed to me as I rose to come out. I
went to him, and he asked about
you"
"About me % -
eyes, and about Ruric Newell" s--@
|EAnd what about us?" the maid
en- asked, blushing. -y
''He asked me if I thought you
loved the young gunmaker. He was
so kind and he appeared so anxious
to know and then he seemed to take
such an interest in Ruric that I
could not refuse to answer him."
|cBut what did you tell him?"
<1 told him you did love Ruric. I
told him how you had been children
together and how you would now
give your hand to him sooner than
to the proudest noble in the land.
he asked me some things about the
duke, but I would not tell him.
When I must tell Of evil if I tell the
truth, I will not speak if can prop
erly avoid il"
"You were right, Zenobie. You
were very right about this last part,
but you should not have told all you
knew concerning Ruric and me-"
II hope I did nothing wrong. Oh,
/ should be proud to acknowledge
my love for such a man,
"Aye, and so I am, my little
sprite. I love Ruric with my whole
soul and would be proud to give him
my hand this day, but that is no rea-
son why you should tell of it.
"Surely, my mistress, I meant no
harm," the young girl cried eagerly.
Flush, Zenobie. I do not blame
you; only would have you careful"
<fAnd I would be careful. But, oh,
you could not have resisted him. He
drew it from me ALMOST ere I knew
it. He put his questions in such a
strange manner that I could not
speak without telling what he want
ed to know. He did not say, Does
she love Ruric Newell p but he took it
for granted that such was the case,
and then ere I was aware of it he
had made me say so. But he surely
does not mean you harm, nor does
he mean harm to Ruric. He is a
good man, I know"
|1 wish I could see him." returned
Rosalind half to herself.
"You cannot mistake him if you
ever do see him, my mistress. He is
a strange looking man, and, then,
he dresses differently from most of
our church officers. He dresses all
in black-today it was in black vel
vet. But his shape is his most strik-
ing characteristic. He is the fat
test man in Moscow. His belly
shakes when he laughs, and his chin
seems to sink clear out of sight. He
would be a funny man and would
make me laugh if he did not puzzle
me So" .~
EFAnd did he ask you about any
thing else?"
*No; only he asked me if I knew
how the duke stood with the emper-
or, and I told him I thought he
stood very we'll. Then he said he
had heard that they had had some
dispute concerning the duel between
Count Damonoff and Ruric. But
n +ol1 him T o71occo1 +bo+ had roo111t