The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-11-22

very subject was one that moved
him deeply.
"Ruric Newell, you shall not say
that | did not make myself fully
understood, and hence / will ex-
plain" The count spoke this as
speaks a man who feels that he is
doing a very condescending thing,
and in the same tone he proceeded:
"The Lady Rosalind is of noble
parentage and very weakly. My
own station and wealth are equal
with hers-my station, at all events.
She may possess the undivided right
to more property than | do; but
that matters not. | love her and
must have her for my wife. / have
been to see the noble duke, her
guardian, and he objects not to my
suit, but he informed me that there
was one impeachment, and that was
her love for you. He knows full
well, as | know, and as all must
know, that she could never become
your wife; but yet he is anxious not
to interfere too much against her
inclinations. So a simple denial
from YOU to the effect that YOU can
never claim her hand Is all that is
necessary. You understand me, l
trust. We seek this only for the fair
lady's own good. OF course you
must be aware that the duke would
never consent to her union with
you, and yet he would wish to have
your denial to show to Rosalind
when he announces his decision. |
have a paper here all drawn up,
and all that will be necessary is sim
ply your signature. Here. 1t is
only plain, simple avowal on your
part that you have no hopes nor
thoughts of seeking the hand of the
lady in marriage"
AS the count spoke he drew a pa
per from the bosom of his marten
doublet, and, having opened it, he
handed it toward the gunmaker.
But Ruric took it not. He drew
back and gazed the visitor sternly
in the face.
Sir count" he uttered in a tone
full of noble indignation, "what do
you suppose l am? Do you mean
to tell me that Olga, duke Of lula,
has commissioned you to obtain
such a remuneration of me?"
stephen" spoke the count, turn
ing to his companion, ''you heard
the instructions the duke gave me
this morning?"
"Aye," returned Urzen, directing
his speech to Ruric; 81 did hear,
and you have stated the case plain
ly."
Il may be as much surprised as
yourself" resumed the count haugh-
| tily, cat this strange taste of the
duke. Why he should seek this sig
nal from you | can only imagine
upon his desire to call up no re-
| grets in the bosom of his fair ward.
He knows that she was once init
mate with you and that she now
feels warm friendship for you.
For her sake he would have this sig
nal from you"
"But how for her sake?" asked
Ruric.
"Why," returned DamonofT, "do
you not see? Rosalind in the SIM
plicity of her heart may think that
you-a-that you might claim her
love and out of pure principle grant
it to you simply because you were
the first claimant"
"But | never claimed her love-"
said Ruric warmly. "If she loves
me, she loves me from her heart.
With the noble duke | never spoke
but once, and then he came here
for me to temper his sword. If you
would marry with the lady, do so,
and if you seek help in the work
seek it from those who have some
power in the matter"
"You mistake, SIR" uttered the
count holly. 81 seek not power
now. l only seek a simple word
from one who may have some infu-
ence, even as a beggar, having saved
the life of a king, may, through
royal gratitude, WELD an influence.
| Will you sign the paper?"
Now, all this seemed strange to
Ruric, and he knew that there was
something behind the curtain which
he was not permitted to know. He
knew the proud and stubborn duke
well enough to know that he never
would have sent such a message as
this but for some design more than
had yet appeared. In short, he
could not understand the matter
at all. 1t looked dark and COM
pick, and its face was in direct con-
flict with the nature of the man
, from whom it now appeared to have
emanated. Ruric pondered upon
this a few moments, and he made
up his mind that he would on nc
account yield an atom to the