Cañon City record., 1901-08-29
q By SYLVANUS COBB. Jr.

company.
"fhis is the man, SIRE" Olga said
as he led his companion forward.
The emperor gazed upon Urzen a
few moments in silence and then
said:
"You were present at this duel,
were you not. sir y
81 was, SIRE" the man answered,
bowing low.
"And he was at their first meeting
also, SIRE" interposed the duke.
"Ah, yes. Then you know all
about the AFFAIR.""
"Yes, SIRE" answered Urzen.
"Then tell me about it."
"First, sire," commenced the man,
casting sort of assuring glance at
the duke, "the count went to the
gunmaker's shop to get him to
to-
'Let me explain here, sire" inter-
rupted the duke as his puppet hesi-
tated, ''this man may not know
properly about that mission. Liv-
ing with me is young girl, ward
of mine, q gentle, timid being, who
has been somewhat a comfort TO me
in my loneliness In childhood she
was acquainted with this Ruric Ne
vel, and now the fellow has presum-
ed thereupon several times to insult
her Of late with his disgusting ia
miliarity. She dared not remon-
strate with him for fear of violence.
so she referred the matter 10 me.
The count has been anxious to win
her for a wife. so thought him not
an improper person TO send on the
delicate mission. Accordingly |
wrote a sort OF promise in the form
of a voluntary assurance pledglng
the signer not to make himself ia
miliar with the lady any more And
nj the same time he received the as
/ surance that his presence was very
disagreeable TO the person mention
ed. This | supposed he would sign
at once, and as the count aspired TO
her hand deemed ii no more than
right that he should render her this
service. Now. sire, this gentleman
may continue"
Thus hidden Urzen resumed:
"The noble couni was desirous,
sire. that ! should accompany him,
and did so. Upon reaching the
mans shop We found hum at work
upon gunlock. think. He re-
ceived the note. but refused 10 sign
it. The count urged him to sign in
mild. persuasive language until the
fellow became insolent Then he
used some stronger terms. and |
lthink he made some threat OF what
he would do If his insults to the lady
were repeated. and thereupon the
lgunmakcr struck him furious
blow in the face and Knocked hun
down ! cannot remember all the
threatening language which the fell
low used. but it was fearful"
"hnd how about the duel?" asked
the emperor.
In answer to this Urzen went on
and related what he had prepared
on the subject. and it need only be
said that the report was aboui on a
par with what we have already
heard lie even went so far as TO
swear thar the count had tried re-
pcatcdly to compromise matters aft
er the conflict had begun. that he
begged Of Neycl To give up the bat
tie, but that the latter. thirsting for
the young nobleman's blood. kept
hotly. madly at it.
1t was at this juncture and with
out referring to the surgeon that
the emperor sent for Ruric, and,
having learned that lieutenant Of
the Khi;ag.rod guard was present
at the duel, he sent for him also.
orsa arrived first and was present
when Rurio came.
And now Ruric Newell stood be-
fore his emperor Peter gazed upon
him for some moments, and then he
said:
"Sir. thy bearing is bold"
"Why should it not be, sire, when
] stand before one whom | honor
and respect and do not fear?" So
spoke Ruric calmly and with pecul-
lar dignity.
Not fear2' repeated the auto
crat sternly.
| "No. sire. Peter of Russia is not a
man to be feared by those who love
and honor him"
"Insolence" uttered the duke.
| The emperor looked up into his
face, and he added:
"Now, sire, you can see for your
self some of his traits of character.
"Aye," returned Peter, 81 see.