Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1901-07-04
e e e By SYLVANUS COBB, Jr.

ana at the same time gazing won
deringly into his companions face,
"you handle the sword like a magi-
clan. By my soul, I'd give all I own
at this present moment, my commits
sion and all, if I could handle the
sword as you can" .:.-.
"I do understand the weapon
passing WELL" returned the youth
modestly, 'Fbut I have worked hard
to gain the science"
"Ah, tits not all SCIENCE" the off,
Ger added. F"That wondrous strength
of yours is host in ITSELF"
"And YETI said Ruric, 81 have
seen weaker men than myself who
would overcome me easily or, at
least, who might overcome me-"
*EBut they were not'in this city,"
suggested Orsa, with peculiar
shake of the head.
<'True, Alaric. I am not in the
habit of mentioning my own powers,
but yet I may say that there is no
man in Moscow who is my superior
in the use of any sort Of offensive
arms"
The lieutenant readily admitted
the truth of this, and then the con-
versation turned upon the subject
of the count and the course he had
pursued with respect to the event
which had just transpired. This
conversation lasted until they reach
ed the door of Ruric's residence,
and, having thanked his friend for
his kindness and expressed the hope
that at some time he might have
opportunity to return some ade-
| 4uate favor, the gunmaker entered
the house.
| The widow sat in her great chair
by the fire. She was pale and anx-
ious. Her brow was supported by
her hands, and at every s6Gnd from
without she would start up with
frightened expression and listen.
At length the sound of bells struck
hPon her ear. They came nearer
snd nearer, and they stopped at her
door. She would have arisen, but
she could not. With her hands
clasped she bent eagerly forward
and listened with a frantic interest.
Soon the door opened. Surelyano
one but he would enter without
knocking. She started to her feet.
The inner door opened. A male
form stood before her.
"Mother!"
"Ruric! My boy! Safe!"
She tottered forward and sank
upon the bosom of her noble son,
and while she wound her arms tight
ly about him she murmured her
thanks to God.
By and by the widow became more
calm, but still there was an earnest,
eager look of fear upon her face.
Ruric saw it, and he knew well what
it meant.
<tMother," he said, t'the count is
not dead"
''Nor wounded?" she uttered
quickly and eagerly.
eyes; badly. But, listen, I could
not help it. And thereupon he re-
lated all the circumstances connect
ed with the conflict. When he had
concluded, his mother pondered a
few moments, and then she said:
<<Surely, my son, I will try to
suffer nothing from this, even
should the wicked man die. In all
you acted upon the defensive. From
the first he has only been intent on
attacking you, and on the BATTLE
ground he would have killed you if
he could.''
F<Most surely he would, mother.
Aye, he would not have hesitated to
stab me in the back could he have
gained the opportunity. He was
mad beyond all self control, and his
eagerness to kill me was only equal
ed by his chagrin at being overcome
by one whom he had hoped easily to
conquer"
After this Ruric went to his shop,
but Paul manifested no great emo
ton upon beholding him.
"You seem to take it as a matter
of course that I should return alive
and WELL" said the gunmaker, with
smile.
'Why, of course" returned the
boy composedly. @@What would a
score of such men as he be to you ?
Conrad Damonof hold a sword be-
fore Ruric Newell? No. I only
smiled when I heard his challenge.
I should have as soon thought of be-
ing anxious about your return from
a marten hunt" It'll ..-y H.
Ruric smiled at his boys peculiar