The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-11-22
CHAPTER II.
A STRANGE PROCEEDING.

morning, he found the monk al
ready there and breakfast nearly
ready. But little was said during
the mealtime, for the monk seemed
busy with thoughts of his own, and
Ruric was too much engaged in
studying the strange mans features
and bordering upon the various
doubts and surmises that had enter
ed his mind. After the meal was
over the monk accompanied the
gunmaker TO his shop, and there he
spent some time in examining the
quaint articles Of machinery that
were used in the manufacture of
arms.
Ruric was engaged in finishing a
pair of pistols, and for some min
utes the monk had stood silently by
his side watching his movements.
At length the youth stopped in his
work and laid the pistol down.
Excuse me, good father" he
said rather nervously, at the same
time gazing his visitor in the face,
shut | must ask you a question.
Where ha ] seen you before?"
GLOW sAould | know" the monk
returned, with a smile
"Why," resumed Ruric, with some
hesitancy, 81 knew not but that you
might enlighten me. | have surely
seen you somewhere"
Sand are there not hundreds
whom you have seen in this great
city, aye, thousands, whom you
might recognize as you recognize
me-"
"Ah, it may be So, but not Like
this. There may be thousand
faces | would recollect to have seen,
but not one of them would excite
even passing emotion in my soul.
But your face calls up some power
full emotion, some startling memory
of the past, which bothers me. Who
are you, good father? What are
you? Where have we met before?
Was it in Spain ?"
''No," said Vladimir, with a shake
of the head. And then. with a
more serious shade upon his face,
he added: Get this pass now. l
viii not deny to you that there may
be some grounds for your strange
fancies, but | assure you most sa-
eredly that until last ni,elt | never
came in direct companionship with
you before-at any rate, not to my
knowledge. You have acted the
good Samaritan toward me, and |
hope | may at some time return the
favor"
''No, mol" quickly responded the
youth. "If you return it, then it
will be a favor no more. l have
only done for you what every man
should do to his neighbor, and so
far from needing thanks for my
services | would rather give them
for the occasion, for | know of no
source of JOY so pure and pleasur-
able as that feeling in the soul
which tells us we have done good
act"
The dark monk reached forth and
took the youthful artisans hand,
and, with more than ordinary emo
ton, he said:
"You touch the harp strings of
the soul with a noble hand, my
son, and if any deed of kindness
can give me JOY it will be deed
for you. We may meet again, and
until then | can only say, God bless
and prosper thee"
With these words the monk turn
ed away, and ere Ruric could COM
mand presence of mind enough to
follow him he had gone from the
house. The youth wished to say
something, but amid the varied
emotions that went leaping through
his mind he could gather no con.
nected thoughts.
After the monk was gone RuriC
returned to his bench and resumed
his work. He asked his boy if he
had ever seen the strange man be-
fore, but Paul only shook his heaC
and answered obviously.
"What do you mean?" the gun
maker asked. gazing the boy in thu
face. 'Do YOU think you have seer
him before?"
Il cannot tell, my master. / may
have seen him before and / may not
But surely YOU would not suppos,
that nv memory would serve yol
better than your own.
Ruric was rot fully assured b,
this answer. He gazed into Paul.
face, and he fancied he detecte,
some show of intelligence Their
which had not been spoken But h,
resolved to ask no more questions
at present. lie had asked enough
he thought, upon such a subject
and no made mn his mind tn hottie