CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1901-08-22
Asfofher..'
"Rnric! Nv boy. Safe!"

anu Nille sHc Wounu HeT dTI1s Ogut-
ly about him she murmured her
thanks to God
By and b. 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
Mother" he said. "the count is
not dead"
aNor wounded 2" she uttered
quickly and eagerly.
"Yes; badly. But, listen, could
not help it," And thereupon he re-
( icted all the circumstances connect
eli with the conflict. When he had
concluded, his mother pondered a
f-r moments, and then she said:
surely, my son. 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 yNu, and on the battle
ground he would have killed you if
he could"
"Most surely he would, mother.
{ Ave, 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"
I After this Ruric went to his shop,
but Paul manifested no great emo
tion upon beholding him.
"You seem TO take it as matter
of course that ] should return alive
and WE'LL" said the gunmaker, with
a smile.
"Why, of course" returned the
boy composedly. "What would
score of such men as he be to you?
Conrad Damonoff hold a sword be-
fore Ruric Newell? No. only
smiled when | heard his challenge.
] should have as soon thought of be-
ing anxious about your return from
marten hunt"
Ruric smiled at his boys peculiar
eagerness OF expression, but he felt
degree of pride in his words never
theless.
Ii was toward the latter part of
the afternoon that Ruric was some
what startled by seeing some of the
imperial guard approaching his
house. and ere long afterward his
mother came to him. pale and trem-
bling, and informed him that he was
wanted by the emperor's officers.
"0h," she groaned. with clasped
hands and fearful ewes, .they will
take you from me now"
''Fear not, nv mother" the youth
confidently returned. "'rhe emperor
will not blame me when he knows
ell the particulars But come, let US
go in"
Ruric found the officers, three of
them. in the kitchen. and he asked
them If they sought him.
ave seek Rurie Nevel. the gun
maker" replied the leader.
Z 81 am the man. sir. May know
what is wnnieu:"
''Cannot yuu guess 2"
"Why. YES. suppose il must be
on account of the duel which was
fought this morning"
"Exnctly.
"And who wants me?"
"Who should want YOU but the
emperor?"
"0h. they will not take my noble
boy from mel" cried Claudia, catch
ing the officer by the arm. "Tell
. our good emperor that Russia has
taken NV husband from me: that he
fell in his country's cause. Tell him
my boy was not to blame
Hush, mother" interposed Ru-
ric. Fear not yet"
"Come." said the leader. at is
growing late, and Peter will not
brook delay
But they will not harm him.
the mother frantiealiy cried, cling
ing now to her son.
NO, no. nv mother. Rest you
easy here until return" And then,
turning to the guard. he added,
LEAD on. and ! will follow"
"Now rest you easy, nv dear
mother" And with these words
Ruric gently set her back into her
chair and then FASTENED out after
the officers. In the entry he put on
his bonnet and pelisse and then fol-
lowed his conductors out to the .
street, where stood double sledge,
with two horses attached.
"Iou seem to look upon the kill /
ing of y Russian noblemen as very