Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-06-15
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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 tone
full of noble Indignation, "what do
you suppose I am? Do you mean
to tell me that Olga, duke of Tula,
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; F1 did hear,
and you have stated the case plain
ly."
'I 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 inti-
mate with you and that she now
feels a warm friendship for you.
For her sake he would have this sig
nal from YOU"
"But how for her sake" asked
Ruric.
"Why," returned Damonoff, "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. eff she loves
me, she loves me from her heart.
With the noble duke I 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 hotlv. "I 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
we'll 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. It looked dark and COM
plex, and it's 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 no
account yield an atom to the
strange demand thus mad" upon
him.
"Sir count" he said calmly and
surely, "vou have plainly stated
your proposition, and I will as
plainly answer. I cannot sign the
paper"
"Haw gasped Damonoff in quick
passion. EDO you refuse?"
'Most fatty"
For a few moments the count
gazed into Ruric's face as though he
doubted the evidence of his own
senses.
'It is the dukes command" he
said at length.
"The Duke of Tula holds no pow
er of command over me-" was the
gunmaker's calm reply.
Beware! Once more, l say, sign
this paper!"
"You but waste your breath, sir
count, in speaking thus. You have
my answer"
"By heavens, Ruric Nevel, you'll
sign thisp the count cried madly.
"Never, sir~
'But look ye, sirrah, here is my
whole future of life based upon my
hopes of union with this fair girl.
Her guardian bids me get this pa
per of you ere I can have her hand.
And now do you think I'll give it
up so easily? BY the saints of heav-
en-, I'll have your name to this or
I'll have your life!'
"Now your tongue runs away
with you, sir count. ! have given
you my answer. Be sure that only
one man on earth can prevail upon
me to place my name upon that pa
per-"
"And who is hep"