Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-06-22
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| "Then let me refer you to him.
He will make all necessary arrange
ments, and I shall hold myself
bound by his plans. I trust that is
satisfactory"
eyes, sir"
"Then you and I need have no
more to say"
"Only on one point" said Urzen,
with some little show Of confusion.
"You are the challenged party, and
you will have the choice of weapons.
The count has not mentioned this
mind you, he has not, but 1 as
his friend deem it no more than
right to speak of it trust you
will choose a gentleman's weapon.
In the use of the pistol or the gun
he is not versed."
"While you imagine am" said
Ruric, with a contemptuous curl of
the lip, for he knew that the man
was lying. He could see by the fell
lows very looks that Damonoff had
commissioned him to broach this
matter.
"Of course you are" returned Ur-
zen.
"And the count is most excellent
ly versed in the use of the sword, is
he not? ?"
"He is accounted a fair swords
man."
"Aye; so thought. But it mat
ters not to me. The thought had
not entered my mind before, save
that I supposed swords would be the
only weapons thought of. However,
Orsa will settle it with you. l have
given him no directions at all save
to serve me as he thinks proper and
to act upon the understanding that
if I have given offense to the count
I would do the same again under
provocation. You understand now?''
"I do, sir" returned Urzen in
choking tone.
"Then wait a moment, and will
give you message to Orsa."
Thus speaking, Ruric went to his
desk, and upon the bottom of the
missive he had received from the
count he wrote:
Dear Alaric-I send this to you by the same
hand that bore 1t to me. and you are hereby en-
powered to act for me as you may deem proper
| shall be governed strictly by your arrangements.
RuRIc.
Having written this, he showed it
to Urzen and asked him if he would
bear it to the lieutenant. An af-
frmative reply was given, and then,
simply folding the note in the oppo-
site way from the original fold, the
gunmaker superscribed it anew to
the lieutenant and handed it to his
visitor. Urzen took it, and, with a
stiff bow, but without speaking, he
turned and left the place.
That evening about 8 o'clock a
sledge drove up to Ruric's door, and
Alaric Orsa entered the house. He
called the youth aside and informed
him that the arrangements he'd all
been made.
"Damonoff is in hurry" he said,
"and we have appointed the meet
ing at 10 o'clock tomorrow fore
noon. 1t will take place at the bend
of the river just beyond the Viska
hill"
"And the weapons?" asked Ruric.
"Swords,' returned Orsa. "The
count will bring his own, and he
gives you the privilege of selecting
such one as you choose"
'1 thank you, Alaric, for your
kindness thus far, and you may rest
assured that I shall be prompt"
"Suppose I call here in the morn
ing for you?" suggested the visitor.
81 should be pleased to have you
do so.'
"I will, then. I shall be along in
good season with my sleoge, and we
will both reach the ground togeth-
er."
Thus it was arranged, and then
Orsa took his leave.
When Ruric returned to his seat
by the fireplace, he noticed that his
mother watched him narrowly and
with more than ordinary interest.
He had once made up his mind that
he would say nothing to his mother
about the affair until it was over;
but as the time was set and the hour
drew nigh his mind wavcrcd. When
it was over, where might he be?
But he was cut short in his refec'
tions by the voice of his parent.
"Ruric," she said, and her voice
trcmblcd while she spoke, ''you will
pardon me for prying into your af-
fairs, but cannot hide from myself
that something Of more than usual
moment is the matter with you.
Why are these men calling to and
fro?. And why are you so thought
full and moody? You know a moth
or,, fool;ur. and you will nardOn