Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-07-03
CHAPTER VII.
A STARTLING TRIAL

A STARTLING TRIAL
In order to understand the cir
cumstances under which Ruric was
brought before the emperor it will
be necessary to 60 back few hours:
The autocrat had occasion to send
for the surgeon, Kopani, who had
attended at the duel, and as he was
some time in answering the sum-
mons be was questioned when he did
come concerning his tardiness. His
answer was that he had been attend
ing the Count Damonoff.
"And what ails the count ?" asked
the emperor. "He was well yester'
day."
dyes, but he met with an accident
today"
"Look ye, Kopani," the young
ruler cried, who saw in an instant
that something unusual had hap
pened, "think not to conceal any
thing from me. What is it, now?"
"Sire, l meant not to hide any
thing from you. The count has been
engaged in duel"
"Hal Was he challengedp
mo, sire. He was the challenger"
$50, so. And who was the other
party?"
"A humble gunmaker, sire, nam
ed Ruric Newell"
"Nevel, Newell" soliloquized Pc
ter. "The name is familiar"
"His father was a captain in the
last war with the Turks. He rose
from the ranks under Feodor and
was one of the bravest of the brave"
captain Newell. All, yes. ! re-
member now. He and Valdai were
the two who first mounted the ram
parts at Izium. So the old dispatch
es read"
Eyes, sire. Poor Nevel was shot
a month afterward while leading his
brave company against whole
squadron of Turkish infantry, while
Valdai came home and got a colo
nel's commission"
"And afterward received a title" !"
added Peter.
'Nes, SIRE"
"And this gunmaker is this cap
tain's son?"
eyes, sire"
"And methinks Valdai left a
child"
"He did, sire; q daughter, who is
now with Olga. She is his ward"
eyes, yes. And the count fought
. duel with young Nevel and got
beaten, eh?"
Before the surgeon could answer
q page entered the chamber and an
uounced that the Duke of Tula
wished to see his imperial master.
The emperor directed that he
should be admitted, and ere long
afterward the proud duke entered
the apartment. lie was tall, stout
man, with light hair and blue eyes,
and not far from five and forty years
of age. His bearing was naughty,
though he was forced to show of
respect now that he was before his
master.
"Sire," spoke the duke after the
usual salutations had passed, 81
have come to demand justice at thy
hands. Ny young friend the Count
Conrad Damonoff has been most
brutally murdered"
cha! Say ye SO, olga9"
eyes, SIRE"
"But how was it,"
"Thus it was, sire: On the day be-
fore yesterday sent the count with
a message to one Ruric Newell, who is
gunmaker in Sloboda. He went as
I wished, and while there the gun
maker, who is a huge fellow, provok-
ed quarrel and knocked the noble
man down. Of course the count was
offended, and as the rulfian threat
ened to repeat the offense and as he
furthermore grossly insulted a no.
BILE lady whom the count held most
dear be could hardly help challeng-
ing him. The fellow accepted the
challenge and has succeeded Ly the
most cowardly maneuvering in in
ficting upon him mortal wound"
"This is serious affair" said the
emperor, who had not failed to note
the astonished look of the surgeon
while the duke was telling his story.
at is most serious, sire, and sure,
ly the rutfian should be at once exc
cuted."
"But did you not say that the
count challenged him?"
81 did, sire, but you must remem
Der that it was an instinct of sell
preservation with the noble count
The fellow would have undoubtedly
murdered him had he not taken thi:
course"
"Were you present at the duel, my
lord?"
"No, sire, but l have a frient
without who was present"
"Then you may bring him in"
The duke departed, and when HI
returned Stephen Urzen bore hin
company. =.
"This is the man, SIRE" Olga sai(