Cañon City record., 1901-08-15

pardon me FOR prying into your at
fairs, but l 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 moth
er's feelings, and you will pardon a
mothers anxiety"
"Surely, my mother" the youth
returned, gazing up for a moment
and then letting his eyes droop
again. At length he resumed, 4
had made up my mind to tell you all
ere you spoke"
There was something deep and
significant in Ruric's tone, and his
mother quickly caught the spark.
"What is it ?" she tremblingly ut
tered, moving her chair nearer to
her child's side.
'Iisten," the young man said.
And thereupon he detailed the cir
cumstances attending the visit af
the Count Damonoff to his shop
Then he told of his own visit 10
Rosalird and its result and then Of
the visit of Stephen Urzen.
"And now, my MOTHER" he add
ed without waiting for any reply.
'syou know it all. You see how
am situated. Remember, our nation
has reached its present point BY sue
cessful war. The soul of the nation
is built upon military honor, and
since our noble emperor has opened
the way of advancement of the low
est of his subjects who are brave and
true the coward is looked upon with
disgust upon all hands. Yet, my
mother, would have you speak"
For some moments Claudia Nevel
was silent But at length she said,
while tear glistened in her eve:
Il have given one loved being up
to my country's good. Russia took
my husband from me, and could i'll
afford now to lose my son. Yet
rather than one stain should rest
upon his name | would see him dead
before me. Oh, Ruric, you know
whether dishonor would rest upon
You were you to refuse this chal-
lenge."
Il will speak plainly, my deaI
mother" returned the youth in a
tremulous tone. for his parents
kindness had moved him. 'In my
soul | should feel perfectly justified
in refusing this meeting, for nc
principle Uf real honor is at stake
But were ! to back out now from
this should never meet another
generous look in Moscow. Every
one would point the finger of scorr
, toward me. and the word coward
, would ring always in my ears. II
may be a false state of things
; feel that il really is so-but how
) can help 1t? 1t is the curse of al
great military epochs. Battle alone
makes heroes. and SO all must meas
ure their honor by the force of Their
7 arms. The count carries even nov
upon his brow the mark of NV blow
/ and all will say he has a right tc
demand satisfaction. though know
that he provoked the quarrel OF
purpose. ! cannot refuse him on tn,
) ground OF station. for he IS abov,
: me in that. must meet him"
, "Then.- said the mother in a low
calm tone. but with much effort
r ''you shall not feel that your mother
would thwari your design. II youl
own good judgment saws 90. then go
If thev bring your body to me in tn,
.. stern grasp of death, shall pray fol
the soul that has gone and shal
: hope to meet YOU in the home of til,
, redeemed II YOU come back to m,
: alive. | shall thank God that you ar'
spared. But, alas, the JOY will b,
clouded with the thought of BLOOD
upon your hands and the knowledg,
that my iov is another's grief"'
''No. no. my mother" cried RuriS
quickly and earnestly Il will moi
have fellow beings blood uro my
hand if can avoid it. Only 10 save
nv own life sill take his. He has
done all this himself-all. all. TIL,
quarrel was his own, and the first
blow was his. The challenge is his
and now is not the responsibility his
also?"
ut is, nv son. so far as he alone
is concerned. If YOU have respon,
sibility, i, must be to your own soul
But tell me, has not the emperor
made some new law touching thi:
practice of dueling?'
"Yes, but only the challenger is
responsible. The party challenged is
held free from blame in the ewes oi