Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-09-20

= AASA & AdA 8AS1C-
after, and should you tire Of the du-:
1sty your emperor will be. ever ready
to grant her the asylum she needs"
a week had passed away from the
time Of the strange scene just. re-
corded. The former duke, Olga,
E-had been convicted ofztreason and
was now on his way to the eternal
Wilds Of Siberia. But let me say
here he never reached the. land Of
This Punishment. His proud heart
broke on the road, and he died, un-
known and uncared for, in a peas
ants cot among the rugged noun
tains of Uralia. He had begged of
the officer who guided him not to
tell his station, and the. peasants
supposed they were burying COM
mon traveller when they. laid away
the mortal remains of Olga in the
cold grave they had prepared.
Savotano, the humpbacked priest,
was executed as q common murder
er, while his companions in crime
were punished as their various de-
grecs Of guilt demanded. .
- Aud now comes the closing scene.
Within the largest apartment of
the /duc1l palace were assembled a
brilliant company, and the emperor
himself was master Of the ceremo.
MES. ~... - -
Ruric Newell, the gunmaker of
Moscow, knelt at.the emperor's feet,
end Peter drew his sword and laid
the ,glittering blade upon Ruric's
shoulders, and as he did SO he said:
: "Arise, Sir: Ruric, duke of lula,
and receive thy Just titles and bond
ed instrumental"
The youth arose, pale and trem7
bling with the strange excitement
Of the moment, and then the emper-
or handed him a broad parchment
roll, with it's heavy seals and vignette
bearing the arms Of the dukedom.,
sfNow,", cried Peter, whose brow
was was flushed with the Joy be himself
= was making, '1et The rest 81 the
work go on. Come, holy father, ~
need your help TO perforn the rest
Eef the ceremony." ..z,= Is. .,
Aurlc was pale ne, longer: J As he
felt the warm hand Of Resahnd
trembling within his own the rich
blood 1aouAted to his brow and tern
PIES, and In his dark eyes the
strange love Light daAee1 like re-
hected sunteans! =: IA: f:
Fhe' word was speken-the bond.
OF union was made 7and, after al,
Rosalind Valdai had become Ouch
ess OF Tula. The widowed mother
was the first to bless them, and the
emperor came next. Then came:
Paul and Zenobie, hand in hand, 81 s
sss: ! !. poke the happy duchess
as she caught the new light 81 zZe-s
noble s-eye and. then turned to the
glowing face Of Paul. "You are
playing at the game of love"
I: You will not object" whispered
the fair girl, hiding her face upon
the bosom OF her MISTRESS ~. { I.
- No, 10, Zenobie. !" : s. :,
And you, my master, " spoke
Pau, gazing eagerly into: Ruric's
face, s you will not say nay" {. z>.::.
mo, no, my noble Paul. IF you
can win her, you have my consent"
) :: But she was won already. l. :
q But there was yet one more to
come. Conrad, Count :Damonoff, !:
somewhat 8; ne pale and veal, but yet on
thu. sure road to health, moved sloW-
" forward and took the hand of the
joyous bride. Then he reached forth
the other hand and too x the palm OF
Ruric, and as he thus held both
their hands he said: r: ~ ?. - : \ :.
my lord and lady, and, I must
say, my best Of friends, let this mo-
m !, atone for all of darkness be-
tween us In the past. Be you happy