Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-06-26

meaning had been read from the
first by Ruric. The youth caught
the motion of the eye, and he saw
that his heart was the place looked
to. His own movement was almost
instructive. He received his antag-
onist's sword midway upon his own
blade, then moved his arm quickly
forward and caught the point under
his cross guard; then, with all his
power, he wrcnched his arm upward
and backward, and the counts
sword went flying across the build
ing. 1t struck the opposite wall
with a dull clang, and the next in
stant it was half buried in the snow.
"Fear not, sir" said Ruric as the
count started back, with both hands
raised. '1 never strike an unarmed
man."
Damonoff's arms fell to his side,
and IA deep blush of shame mantled
his face.
"By St. Paul." cried the surgeon,
"your life is forfeited, sir count
and now you should be satisfied"
"No, no." the discomfted man ex,
claimed, starting up with rage and
modification. "That was hut a slip.
Twas a false step, a cowardly felnt.
I am not overcome"
"But, man of mortality, even now
your life is Nevel's. He may run
you through now if he chooses"
"But he has not" the count cried,
springing to where his sword had
fallen and snatching it up.
"Sir count" here spoke Ruric
calmly, but with marked contempt,
"you should not blame me for what
I have done, for thrice have you
tried to break my sword"
"Then try it againp Damonott
returned. "Take my sword again if
you can." ),
"Perhaps not" our hero retorted.
"But be sure your sword shall be
used no more after this day."
"Hal Rrag not, but strike. II
you cam
The conclusion of the sentence
was drowned by the clash of steel.
At the second stroke the count
made another furious thrust at his
antagonists heart. Ruric sprane
quickly aside, and with the whole
power of his good right arm he
struck Damonoff's blade close to the
haft and broke it in twain.
"My other sword, my other
sword!" the count shouted, now
blinded by absolute madness. "Oh,
give me my other
sHold!" cried both the surgeon
and Stephen Urzen in concert. "You
are mad, Conrad
"Mad? Oh, l shall be mad
Where is my sword?" the reckless
man yelled, casting the. bladeless
pommel down.
ssBut will you not listen one"-
"Away, l say! Shall | give up be-
cause my sword is broken? BY the
gods, the weapon deceived me
Where is the other?'
''Deceived thee, Conrad?" repeat
ed the surgeon sarcastically. "By
the Holy Ghost, had thy head but
received a hundredth part of the
blow 'twould not be upon thy shoul
ders nowT
But the count was beyond all rea
son. In his madness he saw not thai
his sword had been broken on pur
pose. He did not see that he hac
been at his antagonists mercy. But
his friends saw it all.
"Ha! Whom have we here ?" criet
Alaric, whose eye had caught a darl
form at the entrance of the ole
building.
1t was Vladimir, the monk.
"How now? What seek ye here?
asked Urzen as the fat, burly monl
waddled toward the party.
'I heard the clash of arms, m.
son, as I rode by, and 1 stopped tc
see what it was. Surely where the
work of death is going on child OF
the holy church of God may come"
"Aye," cried the count. "Come in
and welcome, but meddle not. Now
my sword, where is it?"
Reluctantly Urzen brought for
ward the second sword, but ere he
gave it up he said:
Beware, Conrad. You had bet.
ter
"Peace, babbler!" the excited foo
Kissed, snatching the weapon and
then turning quickly upon the gun
maker.
Thus far Ruric had remained 81
lent, but he felt it his duty to speak
now.
"Sir count" he said in tone sc
stern and authoritative and with {
look so commanding that the Other
was held in abeyance by it, 'I must
speak one word. You have provok'
cd a quarrel with me, ard you have
challenged me. | have no fear ol
death when duty calls for my life
but l would not die thus, nor would
slay fellow being thus. Six sep
arate times today since our sword:
first crossed have spared youl
1ifn"-