Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-07-26
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CHAPTER '. e
THE DUEL.

0UoO1 U11lS I1C111c NdS utCcASu. A4tCl
the meal was finished the gunmake1
went out to his shop and took down
from one of the closets a long leath.
ern case in which were two swords
both of the same make and finish
only different in SIZE. They were
Toledo blades and Of most exquisite
workmanship and finish. Ruric took
out the heaviest one, which was a
two edged weapon with cross hilt
of heavily gilded metal. He placed
the point upon the floor, and then,
with all his might, he bent the blade
till the pommel touched the point.
The 1.-THE steel sprang back to its
place with a sharp clang, and the
texture was not started. Then he
struck the flat Of the blade upon the
anvil with great force. The ring
was sharp and clear, and the weapon
remained unframed.
''By St. Michael, Paul, Moscow
does not contain another blade like
that. Damascus never saw a bet-
ter"
Thus spoke the gunmaker to his
boy as he balanced the beautiful!
weapon in his hand.
II think you are right, my mas
ter" the boy returned, who had be-
held the trial of the blade with I'M
bounded admiration. ''But," he add
ed, "could you not temper a blade
like that?'
"Perhaps if I had the steel. But
I have not. The steel of these two
blades came from India and was
originally in one weapon, a ponder
Gus two handed affair belonging to
a Bengal chieftain. The metal pos
sesses all the hardness of the finest
razor, with the elasticity Of the
most subtle spring. My old master
at Toledo gave me these as a me-
mento. We're to mention the sum
Of money he was once offered for
the largest one you would hardly
credit it."
GLOW much ?" asked: Paul, with a
boys curiosity. -. -.
''1t was sum equal to about 7OC
ducats.'
"And yet he gave it away"
aye, for its price was but imagi-
nary, while its worth to him was on
ly commensurate with the good it
did him. If he told the truth, he
loved me, and these he gave me as
parting gift as the best patterns l
could wish for when making SUCH"
After this Ruric put up the small
sword, and then he gave Paul few
directions about the work, promis-
ing to be back before night. The
faithful boy shook his head dubious
ly as he heard this promise, but he
said nothing, and shortly afterward
Ruric went into the house. Just
then Alaric Orsa drove up to tho
door.
Ruric was all ready but putting
ION his bonnet and pelisse. His
mother was in the kitchen. He
went to her with a smile upon his
face. He put his arms about her
and drew her to his bosom.
"God bless you, my mother!
shall come back" He said this and
then kissed her.
"God keep--and;-
It was all she could say.
Ruric gazed a moment into her
face, then he kissed her again, and
again he said:
"God bless YOU, my mother! i
shall come back"
He dared not stop to speak more.
Gently seating his fond mother up
on chair, he turned and hurried
from the place. In the hall he
Threw on his pelisse and bonnet, and
then he opened the door and passed
out.
"Have you a good weapon % ask:
ed Orsa as the horse started on.
II have fair one. I think it will
not deceive me" returned Ruric: -,
II asked" continued Orsa, *be-
cause Damonoff prides himself upon
the weapon he wears. It is a; Ger
man blade, and he thinks he can cut
in twain the blade of any other
weapon in Moscow with it, y
II have a good weapon" Ruric
said quietly, Hand one which has
i: stood more tests than most swords
will BEAR And after some further
remarks he. related the peculiar cir
cumstances attending the making of
the sword and his possession Of it. :
At length they struck. upon the
river, and in half an hour more they
reached the appointed spot. The day
was beautiful. The sun shone bright
& upon the glistening snow, and the
81 ar was still aud calm The sharp
2 toat Of the atmosphere served only
"a. HID &. e s.Ss ~, 81 .2tt5