Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1901-07-04

hands and fearful eyes, : they wln
take you from me now!"
"Fear not, my mother" the youth
confidently returned. tsThe emperor
will not blame me when he knows
all the particulars. But come, let US
go in.
;Ruric found the officers, three Of
them, in the kitchen, and he asked
them if they sought him.
eve seek Ruric Newell, the gun
maker" replied the leader.
81 am the man, sir. May I know
what is wanted?"
"Cannot you guess ?"
"Why, yes. suppose it must be
on account of the duel which was
fought this morning"
EXACTLY" -. = ..
"And who wants me?"
"Who should want you but the
EMPEROR"
ooh, they will not take my noble
boy from me!' cried Claudia, catch
ing the officer by the arm. "Tell
our good emperor that Russia has
taken my husband from me; that he
fell in his country's cause. Tell him
my boy was not to blame'-
FLUSH, MOTHER" interposed Ru-
ric. fFear not yet" -.
"Come," said the leader. 1T is
| growing late, and Peter will not
brook delay
'But they will not harm him!"
the mother frantically cried, cling
ing now to her son.
mo, no, my mother. Rest you
easy here until return" And then,
turning to the guard, he added,
;tLea6 on, and I will follow"
"Now rest you easy, my dear
mother.'' And with these words
Ruric gently set her back into her
chair and then fastened out after
the officers. In the entry he put on
his bonnet and pelsse and then fol-
lowed his conductors out to the
street, where stood a double sledge,
with two horses attached. @.~:
"You seem to look upon the kill
ing of Russian noblemen as very
small affair."" said one of the officers
After they had started on their way.
els he dead, then?" Ruric quick
ly asked.
s.The doctors think his case a crit
ical one. But that is not the thing.
You would have killed him if you
could" Y Ezzzr -. &:
aAe6, no. By heavens, tits not so
All who were present will swear that
I tried to spare him. liz
| Every WE'LL" returned the officer.
~We shall see about that when We
come to the palace. Perhaps you
may go clear; but, upon my soul, I
would not willingly occupy your
place" -...--o
Ruric cared not to argue the point
with those who knew nothing about
the circumstances, so he remained
silent during the rest of the ride. It
was near shutdown when they reach
ed the imperial palace, and Ruric
was conducted at once into the en-
peror's presence.
| The Emperor Peter was in one of
the smaller audience chambers, sit
ting at a large table covered with
purple velvet heavily wrought with
gold, and upon either hand stood
some of his private attendants. He
was a young man, not yet so old as
Ruric by some three years, but his
face already wore a mature look.
His frame was solid, but not large,
being rather slight than otherwise
in physical bulk. His dress betrayed
negligence and carelessness and was
in marked contrast with the rich
CARDS of his attendants. Such was
Peter of Russia, yet youth, small
in frame and careless Of those graces
which go to make up the sum of
court life, but still able to bear the
affairs of a great nation upon his
shoulders. Within that head work
ed mighty brain, and in that bos-
ON beat a heart thirsting more for
the good of Russia than for self or
kindred.
Ruric saw Stephen Urzen and the
surgeon there, and he also saw the
Duke Of lula there. He met the
dukes eye, and peculiar sensation
of fear ran through his mind as he
saw the stern, threatening express
sion that rested upon Olga's face.
"Sire," spoke the leader of those
who had conducted the prisoner
thither, ''Ruric Newell stands before
you"
"Ah," uttered Peter, casting his
eagle eye over the forms before him.
Nevel, advance" ,z.s =
With a bold yet modest step Ruric