Warren sheaf., 1901-08-29
knew rnat i was missing Z"

knew rnar was missing?
"Ah, Ruric." returned the moth
er, with a kindling eye, ''you do nc:
know how that noble girl loves you!
Oh, her heart was almost broken
when she knew that evil had befall-
en- you!"
The widow had it in her mind to
tell of the scene which had transpiir-
ed upon the dukes coming into the
maiden's presence when she was
there, but she thought a second time
ere she spoke, and she then conclud-
ed not to speak Of it at present, for
she knew 'twould only serve to give
her son additional pain without be-
showing any benefit.
"By heavens" uttered Ruric at
the end of troubled reverie and at
the same time clasping his hands
vehemently together, '.was ever man
so surrounded by impenetrable mys-
terry before! This monk is surely q
good man. He has served me well,
and l am sure he would serve me
more if opportunity offered. But
who is he? Have you found out any
thing concerning him?"
81 have not, my son." a,@s
'|But is it not strange?'
'1t is." .-..--.. ,..... .s-.
And so they conversed until their
dropping lids would no longer re-
main apart, and then, having first
rendered up their thanks to God and
asked his help for the future, they
retired to their respective places Of
rest. Ruric had strange dreams, and
for the life of him he could not tell
whether they were good or bad.
Once he dreamed that he was a duke
himself and that he had wife
whose face he had never seen. She
would not raise her veil until the
ceremony was performed. Then she
removed the obstruction, and Ruric
started on beholding the face Of
Vladimir, the monk! And then
Vladimir seemed to say ''All this
I have done for thee. Do you like
it?" And Ruric dared not object,
because Vladimir had done so much
for him. r.
And now while Ruric awakes
from his dreams and wonders what
they mean let us look in and see
what is going on in the ducal palace.
1t was early morning, and the
Duke of lula was once more in his
own private apartment. He had not
slept we'll, for he, too, had had
dreams, and they were troublesome
ones. They hung about him even
now, and they filled his mind with
dark and gloomy forebodings. He
paced to and fro across the apart
ment, sometimes stopping and bow
ing his head and then starting on
again with new clouds upon his
brow. THUS he walked and pondered
until he was aroused by a stealthy
football close by the door. He stop
ped and listened. He knew the step.
''lwas the one he had been waiting
for. He moved to the door and
opened it, and the humpbacked
priest, Savotano, entered the apart
ment. ..@ ~
**By St. Paul, Savotano, I feared
you would never GOMEZ the duke
uttered as his workman closed the
door behind him. ~.
81 would have come sooner if I
could, my lord, but even now it is
early morning. The sun is hardly
above the city walls
"Well, it is early, I know, but I
have not slept WE'LL"
*1 have not slept at all, my lord"
"No, Savotano. You look worn
and weary. But you have been at
work." -.
"Aye; I have" <:
Ana you nave come to tell me
the result Of that work. Does it
move you so to do such work? I
thought you were used to it?"
The priest gazed into his masters
face, but he did not speak.
<Bah!' uttered OF ga contemptu-
ously. *FWhat is the killing Of a
man? But tell me, did you conceal
the body SO that NO one will find
it?" .a
It was some moments before Sa-
votano spoke. His frame trembled,
and his hands worked nervously to-
gether. But at length he said in
hesitating tone: - ....
'He is not dead, my lord"
<tNot dead yet? But you promis-
ed me he should be-" 4-.a.
II know, but we could not do it,"
<Bah! gave you credit for more
firmness. Not kill man? What is