Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-08-14
votano, staggering back, "it is the
onnnororp

VOtano, staggering uach, IL 10 Ill,
EMPEROR
@Aye," cried Peter, turning his
darkly flashing eye upon the stag:
gering duke, '1 am your emperor
Paul, 60 and call the guard"
The boy fastened from the pal
ace, and when he returned he was
followed by party of the Imperial
guard.
mercy, mercy, sire!" gasped the
duke, sinking down on his knees.
But the emperor answered him
not. He only turned to his guard
and bade them secure the duke and
the foul priest.
Rosalind Valdai gazed upon the
transformed man until the strange
truth worked its way to her strug-
Cling mind, and then she turned
once more to Ruric. She gazed up
into his face, and she saw the holy
smile which rested there. The JOY
full truth came to her now, and, with
one long, low cry of frantic hope
and bliss, she sank upon her noble
lovers bosom. She could not speak.
She could only cling closely and
more close to her loved protector,
and, with her head pillowed close by
the heart that beat for her, she wept
away all the grief of her opened
soul.
"Olga," spoke the emperor after
the nobieman had been firmly
bound, ''your race of iniquity is
run"
"No, no, sire!" the duke cried in
humble, supplicating tones. "Say
not so! In this single thing may
have been wrong, but let my mad,
consuming love be some palliation
for my offense. Oh, you will not
crush me with public shame for
this! You will not cast from you
one who loves you well"
"Oh, miserable man," uttered Pc
ter, with a look of utter contempt
upon the base wretch, "add not per-
jury to your already accumulated
crimes! Hark ye, some months
since knew there was conspiracy
in my capital, and knew there was
much of evil, too, which was never
reported to me. resolved to ferret
it out, and to that end | meant to
mingle among my people without
their knowing me. So had that
robe made and so stuffed and wad-
ded that l could even hide my chin
in the seeming fat. / assumed the
garb, and my own master at arms
did not at first know me. Once in
awhile l made my page assume the
garb and be seen in it about the
city, and thus all thought Of sus-
pecting me-was cut off IhaEe. been
at the work, Olga, and have found
out all 1 sought. 1t was mere acci-
dent that first threw me in the way
of this young gunmaker, and it was
by accident, too, that / overheard
the Count Damonoff and his COM
panion discussing the subject of
their mission to the gunmaker's
shop. Of course l followed that
scheme up, and I should have
snatched our fair young countess
from your grasp ere this had | not
been desirous of arriving at another
point first. Perhaps you know that
the Princess Sophia and the Minis
ter Gallitzin have planned grand
overturn of my throne? All! You
tremble! And now, my noble duke"
the emperor continued in a deeper
tone, 81 have learned of your own
guilt in that affair. Oh, you do love
me, do you? But l know you now.
Two of your tools are in my hands.
They are named Totma and Viska
They have made full confession,
and l now know all your villainies.
l know what you have planned
against this noble countess and
against her noble lover. ! know
what you planned against the Count
Damonoff, and | know, too, what
you have planned against your en-
peror. Not word, sir! You are
the Duke of Tula no more. A more
worthy man wears the ducal coronet
from this hour. Ruric Nevel shall
assume the station you have dis
graced, and I know he will ennoble
it once more"
As Peter ceased speaking he wav-
ed his hand to his officers, and they
bore the prisoners from the room.
The priest said not word, but Olga
cursed loudly and bitterly.
When the dark villains had gone,
Peter stepped forward and took Ros-
alind's hand. There was a tear in his
eye, and his neither lip trembled.
"Fair COUSIN" he said in low,
soft tone, 81 could not promise thee
that thou shouldst not wed with the
Duke of Tula, for | had even then
planned that You should do that
thing. But it will not be very hard,
will it?"
The countess gazed up, and a
murmur of thanks was upon her
lips. but the gushing food started