The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1901-08-10
THE GUNMAKER
OF MOSCOW.
%
BY
SYLvANUS COBB, JR.
toHTINUED.I

could | wipe out the past from my
memory, could die content"
Enough" returned the count
warmly. "rhis was my hottest wish,
though pride has kept back its ut
terance. Oh, | feared you would
gloat over my death ~ that YOU
would be glad when / was gone"
"No, no. | should have been
monster then!"
"There are many such. And vet
] wronged you by the thought. But
could not help IT,"
A moment more passed in silence,
and then the invalid resumed:
"There is one reason why should
like to liye-I should be prepared
for better life. Since Death has
come-since have known that he
stood waiting by my bed have
wondered at the evil life / have led,
and | have thought that if the dark
king would let me remain here
few years more | could be a better
man. But IT'S too late now. The
die is east. Yet | have some JOY in
this You have shed a happy light
upon my dying hour. God bless
you!7
Ruric's feelings were easily moved,
and there was something in the deep
solemnity Of this occasion that
started his heart to a tender mood,
and the last words of the dying man
flowed the cup. He bowed his head,
and, covering his eyes with one hand
while he held in the other the hand
Of Conrad, he wept freely and ST.
lently.
AT this moment the woman arose
and left the room
"She's gone," said the count after
he had recovered somewhat from
the deep emotions which had been
stirred within his own soul "Sit
down here beside me-"
Ruric obeycd the request, and aft
er he had seated himself he gazed
sadly into the sick mans face
"Say, Ruric," the count asked,
while an eager look overspread his
face, "wast true what Kopani told
me--that you oyercame Demetrius
the Greek with the sword ?"
Il did" the youth replied in a
whisper.
"But you did not disarm him2
You did not fairly take his sword
from him ?"
81 did, Conrad"
oMy soul, is it possible? And
where have you been all your life r
On Moscow and ia Spain"
And yet obscure"
Never mind that now inter
posed Ruric. 81 have something of
more interest Do you But you
will pardon me for what | may say,
for | assure you mean it all for
your good?"
Speak on" said Conrad, at the
same time running his eyes almost
enviously over the gunmaker's no
bly, developed breast and shoulders.
"Then, first, have just come
from the Lady Rosalind- All,
meant not
eco on. ] may have felt a pang
at the mention of that name, but |
know she loves you, and were !
strong at this moment as ever I'd
relinquish all claims of her to you.
So fear not"
"Thank you, sir count, for this.
But, was remarking, / am not long
from her presence, and between us
both we have suspected some dark
things. Do you think the duke was
really your friend~
The count started, and a strange
CLEAN shot from his eyes.
"Go on" he uttered.
"Then listen. Before you ever
came to my shop the duke had sol
emily promised Rosalind that she
should receive no more trouble from
you-that you would claim her hand
no more"
"Do you know this 2"
81 do"
'But it cannot be. Why should
he have sent me on that mission to
you?"
81 had taught one of his officers
the sword exercise, and he knew /
was your superior in strength and
the use Of the weapon"
"Well, 90 on" whispered the
count nervously and anMously.
"Why, he thought very likely that
we should not meet on such a ques-
ton without a quarrel. lie knew
your natural impetuosity and my
strength Of arm and hoped you
would fall"
"But--go onp
ellis estate is running out, and he
wants the whole of Drotzen."