The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-08-02

lt|iiio' lulu uioJ UO ouOuooaO
, faces l would recollect to have seen,
but not one of them would excite
even passing emotion in my soul.
But your face calls up some power
, full emotion, some startling memory
of the past, which bothers me. Who
are you, good father? What are
you? Where have we met before !?
5 Was it in Spain?'
NO." said Vladimir, with shake
OF the head. And then, with a
more serious shade upon his face,
ne added: 'Let this pass now. I
will not deny to you that there may
be some grounds for your strange
fancies, but assure you most sa-
credly that until last night l never
came in direct companionship with
you before-at any rate, not to my
knowledge. You have acted the
good Samaritan toward me, and I
hope | may at some time return the
favor"
mo, mol" quickly responded the
youth. eff you return it, then it
will be a favor no more. l have
only done for you what every man
should do to his neighbor, and so
far from needing thanks for my
services | would rather give them
for the occasion, for | know of no
source of JOY SO pure and pleasur-
able as that feeling in the soul
which tells us we have done good
act"
The dark monk reached forth and
took the youthful artisans hand,
and, with more than ordinary emo
ton, he said:
''You touch the harp strings of
the soul with a noble hand, my
son, and if any deed of kindness
can give me JOY it will be a deed
for you. We may meet again, and
until then l can only say, God bless
and prosper thee"
With these words the monk turn
ed away, and ere Ruric could COM
mand presence of mind enough to
follow him he had gone from the
house. The youth wished to say
something, but amid the varied
emotions that went leaping through
his mind he could gather no con
nected thoughts.
After the monk was gone Ruric
returned to his bench and resumed
his work He asked his boy if he
had ever seen the strange man be-
fore, but Paul only shook his head
and answered obviously.
"What do you mean?" the gun
maker asked, gazing the boy in the
face. EDO you think you have seen
him before?'
81 cannot tell, my master. / may
have seen him before and / may not.
But surely you would not suppose
that my memory would serve you
better than your own"
Ruric was not fully assured by
this answer. He gazed into Paul's
face, and he fancied he detected |
some show of intelligence there
which had not been spoken. But he
resolved to ask no more. questions
at present. He had asked enough,
he thought, upon such a subject,
and he made up his mind to bother
himself no more about it, feeling
sure that if his boy knew anything
which would be for his masters in
terest to know it would be commu-
in due season. SO he APP
piled himself anew to his work, and
at noon the pistols were finished.
Toward the middle of the after
noon; just as Ruric had finished
tempering some parts of a gun lock,
the back door of his shop was open
ed, and two men entered. They
were young men, dressed in costly
furs and both of them stout and
good looking. The gunmaker rec
ognized them as the Count Conrad
Damonoff and his friend Stephen
Urzen
81 think | speak with Ruric Ne
vel Z" said the count, r wing for
ward.
'EYou do returned Ruric, not at
all surprised by the visit, since peo-
pie of all classes were in the habit
81 calling at his place to order
arms.
The count turned a shade paler
han before, and his neither lip trem {
'led. But Ruric thought that might
'e the result of coming from the
old into warm place. However. ,
lie was soon undeceived, for the l
cunts next remark was significant: I
GU are acquainted with the La- {
ly Rosalind Valdai?" he said.
Il am" returned Ruric, now be- !
inning to wonder.
well, SIR" returned Damonoff,
nth much haughtiness, "perhapss
ny business can be quickly and sat s
sfactorily settled. 1t is my desire
0 make the Lady Rosalind my
rife" ,