The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-08-30
CHAPTER K.
A STRANGE DISCOVERY

Ill hOSCON 6dlQ Dc WOulQ IeCONCI
but now that same surgeon said b
must fall A strange change ha,
come over him. It was not fever
but, rather, consuming of vitality
He was failing fast, and no art o
} medicine could revive him. Som
thought he must be bleeding inward
ly, but others knew better than this
because in that case there would b
some outward symptom. The wounc
itself was healing, but the diseas,
was not. The physician and tn,
priest were now in daily, and tn,
former almost in hourly, attend
ance. The surgeon was Kopani
and the priest was the humpbackec
Savotano.
Thus lay the count upon his bed
weak and faint, but at present al
most free from pain, and an old wo-
man was his only attendant, the
priest having just left 1t was just
after noon. The dying man had
just taken powerful stimulating
draft, though it was against the in
functions of the priest, as he said
that by such means the invalid
might die bereft of sense and thus
lose his hold upon salvation. He
had just taken this draft when there
was low rap upon the door. The
woman arose to answer the sum-
mons. She conversed few mo-
ments with the girl who had knock
ed, and when she returned to the
bed she announced that Ruric Ne
vel wished to enter.
''Let him come in" whispered
the count.
ssBut"-
"Never mind" he interrupted as
the woman commenced thus to ex-
postulate. sLet him come in. By
heavens, if he is my enemy let me.
see himl 1t may serve to arouse
me-"
SO the woman went to the door
again, and soon afterward Ruric
Newell entered the apartment. He
stepped lightly, noiselessly, to the
bedside, but it was some moments
ere he could distinguish objects by
the subdued light of the place. BY
and by, however, he overcame the
difficulty, and he started back in
horror as he beheld the features of
his adversary How pale and sunk
en-! How deathlike and CHASTITY
The count noticed the movement,
and he noticed the look.
"Count Damonoff," spoke the
gunmaker in low, solemn tone, "a
few days since / heard that you were
recovering, and l thanked God.
But today they told me you were dy-
ing, and | have come to ask that l
may take your hand ere you pass
away from earth AS God is my
Maker and my Judge, 1 would rath-
er lie down here and die for you
than have you pass away with a
curse of me upon your soul or on
your lips. Forgive me for what I
nave done and never again will l en-
gage in such a wicked work. For
ny own life, it is my country's and
ny mothers and | have no right to
hrow it away, and my antagonists
life is the sacred property of God,
which | have no right to touch but
n self defense. Forgive me-"
Slowly and heavily moved the dy-
ng man over, and then he extend
ID his thin and wasted hand.
"Ruric," he said, and his voice
vas stronger now, for the potion
vas working, "I am glad you have
'ome-very glad-for l ] we wish
ID, above all else of earth, to see
1ou. | could not send for you, for
knew not how you might come. 1
lave been all wrong in the things
hat have passed betwixt thee and
ne. l was mad and fool. | blame
'ou not, but rather do I thank you
or your kindness through all the
Gene Oh, | forgive you with all
ny heart. And now tell me that |
m forgiven"
forgiven ?" repeated Ruric. with {
trembling. lip, still holding the /
cunts hand within both his own.
Oh, would to God | could call YOU v
ack to lifel Forgiven? Oh, God, a
Tho reads all hearts, knows how t
umble, how sacred, is my forgive
ess TO you! Could | call you back, s
ould | wipe out the past from my .
lemory, | could die content" a
Enough, returned the count
ARMY. "This was my hottest wish. s
lough pride has kept back its ut
france. Oh, | feared you would f
loaf over my death = that YOU O
ould be glad when | was gomez
NO, no! should have been a
lonster then -
There are many such. And vet a
wronged YOU by the thought. But s
could not help it." d
"a moment more passed in silence, s.