The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-10-04

gu do YOU? But I know you now.
lPv, of your tools are in my hands.
nhov are named Totma and Viska.
T 1h have made full confession,
nd now know all your villainies.
know what you have planned
;.oainst this noble countess and
a9ainst her noble lover. | know
what you planned against the Count
namonoff, and | know, too, what
YOU have planned against your en-
1eror. Not a word, sir You are
he 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
rraced, and / know he will ennoble
It once more.
As Peter ceased speaking he wav-
Cd 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 tear in his
owe 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 l had even then
Manned 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
forth anew, and she gould only look
the joyful blessings she could not
speak. Peter imprinted kiss upon
her pure brow and then gave her
hand to Ruric, and as he did so he
sad with warm smile:
"You must be her guardian here
after, and should you tire of the du-
ty your emperor will be ever ready
to grant her the asylum she needs. "
A week had passed away from the
time of the strange scene just re-
corded. The former duke, Olga,
had been convicted Of treason and
WAS now on his way to the eternal
wilds of Siberia. But let me say
here he never reached the land of
his Punishment. His proud heart
broke on the road, and he died, un-
known and uncared for, in a peas
ants cot among the rugged noun
tains of Uralia. He had begged OF
the officer who guided him not to
tell his station, and the peasants
supposed they we're burying a com
mon traveller when they laid away
the mortal remains of Olga in the
cold grave they had prepared.
Savotano, the humpbacked priest
mas executed as common murder
er, while his companions in Grim
we're punished as their various de
grees of guilt demanded.
And now comes the closing scene
Within the largest apartment o
the ducal palace were assembled
brilliant company, and the empero
himself was master of the ceremc
MES.
Ruric Newell, the gunmaker c
Moscow, knelt at the emperor's fee
and Peter drew his sword and lai
the glittering blade upon Ruric
shoulders, and as he did so he said
"Arise, Sir Ruric, duke of Tul
and receive thy just titles and bon'
ed instrumental =
The youth arose, pale and tren
bling with the strange excitemel
of the moment, and then the empe
or handed him a broad parchmel
roll, with it's heavy seals and vignet
bearing the arms of the dukedom.
'Now," cried Peter, whose bro
was flushed with the joy he himse
was making, '1et the rest of t
work go on. Come, holy father, '
need your help to perform the re
of the ceremony"
Ruric was pale no longer. AS
felt the warm hand of Rosalil
trembling within his own the ri
blood mounted to his brow and tel
pies, and in his dark eyes t
strange love light danced like
fected sunbeams.
The word was spoken-the bo
of union was made-and, after
Rosalind Valdai had become Duo
ess of lula. The widowed motf
was the first to bless them, and
emperor came next. Then ca
Paul and Zenobie, hand in hand.
"Ahap' spoke the happy Ouch
as she caught the new light of
nobie's eye and then turned to
glowing face of Paul. "You
playing at the game of love-"
"You will not object" whispe
the fair girl, hiding her face VI
the bosom of her mistress.