The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-08-02
ion. Speak plainly, and be sure


of my sympathy"
A few moments more the you'll
gazed silently upon his mother, anc
then he answered:
Cali this thought has been of one
person-of Rosalind Valdai."
Claudia Newell started as she
heard that name, and for the while
the color forsook her cheeks.
"What, my dear boy, what of hei
have you thought ?" she asked trem-
ulously
"What but for one thing could !
think, my mother? You have seen
her 2"
eyes, Ruric."
"And you have marked the grace,
the loneliness, the soul given beauty
of the noble girl ?"
81 know that she is beautiful, my
son, and also that she is good; at
least so think"
''Then what but love could move
me with deep thought of her? Oh,
my mother, / do love her! love her
with the whole strength of my heart
and soul"
"Alas, my Ruric, she will never
dare love theep'
"4ou know not that" the youth
quickly replied, his eyes burning
deeply and his open brow flushing.
"Did | not know she loved me be
sure | would never have allowed my
thoughts such range. We were chill
dren together, and even then we
loved. Fate has dealt differently by
us in the years that have passed
since those childhood times, but yet
/ am sure that her love for me is
not changed, save as increasing age
must change all the emotions of
our nature into deeper, stronger
lights and shades"
"But think, my boy; you a mere
she the offspring of nobility
and the ward of a duke-a stern.
cold, proud aristocrat, who looks
upon our station only as harsh mas
ters look upon their beasts of bur-
den. | fear you will find little else
but misery in such a course of
thought"
"At least, my mother, / will see
and if she loves me as /
owe her, and if she would accept my
nand"-
"Hush, my boy. Do not cherish
such hopes. Why should she mate
With thee when the richest mobiles of
the land would kneel for her hand ?"
Hold" cried Ruric, starting to
his feet, his handsome face flushed
and his bright eye burning. "Speak
not thus-at least not now. | flat
ter not myself, but l claim a soul as
pure and heart as noble as any
man in the land My mind is as clear,
my hopes are as high, my ambition
is as true to real greatness and
my will as firm as any of them. If.
Rosalind seeks the love of a true
heart and the protection of stout
arms and determined success, then
fear not to place myself by the side
IT any sutton in the land; but if
she seeks immediate wealth and the
glitter of some high sounding title,
hen-ah, know she does notl But
ct it pass now. will see her."
Claudia would not oppose the
Vlshes of her son, and she said no
more upon the subject. For awhile
othing further was said, until Ru-
lc remarked upon the increasing
orce of the storm.
"HarkP uttered his mother,
ending her ear in listening atti
lde. "Was that knock upon our
oor ?"
Surely no one is out on such a
light that could seek shelter here"
eturned Ruric. "You must have"-
The youth did not finish the SEN
'nce, for at that moment the knock
anne so loud that it was not to be
mistaken. The youth caught up the
andle and fastened to the door.
pened it, but the blast came roar
lg IN, whirling a cloud of snow in
Ruric's face and extinguishing
ne light at once.
rs there any one here?" the gun
laker asked, bowling his head and
lIelding his eyes from the driving
low with one hand.
"l es," returned a voice from the
tygian darkness. '1n Gods name.
It me in, or | shall perish"
"Then follow quickly" said Ru-
c. Here, give me your hand.
here, now come"
The youth found the thickly
owed hand-gloved with the soft
It fur-and, having led the invisi-
e applicant into the hall, he closed
lie door and then led the way to
lie kitchen. AS soon as the candle
as relightcd Ruric turned and gaz-
upon the newcomer. He was a
onk and habited something like
he of the black monks of st. Mi
lael. He was of Medium ho;obt