The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-12-09
TCONTINUED.I

Having written this, he showed II
10 Urzen and asked hinnif he would
bear It to the lieutenant. An af-
rnative reply was given, and then,
s simply folding the note in the oppo-
"a site Way from the original fold, the
gunmaker superseribed it anew to
she lieutenant and handed it to bis
visitor. Urzen took It, and, with .
stiff bow, but without speaking, he
turned and left the place.
That evening about s O'Clock a
sledge drove up to Rurie's door, and
Alaric 0rsa entered the house. BE
called the youth aside and informed
hiza that the arrangements had all
been made.
Damonof is IN hurry" " he said,
sand We have appointed tie meet
ing at 10 o'clock tomorrow fore
noon. It vii take place at the bend
Of the river just beyond the sViska
z
And the Weapons asked Ruric.
Swords, returned Orsa. saThe
count vii bring his own, and he
gives you the privilege of selecting
such. a one as you choose" "
thank you, Alarie, for your
kindness thus far, and you may rest
assured that shall be prompt"
Suppose i call here in the morn
ing for you ?9 suggested the visitor.
& should be pleased to have you
90 so.
viii, then. I shall be along il
good season with my sledge, and TO
VII both reach the ground toge.h-
FER
hus it was arranged, and tl,.a-
Ol,sa took his leave.
When Ruric returned to his. sos'
by the fireplace. he noticed that I
mother watched him narrowly ~
with more than ordinary interest.
He had once made up his mind that
he would say nothing to his mother
about the affair until it vas over,
but the time was set and The l..o,lr
dreV nigh his mind gE,es,..s.i.ed. Wien
1T vas over, where might he be?
But he was cut short in his rehec,
tiions by the voice of his parent.
Rurie, she said, and her voice
trembled while she spoke, you viii
pardon me for prying into your af-
fairs, but cannot hide from myself
that something OF more than usual
moment is the matter with YOU
Why are these men calling to and
fro? And why are you so thought
sfful and moody? You know moth
..aer's feelings. and you will pardon
mothers anxiety.
Surely, fHy mother" the yoatll
returned, gazing up for a moment
,and then letting his eyes ,!roop
again. At length he resumed, i
had made up my mind to tell you all
ere you spoke
There was something deep and
significant in Rurie's tone, and his
mother quickly caught the spark.
What is it:'' she tremblingly ut
tered, moving her chair nearer to
her child's side.
3. M.isten," tho young man said.
And thereupon he detailed tic cir
cumstanees attending the visit of
The Count Damonoff to his shop.
Then he told of his own visit to
Rosalind and its result and then Of
Che visit ofsStephen Urzen.
sAnd now, my MOTHER he add
ed without waiting for any reply,
&syou know it all. You see how l
am situated. Remember, our nation
has reached its present point by sue
eessful war. The soul of the nation
Is built upon military honor, and
since our noble emperor has opened
she way Of advancement Of the low
est OF his subjects who are brave and
true the coward is looked upon with
disgust upon all hands. Yet, my
mother, ] would have you speak.
For some moments Claudia Nevel
was silent. But at length she said.
while a tear glistened in her eye:
81 have given one loved being up
to my country's good. Russia TOOK
nay husband from me, and could i'll
afford now to lose my son. Yet
rather than one stain should rest
upon his name would see him. dead
before me. Oh, Ruric, you know
whether dishonor would rest upon
yoa were you to refuse this chal-
lenge-"
4 will speak plainly, my dear
mother" returned the youth in a
tremulous tone, for his parents
kindness had moved him. ''In my
soul I should feel perfectly justified