The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-12-02
81 do not think the duke would be

treacherous."
"He may be- answered Ruric.
"He knows how lightly our noble
emperor holds empty titles, and
perhaps he fears if this matter came
to the imperial ear and you should
claim the right to marry with whom
you pleased Peter would grant your
PRAYER; hence he wished to get my
claim set aside so that he may have
clearer field in which to move.
Do you know how the dukes affairs
stand at present."
Rosalind thought awhile ere she
answered, and then, while startled
expression came to her face, she
said:
"Ruric, I do remember now that
between the duke and young Damo-
noff there is some matter of dispute.
There is some question Of proper
ty."
"Ah!" uttered the youth earnest
ly. Chow is that"
"Why, as near as I can under
stand it, there was dispute be-
tween the duke and the elder Damo-
noff concerning the ownership of
Drotzen, the estate on the Don, in
Kaluga, and since the fathers death
Conrad has maintained his family
claim. You know the duke and the
old count married sisters, and this
estate belonged to them"
"And now,' suggested Ruric,
"may not the duke mean to compro-
mise this matter by giving your
hand to the count and taking Drot-
zen in exchange?"
"Oh, l cannot think sol" the
maiden returned earnestly. 'The
duke would not do that. He is kind
to me, l am sure. He loves me as
though | were his own child. l
know he does, for in thousand
ways he has shown it. He is mind
full of my comfort ard anticipates
my every want. No, no; if he is
deceiving any one, he must be de-
ceiving the count.
Ruric started as the new suspi-
cion flashed upon him. Had the
duke sent Damonoff upon that mis-
sion on purpose to get him into a
quarrel? "By my soul" thought the
youth to himself, ''the duke knows
that I have taught the sword play,
and he knows that the count would
in this match for me. So he thinks
in this subtle manner to make me
an instrument for ridding him of a
plague!'' But the youth was care
ful not to let Rosalind know of this.
He knew she would be unhappy if
she knew that a duel was likely to
come off between himself and the
count.
After some minutes of compare
tive silence Ruric touched upon a
point which lay very near his heart.
'Rosalind," he said, taking both
her hands in his own, ESthere is one
point upon which we have never
spoken, and l know you would have
me speak plainly and candidly. You
know nv situation. Nv father and
your father fought side by side, but
my father fell, while yours returned
to his home. For his eminent serv-
ices your father received title and
a noble estate from the grateful Ee-
odor, while my father was only for
gotten; hence our stations are now
widely different. Yet l am not poor.
No other man in the empire can
compete with ne in the manufac-
ture Of arms, and from my labor /
derive handsome income. You
know it all. And now, # other OBJ
stacles were removed, would yoa
give ne YOUR hand and become mine
for lifc?''
AYE, Ruric," the noble girl an
swered, with beaming eyes and a
joyful expression Of countenance
::Wcrc YOU reduced to the lowest es-
tate of poverty, so long as your SEN
! ercus, pure soul was free | should
Only be the more anxious to hit yyo9
Up. Oh, my love knows only the
heart whe7eon it is secured, and for
nv future Of JOY | ask only the
truth Of my husbands love.
"BIcss YOU, dearest" Rarie mur-
INJURED, ciasping the fair being 70
his bosom. And for a lcns while
Rosalind's head lay plllowcd upon
tie shoulder Of the man she so tru-
ly. fondly loved.
That was not the time for bring
inc forward doubts and fears. RE-
ric had many questions IN his mlac
concerning the impedlments that
e4oo1 IN tho wav Of their union. bat