The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-12-02

credly that until last night l never
came IN direct companionship with
you before-at any rate, not to my
knowledge. You have acted the
good Samaritan toward me, and |
hope I may at some time return the
favor
s'No, non quickly responded the
youth. ''If you return it, then it
will be a favor no more. [ have
only done for you what every man
should do to his neighbor, and so
far from needing thanks for my
services l would rather give them
for the occasion, for I know Of no
source Of JOY so pure and pleasur-
able as that feeling in the soul
which tells US we have done a good
act"
The dark monk reached forth and
took the youthful artisans hand,
and, with more than ordinary emo
ton, he said:
"You touch the harp strings Of
the soul with noble hand, my
son, and if any deed Of kindness
can give me JOY it will be a deed
for you. We may meet again, and
until then I can only Say, God bless
and prosper thee"
With these words the monk turn
ed away, and ere Ruric could COM
mand presence Of mind enough to
follow him he had gone from the
house. The youth wished to say
something, but amid the varied
emotions that went lcaping through
his mind he could gather no con-
nected thoughts.
After the monk was gone Ruric
returned to his bench and resumed
his work. He asked his boy if he
had ever seen the strange man be-
fore, but Paul only shook his head
and answered obviously.
"What do you mean:?" the gun
maker asked, gazing the boy in the
face. E'Do you think you have seen
him before? ?"
II cannot tell, my master. l may
have seen him before and [ may not.
But surely you would not suppose
that my memory would serve you
better than your own"
Ruric was not fully assured by
this answer. He gazed into Paul's
face, and he fancied he detected
some show Of intelligence there
which had not been spoken. But ne
resolved to ask no more questions
at present. He had asked enough,
he thought, upon such subject,
and he made up his mind to bother
himself no more about it, feeling
sure that if his boy knew anything
which would be for his masters in
terest to know it would be commu-
nicated in due season. So he ap-
piled himself anew to his work, ano
at noon the pistols were finished.
Toward the middle of the after
noon, just as Ruric had finished
tenpering some parts of gun lock,
the back door Of his shop was open
ed, and two men entered. They
were voung men. dressed in costly
furs and both of them stout and
good looking. The gunmaker rec
oenized them as the Count Conrad
Damonof and his friend Stephen
Urzen.
81 think I speak with Ruric Ne
vel?" said the count, moving for
ward.
.You do," returned Ruric, not at
all surprised by the visit, since peo-
pie of all classes were in the habit
Of calling at his place to order
arms.
The count turned a shade paler
| than before, and his neither lip trem-
bled. But Ruric thought that might
be the result of coming from the
cold into a warm place. However,
he was soon undeceived, for the
counts next remark was significant:
"Yo GU are acquainted with the La
dy Rosalind Valdai?o he said.
81 am" returned Ruric, now be-
ginning to wonder.
"WeIl, sir" returned Damonotf,
with much haughtiness, perhaps
my business can be quickly and sat
isfactorily settled. 1t is my desire
to make the Lady Rosalind my
wife
Ruric Newell started at thes*
words, and he clasped his hands to
hide their tremulousness. But he
was not long debating upon an ar
swer.
"And why have YOU come to nc
with this information, SIR" he ask
ed.