The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-02-10


known ard 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 were 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,
was executed as a common murder.
er, while his companions in crime
were punished as their various de-
grees of guilt demanded.
And now comes the closing scene.
Within the largest apartment Of
the ducal palace were assembled a
brilliant company, and the emperor
himself was master of the ceremo-
MES.
Ruric Newell, the gunmaker Of
Moscow, knelt at the emperor's feet,
and Peter drew his sword and laid
the glittering blade upon Ruric's
shoulders, and as he did so he said:
"Arise, Sir> >Ruric, duke of Tula,
and receive thy just titles and bond
ed Instruments"
The youth arose, pale and trem-
bling with the strange excitement
of the moment, and then the emper-
or. handed him broad parchment
roll, with its heavy seals and vignette
bearing the arms Of the dukedom.
Now" cried Peter, whose brow
was flushed with the Joy he himself
was making, "let the rest of, the
work go on. Come, holy father, we
need your help to perform the rest
Of the ceremony"
Ruric was.pale no longer. AS he
felt the warm hand of Rosalind
trembling within his own the rich
blood mounted to his brow and tenn
pies, and in his dark eyes the
strange love light danced like re-
fected sunbeams.
The word was spoken-the bond
of union was made-and, after all,
Rosalind Valdai had become Ouch
ess of Tula. The widowed mother
was the first to bless them, and the
emperor came nexts Then came
Paul and Zenobie, hand in hand.
"Ahap' spoke the happy duchess
as she caught the new light of Ze-
nobie's eye and then turned to the
glowing face Of Paul. 'sYou are
PLAYING at the game of love"
ssYou will not object" whispered
the fair girl, hiding her face upon
the bosom Of her mistress.
'sNo, no, zerobie."
"And you, my master" spoke
Paul, gazing eagerly into Ruric's
face, ssyou will not say nay"
ssNo, no, my noble Paul. If YOU
can win her, YOU have my consent."
But she was won already.
But there was vet one. more to
come. Conrad, Count Damonoff,
somewhat pale and weak, but yet on
the sure road TO health. moved slow
lv forward and took the hand of the
Joyous bride. Then he reached forth
the other hand and took the palm OF
Ruric. and as he thus held both
their hands he said:
"My lord and lady, and, | must
say, my best Of friends, let this mo-
ment atone for all of darkness be-
tween us in the past. Be you happy
both, and may God bless you. Let
me be accounted among your
friends, and let the future prove
how grateful can be-"
cave" cried Rnric, grasping the
counts hand more firmly, "let the
future show how grateful we can
all be for the blessings of this hour,
and while we look to God for help
we will not fail to remember in our
prayers the author of our joys.our
noble emperor, Peter of Russia.
And Sc closed the scene as 1t
should-with one long, loud shout
Of
"God bless our cmperor!"
Peter never forgot that moment.
In the long years thereafter when
he sometimes let the clouds of pas
sion settle upon his soul he remem-
bercd that scene and that shout. 1t
was one OF the bright spots in the
memory of his youth which ne cher
ished always.
THE END.
n:. ~. Ton;e of Conversation.