Newspapers / The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, … / June 28, 1901, edition 1 / Page 3
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j*> "* |.;I I The Gunm&ker | I Of Moscow if S t v >: ?? *S? Ey SYLVANUS C0D3. Jr. ! < 1 CTTArTElt II. * strange niorrrjiiNo. When Ruric eamc down in the morning, he found the monk al ready there and breakfast nearly ready. Eut little was said during the mealtime, for the monk seeiued busy with thoughts of his own, and Ilurie was too much engaged in studying the strange man's feat res | and pondering upon the various doubts and surmises that had enter ed his mind. After the meal was jover the monk accompanied the' gunmaker to his shop, and there he spent some time in examining the quaint articles of machinery that were used in the manufacture ot arms. Ilurie was engaged in finishing a ?pair of pistols, and for some min utes the monk had stood silently hv his side watching his movements At length the youth stopped in his work and laid the pistol down. "Excuse me. good father."'he said rather nervously, at the same time gazing his visitor in the face, ?"but 1 must ask you a ouestion. Where have 1 seen you before!'" "llow should 1 know!'" the monk j returned, with a smile. "Why," rcsur.tt.1 Rurie. with some hesitant v. "1 knew not hut that you ,might enlighten me. I have surely ?een you somewhere." "And are there not hundreds ?vhom you have sec ti in tins g/ at ?itv, aye, thousands, whom you might recognize as you recognize rue ?" "All- it nine he so hut not liUp this. There may be a thousand faces I would recollect to have seen, j but not one of them would excite 1 even a passing emotion in mv soul, j But your face calls up some power- ] ful emotion, some startling memory ; of the past, which bothers me. Who are you, good father? What are j you? Where have we met before? I Was it in Spain ?" "No," said Vladimir, with a shake i of the head. And then, with a more serious shade upon his face, he added: "Let this pass now. J i will not deny to you that there may be 6ome grounds for your strange j fancies, but I assure you most sa credly that until lust night I never j came in direct companionship with you before?at any rate, not to my I knowledge. You have acted the good Samaritan toward me, and 1 hope I may at some time return the j favor." "No, no!" quickly responded the | youth. "If you return it, then it will be a favor no more. 1 have only done for you what every man should do to his neighbor, and so far from needing thanks for my services I would rather give theni 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 artisan's hand, and, with more than ordinary emo tion, he said: "You touch the harp strings of fhe soul with a noble hand, my .son, and if any deed of kindness can give me joy it will bo a deed for you. We may meet again, and until then I can only say, Uod bless and prosper thee." t Iwwa ??? /-?r>t 1 -j turn ed away, and ore Ruric could com mand presence of mind enough to follow him he had gone from the Jiousp. The youth wished to say something, but amid the varied emotions that went leaping through his mind ho eould gather no con nected thoughts. After the monk was gone Ruric returned to his b -neh and resumed his work. lie asked his hoy if he had ever seen the strange man he fore, Lut Raul only shook his head =and answered dubiously. "What do you mean?" ^lie gun maker asked, gating the hoy in the face. "Do you think you have seen him !>efore?" "I cannot tell, my master. I may have seen him before and I 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, lie gazed into Paul's face, and he fancied he detected some show of intelligence there which had not been spoken. But he resolved to ask no more questions present. He had asked enough, be thought, upon such a subject, *nd he made up his mind to bother bimsclf no more about it, feeling sure that if his hoy knew anything wbich would be for his master's in terest to know it would be commu-J nicated in <Tue season. .>0 1 c ,.; plied himself anew to his wor' . unci at noon the j i>tc?! were !ini ??!> <!. Toward the middle of tie- after noon, just ns Kuril- had tim.l.ed tempering some parts <<f a pun h>. . the hack door of his shop v 1- i cd, and two men entered. The were young men, drc- id in cotl> furs and both of them stout and good looking. The guninuker rec ognized them as the Count Covad Ihimonoff and his friend Stephen Urzen. "I think I speak with Iiurie No vel?" said the count, moving for ward. "You do." returned Kuric, not at all surprised by the visit, since peo ple 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 nether lip trem bled. But liuric thought that might be the result of coming from the cold into a warm place. However, he was soon undeceived, for the count's next remark was significant: "You are acquainted with the I.a dy Rosalind Valdai?" he said. "1 am," returned Rurie, now be ginning to wonder. "Well, sir," returned Damono?. with much haughtiness, "perhaps my business can be quickly and sat isfactorily settled. It is my da in to make the Ladv Rosalia,i mv wife." It 11 lie t>t'l ri. ia l IV. Vi ui i: IV - v words, and lie damped Ids hands to hide their trernulousne. s. l? .it he was not long debating upon r.n an swer. "And why have you come to me with this information, sir?" he ask ed. 'A ou should know that already Do you not love the lady?" "Upon my soul, sir count, you ask me a strange question. What right lave yon to question me upon such a theme?'' "The right that every man has to pave the' wav for ! is own ri ' ts." replied Damon * f sharply. ",i.:t i you choose not toon wer let it pans, t know yon do love the lady, and r.ow t ask you to renounce all rlaims to her hand." "By St. Paul, sir count, your tongue runs into strange moods of speech! 1 renounce all claims to Rosalind A'artduiV hand! Was't so yqyi meant ?" "Aye, sir, precisely so." "Perhaps you will inform me what claims I may have upon the lady," I'uric returned, with sonic tremulousness in his tone, for the very subject was one that moved him deeply. "Ruric Novel, you shall not say that I did not make myself fully understood, and hence 1 will ex plain." The count spoke this as speaks a man who feels that he is doing a very condescending thing, and in the same tone he proceeded: "The Lady Rosalind is of noble parentage and very wealthy. My own station and wealth are equal with hers?my station, at all events. ?She may possess the undivided right to more property than 1 do; but that matters not. I love her and must have her for mv wife. 1 have been to see the noble duke, her miardiiin urxl Vwi aI? inn? e iiat t a m i ^ucuviuiii. iiiim nv uwjvxto live ev/ in v suit, hut be informed mc that there was one impediment, and that was her love for you. He knows full well, as I know, and as all must know, that she could never become your wife; but yet he is anxious not to interfere too much against her inclinations. So a simple denial from you to the effect that you can never claim her hand is all that is necessary. You understand mo. I trust. We seek this only for the fair lady's own good. Of course you must lie aware that tlie duke would never consent to her union with you, and yet he would wish to have your denial to show to Ilosalind when he announces his decision. I have a papor here all drawn up, and all that will be necessary is sim ply your signature. Here. It is only a plain, simple avowal on your part that von liase no hopes nor thoughts of seeding the hand of the lady in marriage." As the count spoke he drew a pa per from the bosom of his marten doublc-t, and, having opened it, he handed it toward the gunmaker. But Ruric took it not. He drew back and gazed the visitor sternly in the face. "Sir count," he uttered in a tone full of noble indignation, "what do you suppose I am? Do you mean to tell me that Cflga, duke of Tul% has commissioned vou to obtain sudi a renunciation or mer "Stephen," spoke the count, turn ing to his companion, "you heard the instructions the duke gave me this morning?" "Aye," returned l'i cp, directing his speech to Ruric; "1 did hear, and you have stand the ease plain ly." " "I may he as much snrpri cd as your elf," resin;', -d the to nt hauyii tily, "at litis str.'u e taste of the duke. V.'liy he should seek this sig nal from you I can only imagine ! ujioi. Iris desire to <11 up no re grets in the bosom of his fair ward, lie knovs that she was once inti- ) mate with you and that she no . feels a warm friend 'rip for you. For Iter sake he would have this sig nal from you." "Hut how for hi r sake?" asked Ruric, "Why." returned IknionofT,#"do you nit see? Rosalind i:i tli.* sim pliciiv of her heart may think t' t you?a?that you might claim her | love and out.of pure principle grant it to you siuiply because you were the first claimant." "Cut 1 never claimed her love," said lluric warmly. "If she loie me, she loves me from her heart. With the nohle duke 1 never spok ? hut ome, and then he came here for me to temper his sword. If you ! would ti arrv with the lady, do ro. and if you seek help in the work j seek it from those who have some ? power in the matter." "You mistake, sir." uttered the count hotly. "1 seek not power now. I only seek a simple word from one who may have some inlki cnce, even as a beggar, having saved the life of a hiji . may, through royal gratitude, wield an .influence. Will you sign the paper?'" Vaiv ??!! tine cfwmmrl ctrtintrii t n Ruric. and ho knew that thero was J something behind tlie curtain which he was not permitted to know. lie knew the proud and stubborn dllke well enough to know that he never would have sent such a message as this but for sonic design more than had yet appeared. In short, he could not understand the matter at all. It looked dark and com ; plex, and its faoe was in direct eon llict with the nature of the man from whom it now appeared to have emanated. Ruric pondered upon this a few moments, and he made up his mind that he would o:i ro account yield an atom to the strange demand thus made upon him. "Sir count," he said calmly ut.d surely, "yon have p'ainly stated your preposition, and I will as plainly answer, i cannot sign the paper." 'Ha!" gasped Damonoff in quick passion. "Do you refuse ?" "Most flatly." For a few moments the count 1 gazed into Ruric's face as though he doubted the evidence of his own senses. "It is the duke's command," he inid at length. "The Duke of Tula holds no pow er of command over me," was the gunmaker's calm reply. "Beware! Once more, I say, sign this paper!" "You but waste your breath, sir count, in speaking thus. You have my answer." "By heavens, Ruric Nevel, you'll fign this!" the count cried madly. "Never, sir!" "But look ye, sirrah, here is my whole future of life based upon my hopes of union with this fair girl. Her guardian bids me get this pa per of you ere I can have her hand. And now do you think I'll give it up so easily? By the saints of heav en, I'll have your name to this or I'll have your life!" "Now your tongue runs away with you, sir count. I have given you my answer. Be sure that only one man on earth can prevail upon me to place my name upon that pa nor ft "And who is lie?" "I mean the emperor." "But you will sign it!" hissed T)a monofT, turning pale with rage. | "Here it is?signl If you would live j ?sign!" "l'erhaps he cannot write," sag- ] gested Urzen contemptuously. "Then he may make his mark," | rejoined the count in the same con- ] temptuous tone. . "It might not require much more urging to induce me to make my j mark in a manner not at all agree able to you, sir," the youth return ed, with his teeth now set and the dark veins upon his brow starting more plainly out. "You have come upon my premises, and you have sought your purpose. You now have your answer, and for your own sake, for my sake, I beg you to leave me." "Not until your name is upon this paper!" cried DamonofI, shak ing the missive furiously and crum pling it in his hand. "Are you mad. sir count? Do you think me a fool?" "Ate, a consummate one." "Then," rcturmd Kurie, with a curl of utter contempt upon his finely chiseled lip, "you need have [ no further dealings with me. There 0 is mv door, sir." , For romo moments Conrad Da- i monoff see mod unable to speak from very anger. lie had surely some deep, anxious purpose in obtaining Uuric's name to that paper, and to be thus thwarted bv a common arti- , sin was maddening to one who , based all his force of charcter upon his t i' le. 1 "Si 11!" he hissed. i "l op!1" utter ! H 'rie. enable longe r to contain f i" \ x of sueh stupid persistence. "Do you seek a (ptarrel with me!'" '?Seek? 1 sock what I will have. Will you sign ?" "Once more?no "Then, by heavens, von shall know what it is to thwart such as me! How's that?" As these words passed from the count's lips in a low. hi--ing whig- 1 per lie aimed a blow witJi his (1st i at Tturic's head The gurmnker hod not dreamed of such a dastard ' act, and he was not prepared for it, ye! he dodged it"suViciently to es- ] cape the mark upon h s face, receiv ing the blow lightly upon tlie side of his bond Hut he stopped not to consider now. As the count drew hack 11 iti'it* dealt him a blew n"on tbe brow that felled him to the floor like n dead ox. **t? ... . a, . . t r* t?? 1. - lii'vurc". .-urpiieu i ron. nc whispers! to the count's companion us that individual made a no vrtneM as though lie ?ou!d come forward. ( "1 am not myself now, huJ you are safest win re you are." The man tint- addressed viewed the guntnaker a few moments, and he seemed to conclude that he had better avoid a personal encounter, for his fists relaxed and he moved to the side of his fallen friend and assisted hint to his feet. Conrad Ih-tnonofT gazed into his antagonist's face a few moments in silence. Iiis fare was ashen pale. I and his whole frame quivered. Up on his forehead there was a livid spot where he had hern strut k, but the skin was not broken. "Ruric Xevel," he said in a bias ing. maddening tone, "you will hear from me! The mad spirit of a vengeance such as mine cannot be trifled with." And with this he turned away. "Paul." said the gunmaker. turn ing to his boy after the men had gone away, "not a word of this to my mother. Be sure." TO HK CONTINUED. DrRrrlbing ( holly. u "He didn't say much, but his eye> spoke volumes." "Ah, bound in calr, I suppose!" Saves Two From Death. "Our little daughter had an al most fatal attack of whooping cough and bronchitis," writes Mrs. \Y. K. Haviland, of Armonk, X. Y., but, when all other reme dies failed, we saved her life with Dr. King's New Discovery. Our niece, who had Consumption in an advanced stage, also used this wonderful medicine and to-day she is perfectly well." Desperate throat and lung diseases yield to Dr. King's New Discovery as to no other medicine on earth. In fallible for Coughs and Colds. 50c and #1.00 bottles guaran teed by Hood Bros. Trial bot tles free. Mrs. Newborn?Oh, John, there was such a tender-hearted tramp here to-day! Mr. Newham?Tender-hearted! Mrs. Newham?Yes. I asked him to weed the garden to pay for the dinner 1 had given him, and he said he was a botanist and that it hurt his feelings to destroy living plants.?Ex. beven Years In Bed. "Will wonders ever cease?" in quire the friends of Mrs. L. Tease, of Lawrence, Kan. They knew she had been unable to leave her bed iu seven years on account of kidney and liver trouble, nervous prostration and general debility; out, "Three bottles of Electric Bitters enabled me to walk," she writes, "and in three months I j felt like a new person." Women suffering from Headache, Back ache, Nervousuess, Sleeplessness, Melancholy, Fainting and I >izzv Spells will find it a priceless bless ing. Try it. Satisfaction is guar anteed. Hood Bros. Only 50c. S. R. Morga n, Cabinet Maker bmithfield, n. c. and Undertaker, Mil repair furniture an I frame "yuur""picture8. full line of ( ikcU .nil t'offlu* Men'*, I.i He*' and Children - Burial it >lu- mil S'n?> II e.'tllovc A Thank* to my friends anil natrons for pant patronaye. Hope to serve you in future Goods at Reduced Prices. I have a lar-ge slock of Spring and summer goods on hand and I have decided to mark down the prices on a good many of the lots to close them out at bargains. 5c. Lawns for 4c. 6c. Lawns, fast colors, 5c. 10c. LAWNS, NICE STYLES, Tic. A Beautiful Liine of Percales For men's shirts, hoys' waists and ladies' shirt wants 10c. and 12 ic. CRASH?a nice line in plaids and strips, 10, 12i and 15 cents, DIMITIES. LAWNS AND ORGANDIES, ~ A beautiful line at 10, 1 21, 15, 1 9c. A nice line of Suitings for Suits or Skirts, good Styles, wear well, 10c. for 8c. TRI/VYMED HATS for ladies, misses and children, large stock on hand and trim med up in the latest styles. Prices from 25c up to ?5. A FULL STOCK OF Mens' and Boys' Clothing and Gent's Furnishing Goods, Shoes and Hats at reduced prices. Come to see me if you wish to save money. W. G. YELVINGTON, Smithfield, N. C. KENLY ACADEMY, CO-EDUCATIONAL Situated iu the gt owing town of Kenly, Johnston county, on the Atlantic Coa'i Line ten miles from Selma and fifteen miles from Wilson Noted for healthfulness, cheapn ss, and sound, practical instruction. ADVANTAGES. El gant new bul'dings, Literary Societies, Library and Heading Room, The Kenlv StU'ent (a stmi annual school journal for which students do composing), four denominations, three church buildings, pi rennial Sunday Schools, weekly prayer meetings, double daily mail express and passenger service, tel. phone and telegraph connections with all t arts of the Union, Athletic Association, Calisthenics, School Octette and Band, etc , etc. COURSES?Collegiate, Normal (tree), Business and Music. Tuition, SI to $3} Board, $5 to $7.50, DORMITORIES and boarding houses for young ladles and young men under control and management of the principal. LARGE AND INCREASING PATRONAGE. loO students, representing 13 counties, ? States and 7 denominations. Stu dious habits and strict attention required; thorough drill and continuous practice is exacted; complete satisfaction and healthy progress guaranteed. Faculty of ei lit graduates of best colleges, conservatories, business uni versities and high schools. SIX SCHOLARSHIPS to Kenly Acadeiry and others to the various higher educational institutions of the State. Four medals given For further information or catalogue address W. A. HARPER, A. B., Principal, KENLY, N. C. WE KEEP A HARDWARE STORE WITH A WELL ASSORTED STOCK OF HARDWARE, CONSISTING OF Stoves, Ready Mixed Paints, Oils, Lead, Guns, PISTOLS, AMMUNITION, TINWARE, GLOBE CULTIVATORS, WAGON MATERIAL, NAILS and HORSE SHOES, POCKET and TABLK CUTLERY, FIRST QUALITY BELTING, SASH, DOORS, BLINDS, LAMPS, Extra Lcavy Team Collars, etc. Devoe's Old Reliable Faints and Colors in Oil. Every Gallon Guaranteed. Also Sherin Williams' Paint. Osborne Mowers and Reapers for Sale. 14-FINGER GRAIN CRADLES. UltHll'C FAAri Wire Poultry and Fish Nettinp. w I (III e I VvIm Wire Screen Doors and Windows. Acme Powder Guns for Tobacco. Clayton Hardware Company, C. W. CARTER, Owner and Proprietor, DIC-tf. CLAYTON, N. C.
The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
June 28, 1901, edition 1
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