Newspapers / The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, … / July 12, 1901, edition 1 / Page 3
Part of The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
- ?? ? V 1 The Gunm&ker | I Of Moscow & | u V ? & ?3 ?3 By SYLVANUS COBB, Jr. * ... -- ?: VI CHAPTER IV.?Continued. t or some moments Claudia Nevei ?was silent. But at length she said, while a tear glistened in her eve: "I have given one loved being up "to my country's good. Russia took my husband from me, and I could ill .?afford now to lose my son. Yet srather than one stain should rest upon his name 1 would see him dead 'ibefore me. Oh, Ruric, you know ?whether dishonor would rest upon you were you to refuse this chal lenge." "I will speak plainly, my dear ?mother," returned the youth in a ttremulous tone, fcrr his parent's Skindness had moved him. "In inv soul I should feel perfectly justified in refusing this meeting, for no principle of real honor is at stake. But were I to back out now from rthis I should never meet another ?generous look in Moscow. Every one would point the finger of scorn toward me, and the word coward ?would ring always in my ears. It imay be a false state of things?I tfeel that it really is so?but how ?can I help it? It is the cur e of all -great military epochs. Battle alone makes heroes, and so all must meas ure their honor by the force of their -arms. The count carries even now -upon his brow the mark of my blow, :and all will say he lias a right to ?demand satisfaction, though I know that he provoked the quarrel on purpose. I cannot refuse him on the ground of station, for he is above -me in that. I must meet him." ?"Then," said the mother in a low, ?calm tone, but with much effort, "you shall not feel that your mother would thwart your design. If your ?own good judgment savs go, then go. If they bring your body to me in the istern grasp of death, I shall pray for the soul that has gone and shall "hope to meet you in the home of the redeemed. If you come back to me -alive, I shall thank God that you are -spared. But, alas, the joy will be ?clouded with the thought of blood ?upon your hands and the knowledge <that my joy is another's grief!" "Xo, no, my mother," cried Ruric ?quickly and earnestly. "I will not 'have a fellow being's blood upon my hand if I can avoid it. Only to save ?mv own life will I take his. lie has ?done all this himself?all, all. The ?quarrel was his own, and the first blow was his. The challenge is his, and now is not the responsibility his Also?" " it is, my son, so lar as lie alone 'is concerned. If j-ou liave a respon sibility, it must be to your own soul. But tell me, has not the emperor made some new law touching this practice of dueling?" "Yes, but only the challenger is responsible. The party challenged is Jheld free from blame in the eyes of the law." "Then I shall interpose no more -objections," said the mother. She tried to speak hopefully, but she could not hide the fearful sadness of her heart. "Could fervent prayer ?vert the blow it should not fall, but J can only pray as one without pow er." A long time after this was passed in silence. Both the mother and son seemed to have something upon their minds which thev wished to cay, but dared not. But the former at length overcame her reluctance. "Kurie, n:v son," she said, keep ing back the tears that struggled for utterance in their silent speech, "is there any little word you would leave?any matter of moment"? "No, no," the boy answered, speaking calmly by effort. "I am yours, and all is yours. But I shall not fall." "Ah, be not too confident, my con. Let no such assurance lead you I to forget your God. I have heard of this count. It was he who slew Bul ger, and Momjako, too, he slew in the duel. He is an expert swords man and surely means to kill you if he can." "I am aware of that, my mother. But do you know that we are all prone to overlook our own powers when pondering upon the feats of ?others? 1 may be pardoned for as suring you that the only man who has over yet overcome the count at the sword play was one of my own scholars. While in Spain I practiced with some of the best swordsmen in the kingdom. But, listen, I will ?nd one word. For yourself I can tell you nothing which you do not know. But yet you may see Rosa lind. If you do, tell her? But you ficnow my soul. You can tell her as you please. But I shall not fall." It was now late, and ere long Ru ric kissed his mother and then re tired to his bed. And the widow was left alone. With her eyes she followed tlie re treating form of her beloved son, and when he was gone from her sight she bowed her head and sob bed aloud. When she reached her humble couch, she knelt by the side thereof and poured forth her pent up soul to God. When her liead had pressed the pillow, she tried to hope, she tried to fasten one hope in her mind, but she looked only into the night. Not one ray of light reached her struggling soul. She opened her eyes of promise in vain, for she looked into a gloom so utter that out of its depths loomed only the blackness of despair. Sleep on, Ruric. But, oh, couldst thou know how thv fond mother's heart is racked there'd be no sleep for thee! CHAPTER V. TrH DUEL. On the follow' lg morning Ruric was up betimes, and at the break fast table not a word of the one all absorbing theme was uttered. After the meal was finished the gunmaker went out to his shop and took down from one of the closets a long leath ern case in which were two swords, both of the same make and finish, only different in size. They were Toledo blades and of most exquisite workmanship and finish. Ruric tool out the heaviest one, which was a two edged weapon with a cross hilt of heavily gilded metal. He placet the point upon the floor, and then, with alt his might, he bent the b!ad. till the pommel touched the point. The lithe steel sprang back to its place with a sharp clang, and the texture was not started. Then he struck the flat of the blade upon the anvil with great force. The ring was sharp and clear, and the weapon remained unharmed. "By St. Michael,. Paul, Moscow does not contain another blade like that. Damascus never saw a bet ter." Thus spoke the gunmaker to his boy as he balanced the beautiful v,capon in his hand. "I think you are right, my mas ter" the bov returned, who had be held the trial of 'the blade with un bounded admiration, "But," he add ed, "could you not temper a hlado like that?" "Perhaps if I had the steel. Bat I have not. The steel of these two blades came from India and was originally in one weapon, a ponder ous two handed affair belonging to a Bengal chieftain, flic metal pos sesses all the hardness of the finest razor, with the ..elasticity of the most subtle spring. My old master at Toledo gave me these as a me- j mento. Were I to mention the sum ! of money he was once offered for { the largest one you would hardly j credit it." "IIow much?" asked Paul, with a j boy's curiosity. "It was a sum equal to about 700 j ducats." "And yet he gave it away." "Aye, for its price was but imagi nary, while its worth to him was on ly commensurate with the good it did him. If he told the truth, he loved me, and these he gave me as a pariing gift as the best patterns I could wish for when making such." After this Ituric put up the small sword, and then he gave Paul a few directions cbout the work, promis ing to he back before night. The faithful toy shock his head dubious ly os he heard this promise, but he said nothing, and shortly afterward Ituric went into the house. Just then Alaric Orsa drove up to the door. Ruric was all ready but putting on his bonnet and pclK-e. His mother wus in the kitchen. lie went to lur with a smile upon his face, lie put his arms about her j ind drew hsr to his bosom. "God-bless vou, mv mother! I shall come back." Pie aaid this and then kissed her. "God keep?and"?. It was all she could say. Ruric gazed a moment into her face, then lie kissed her again, and again he said: "God bless yaw, my mother! I shall come back." He dared not stop to speak more. Gently seating his fond mother up on a chair, he turned and hurried from the place. In the hall he threw on his pelisse and bonnet, and then he opened the door and passed out. "Have you a good weapon?" ask ?d Orsa as the horse started on. "1 have a fair one. 1 think It will not deceive me," returned Rurie. "1 asked," continued Orsa, "be cause Damonoff prides himself upon the weapon he wears. It is a Ger man blade, and he thinks he can cut in twain the blade of any other weapon in Moscow with it." "I have a pood weapon," Ruric said quietly, "and one which has stood more tests than most swords will bear." And afte? some further remarks he related the peculiar cir cumstances attending the making of the sword and his possession of it. At length they struck upon the river, and in half an hour more they reached the appointed spot. The day was beautiful. The sun shone bright ly upon the glistening snow, and the air was still and calm. The sharp frost of the atmosphere served only to brace the system up, and Ruric throw open his pelisse that he might bretfthe more freely, lie had been upon the ground but a few minutes when the other partf came in sight around the head of the river. As soon as the count and his sec ond arrived and the horses had been secured the lieutenant proposed that they should repair to the building which was close ift hand. This was a large open boathouse which was unused and deserted in the winter, and it was proposed to go in there because the reflection of the strong sunlight from the bright snow was calculated to blind and blur the eye. "Ha! What means that?" Tittered Orsa as he saw a sledge just turning the bend of the river with an officer in it. "It is only a surgeon," replied Damonoff. "1 would r.ot cut a man's flesh without giving him a fair chance to survive it." "And then you may find him serviceable to yourself, eh?" sug gested the lieutenant. "Of course. There is no telling what may happen." In a moment more the new sledge came qp, and Rurie recognized its inmate as a>n armv surgeon whom he had seen before, though he knew not his name. "Xow for the old boathouse," cried Urzen. "Ave," added Damonoff. "Let us have this business done, for I would be back to dinner. I dine with Olga today, and a fait maiden awaits ray coming." "Xotiee him r.ot," whispered Or sa, who walked ckiso by Ruric's side. "That is one of his cldof points when engaged in an affair of this kind. He hopes to get you angry and so unhinge your nerves." "Xever fear," returned the gun maker. "Be sure he only 1 rings new (hfnger to himself, for such ef forts will find their point in the mucele of my arm." The party halted when they r.eached thejnterior of the rough structure, anil 'the count threw oil. his pelisse and drew his swcuxL IUi ric followed his example. "Sir count," the latter said as lie moved a step forward, "ere we com mence this work I wish all present to understand distinctly 1k>w 1 stand. You have sought thi< quar rel from the first. Without the least provocation from mo you haw irv 1 suited me mast*grossly, and this is the climax. So, before Hod and man, bo the result upon your own head." "Out, lying knave"? "Hold," cried the surgeon, laying his hand heavily upon the count's arm. "You hifio no right to speak thus, for you lower yourself when you do it. If you have como to fight, "do so honorably." An .mgrv reply was upon Damo noff's lips, but he did not speak it. He turned to his antagonist and said: "Will you measure weapons, sir? Mine may he a mite the longest. I seek no advantage, and I have one! here vf tjie same length and weight as mv owrt if you wish it." "I am well satisfied as it is," re plied Ullrich "Then bake your ground. Are you ? ready ?" "I'm 1" The two swords were crossed in un instant, with a clear, sharp clang. There was some contrast Itctween the two combatants, but rt>t mtjjh apparently. The count was a fittle the taller, and Ruric was somewhat heavier. But to a close observer there was n peculiar contrast in thi bearing of the two men. That breast swelling out so noblv and i those massive shoulders, tnado for the scat of physical power, stmt Ru ric's alone to possess. Yet Conrad ! Damonof? was accounted a strong j man In the athletic sports of the ' court club he had few superiors and not many equals. But lturic Nevcl had nevcw shown his strength there. Now, for the first time, that con temptuous look passed from the count's face. As his eye caught his antagonist's position, as he notic ed the calm, dignified, quiet ca.* of every limb anil as he caught the deep, mystic fire of those expressive eyes he knew that he had no com mon amateur to deal with. At length Conrad Hatnonoff start ad back, and a quick cry escaped his lips. HTs antagonist's point nan touched his bosom. It had pressed [ against his .heart and had not been driven home. Well lie knew that his life was his no longer, for the gun maker had gained it and spared it. "You fence well," he gasped,! struggling to reguii#liis composure. "You are not a novice," returned ! Rurie calmly, at the same time al lowing his point to drop. "Come on," the count Uttered, now gathering all his energies for another effort. And again the weapons were crossed. This time DamonofT was more guarded, licfore he had been impelled by his o*vn assurance, but now he was forced to regard his op ponent's power. Ruric quickly fountd that the other was more care ful than at first, aid he carried his own point accordingly. At the twelfth stroke the count made a feint to the left, then at the throat, and then, with a quick, lightning like motion, he brought his point to his antagonist's heart. But his meaning had hern read from the first by Ruric. The youth caught the motion of the eye, and ho saw tliat his heart was the place looked to. His own movement was almost instinctive, lie received his antag onist's sword midway upoai his own blade, then moved his arm quickly forward and caught the point under his cross guard; then, with all his power, he wrenched his arm upward and backward, and the count's sword went flying across ttoo build ing. It struok the opposite wall with a dull clang, and tne next in stant it was half buried in the snow. "Fear not, sir," said Kurie as the count stjytcd lank, with l>oth hands raised. "1 never strike en unarmed man." Itamonoff's arms fell to his side, and a deep blush of shame mantled his face. "Bv St. Paul," cried the surgeon, "your Hfe is forfeited, sir count, and now you should be satisfied." "No. no," the discomfited man ex claimed, starting up with rage and mortification. "That was but a slip. 'Teas a false step, a cowardly feint. I am not overcome," "But, man of mortality, even now your life is Nevol's. He tr.av^ run you through now if he chooses. "But he has not," the count cried, springing to where his sword lu..l fallen and snatching it up. "Sir count," here spoke Uuric ealmlv. but with marked con: err. t, "you should not blame me for what I have done, for thrice have you tried to break my sword. "Then try it again! Damon off returned. "Take my sword again ti ?pu can." . Terliepe not;" our hero retoned. "But be sure your sword shall be used no more after this day." "11a! Brag not, but strike. If you can"? The conclusion of the sentence wa$ drowned by tire clash of steel. At the second stroke the cpunt made another furious thrust at his antagonist's heart, Rune sprang quickly aside, and with the whole power' of his good .right arm he struck Dam.onofi's blade c'.ose to the haft and broke it in twain. "My other sword, my other sword!" the count shouted, roiv blinded by absolute madness. "Oh, give me mv other ? "Hold!" cried both the sur-rcon and Stephen Urccn in concert. "V ou are mad, Conrad.' .. "Mad ? Oh, I shall be mad. Where is mv sword?" the reckless man yelled, casting the Modeless pommel down. w "But will you not listen one ? "Away, 1 say! Shall I give up be onu$e iiiy 6word is bnokon i By ti e | gods, the weapon deceived me. Where is the other.' "Deceived thee, Conrad?" repeat ed the surgeon sarcastically. "Bv the Holy Ghost, had thy head b .t received a hundredth part of the blow 'twould not be upon thy shoul ders now!" But the count was beyond a!I rea son. It) his madness he saw not that his sword had been broken on pur pose. He ' not see that he had been at his antagonist's mercy. But his friends siiw it all. "Ha! Whom have we here?' cried Alarie, whose eye had caught a dark form at tho entrance of the old building. It was Vladimir, the monk. "llow now ? What sock ye here?' talced Preen as th ? fat burly monk waddled toward the party. "I heard the clash of nr"?. mi ton, as 1 roue Dy, ana i stoppsa to tee what it was. Surely where the work of death is going on a chi.u of the holy church of God may come. "Aye," cried the count. "Come in and welcome, but meddle not. Now, my sword, where is it ?" Reluctantly Preen brought for ward the second sword, but ere he gave it up ho said: "Beware, Conrad. Yon had bet ter" "Peace, babbler!" the excited fool hissed, snatching the weapon and then turning quickly upon the gun maker. , Thus far RHric had remained si lent, but he felt it his duty to speak DOW. I "Sir count," he said in a tone so stem and authoritative and with a look so commanding that the other was held in abeyance by it, "I must speak one word. You have provok ed a quarrel with me. and you have challenged me. I have 110 feur Of death when duty calls for my life, hut I would not die thus, nor would I slay a fellow being thus. Six sep arate times today since our swords first crossed have I spared your life"? "Liar!" ?"and twice have I had you he fore me unrrmed," Uurie continued without noticing the interruption. "1 liatl hoped this would have shown you that 1 sought not harm to you and, furthermore, that you were no match for me at this kind of work." "Out, fool!" jelled Damonoff, now fairly frothing with rage. "If you dare not cross swords again, say so, but do not crawl olT like a coward!" "One word more," uttered Ruric, paling for an instant beneath the unmerciful insult of the senseless tongue that assailed him, and he stood proudly erect while he spoke, "before these men here assembled and before God I swear that thus far I have spared you, but my own life may be the forfeit-if I trifle with you more. 80 now beware. You have sufficient warning." Perhaps the count really over looked the facts of wfliieh Ruric had spoken. In his ungovernable rage he may have fancied that 'twas only accident thfft had worked against him. However, he started forward once more and made a furious lunge at his antagonist. "Now," hp gasped, "play your best, for my sword's my own." But Ruric spoke not. He saw that the count was stronger than before ?for his rage seemed to give him a maniac's power?and that he was earnest only for life or death. He struck quickly and furiously, and his movements were strange and un precedented. He threw up all rules of exercise and cut and thrust only in wild madness. Twice Ruric came nigh being run through. He lost all run of his opponent's play and quickly saw that he must put a stop to the conflict or run the risk of leaving a childless mother in his home to see that day's sun sink. "Will you give o'er:1' he asked as he struck the count's point down. "Never! Submit to such as vou? Bah!" A tew moments mrwe the.eoiTHict lasted. One more opportunity ho had at DamonqfT's heart, ani he spared him. All present saw it save the tpadman. "Fool!" littered the monk, who trembled from heaiHo foot with ex citement, his huge belly shaking like a bag of jally. "Will you throw awav your own life, Ruric Novel? Shall I tell your mother you left her of your own will?" This mention of hi<? meither txffcd tire last litgnwmu doubt from Ru ne's mind. Agam he struck the op posing point down, and then lie pressed his own point upon the count's bosom. lie avoided the heart?he tried to avoid the vitals? but he threw his arm forward, and his glittering blade passed through the fool's body. rWith a? expres sion of pain upon his features he started back and rested his reeking [mint upon the trodden snow. The count came furiously on again, but he struck wildly and at random, Rn ric merely warding off his blows, un til finally his arm sank. On the nip.t moment his sword fell from his nerveless grasp, ijnd he sank, faint ing, back into the arms of his at tendants. TO BR CONTINUED. t Tta* Horafc Hnnday School Teneher?When the bad children called tbe^ld man "bald head." the beara'c-ame out of the woods and ate them u[.v. What does that teach us? S^jolar?To alwa.ys climb j tree he fore calling names. A Uit? Job. "Coodneaa. sonny! What are you do ing?" "Cboppln do tree doarn tvr git son* apples" "But there are no applre this time of the year." "There wIN be by de time I gtta de tree ehnpi>ed down."?New York Kveo tae Journal. For Sixty Days. For the next sixty days we shall sell goods very cheap for c?sh In order to run down our stock as we expect to make some changes in business. If you need Heavy and Fancy Groceries, Snuff, Cigars, Tobacco, Confec tloneries or almost anything in General Merchandise come to our store. Your patron age solicited. Mr Paul Fitzgerald is with us and will be glad to have his friends call and see him. J. M. VINSON & CO,, Selma, N. C. July 1-tf. pCCorsets Mr.ke American Beauties. Vv'e have them in r.il styles and shapes to fit every figure, and every ^corset is sold under this most liberal warrant? ' Money refunded after tour weeks' trial if corset is not satisfactory. Look for this Trade Mark on ~ inside of corset and on box. ' KALAMAZOO CORSET CO. Sute Makers. Kalamazoo, Mich, FOR SALE BY YvV. G. Yelvington, SMITIIFIEIiD. N. C. You NEED IT. It is tiood to nave on hand. X A Bottle of T ' ' a. mozidros Liniment Nerve and Bone Made strictly by an old and reliaLile formula. Has been used for thirty-five years. For Man and Beast. You Get a Large Bottle for 50 cts. MADE AND FOR SALE BY J B MOZI1NGO, Smlthfleld, N. C. For sale by Hood Bros., Smlthfleld; Haywood Price, Beuluh township; Hare Jk Son, Selma. N. C.; W. E. Smith. Micro. N. C.; r,. F. Wood ard, Princeton; Alex, Kd^erton, Pinkney; Pope Bros., near Kcnly; J. K. Haius. Barley. March 19?tf NEW MILLINERY. Go to H. \V. Mitchell's for bar gains In fancy millinery goods. Hats Trimmed fo Order -BY? Miss Annie Glisson, a spec'al saleslady. Call and see us before buying elsewhere. Respectfully, Miss Claudia Mitchell CLAYTON, X. C. THIS IS The New Number 8 Domestic Sewing Machine, FOB SALE BY J. M. BEATY, 8M ITU FIELD, N. C. I l ' Opium c?ca|n^ an<|*wsi(y rlUITI ntefncf. Book on Horns Tr? ?tm?nt ??ni FREE. AddM R.M. WOOI E\. M. D.. Bos II. AtUnta. Qm. - p We are still clubbing Thb Hehald and the New York Thrice-a-week World for fl.G5 cash in advance.
The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
July 12, 1901, edition 1
3
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75