Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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aJ ^ o * J>? Q^t> 0"? guaii?i?n??BinBn?i i j ?#-?|..<Mo-<~?^,o.,c..?..^..?,o->_0_?_^_c-c-<>..>-j-o-e-4-e"?--c- ? Mt J riff \?li?iil?^a?i i Iv i - ?#! : J? ! JP ^ ? By 8YLVANUS COBB, Jr. ?&l ? f ***j>, ".. ??..?.?",?.,,.. B cji KI CHAPTER I. THE CUX3??EZI? AND THE MONK. The time at which we open o story is midwinter and toward t] doso of the seventeenth centui Russia had passed through the loi and bitter ordeal of national nigh ' The Tartar yoke had been worn ti the very bones of the cation we: galled, and when this was thro-n off civil dissensions and insurre ?ons commenced. The Poles ar Swedes plundered the country, ai amid general tumult and conf usic some half dozen men were darno mg for the throne. At length a fe patriotic citizens, pledging ever thing they held dear on earth to tl cause of freedom from this curse < anarchy and headed by a nob prince and a humble, patriot: butcher, made a bold stand to sav the country. Moscow .was retake] -and Michael Romanoff was chose czar, and this illustrious family sti occupies the imperial throne. An now the day of Russian greatnes A^aw?ed, but the sun was not fairl up 2nd the broad light opened nc upon the empire until Peter cam to the throne. . In the department of the Slobods the suburbs of Moscow, and ver near the river Moskwa stood humbie cot? the exterior of whicl betrayed a neatness of arrangemeu and show of taste that more tha: made up for its smallness of size Nor was it so very small, in faci but only in contrast, for near a hand about it stood many large shabby, dirty looking structure that overlooked the prim cot, a bleak mountains may look down up on a verdant hill. And within thi cot was as neat as without. Th? two apartments in front, one o: .which was only used in winter, wer< furnished not only with neatness but with a fair show of. ornameni and luxury. Back of these were i large cooking and dining room anc two small bedrooms, and back stil from these were an artisan's shoj. and other outbuilchngs. The shoj. was devoted principally to the man? ufacture of firearms. Some swords and other ^dged weapons were made -here upon special application. The gunmaker now stood by his forge watching the white smoke as " it curled up toward the throat of the chimney. He was a young, man, not over three and twenty, and pos? sessed a frame of more than orcuna iy symmetry and muscular develop? ment He was not large-not above the. medium size - but a single glance at the swelling chest, the broad shoulders and the sinewy ridges of the bare arms told at once that he was master of great physical power. His features were regular, Ifeyet strongly marked and eminently handsome. His brow, which was full and high, was half covered by the light brown curls that waved |f over it, while his eyes, which were of a bright, brilliant deep gray in color, lent a cast of genius to the intellect of the brow. His name was Eurie Nevel., His father had been killed in the then late war with the Turks, and the son, leaving his mother properly cared for, went to Spain soon after the bereavement. There he found work in the most soted armories, and.now, well versed in the trade, he had returned to his native city to. follow his calling ?nd support his mother. Near by stood a hoy-Paul Pee poff-a bright, intelligent lad, some 15 years of age, who had bound him? self to the gunmaker for the pur? pose cf learning the art. His hair and his eyes were darker than his master's, and if he possessed not so much sound intellect he certainly possessed an unwonted degree of keen, quick wit and unswerving in? tegrity. The sun had been some time be? low the horizon, and the only light of any consequence that made things partially visible within the . shop came from the dull blaze of the coals on the forge, as Paul ever and anon bore down upon the brake that moved the bellows. Suddenly Eurie started back from the forge as his mind broke from the deep reverie into which he had fallen, and, having bade his boy to see that matters were properly disposed for j the night, be turned toward the door and was soon in the kitchen, where his mother had supper all prepared and set out. Claudia Nevel was a noble look? ing woman, if the impress of a no? bie, generous soul cen be called such, and the light of her still hand? some countenance was never bright? er than when gazing upon her boy. She had seen the snows of 50 win? ters, and if they had left some sil Yerupon her head and some age j marks upon her face t?e sunsnm ! of full as many summers had lef her with a thankful, loving hear ' and a prayerful, loving soul. "It is snowing again, faster thai ever," remarked Paul as he took hi seat at the table. "Ah!" returned Eurie, resting hi knife a few moments while he ben his ear to listen to the voice of th storm. "I had hoped 'twould sno^ 'no more for the present. The sno^ is deep enough now. And how i blows!" "Never mind," spoke the dame h a trustful, easy tone; "it must storn when it listeth, and we can onb thank God that we have shelter an( pray for those who have none." "Amen!" responded Eurie fer ventry. , After this the trio remained sonu minutes silent, seeming to be bus^ in listening to the storm notes tha1 came pealing about the cot. Th< wind was high, and the snow wai now dashing upon the windows witt a dreary, melancholy sound. Th< ?neal was at length eaten and the ta? ble set back, and shortly afterwarc Paul retired to his bed. It was hi* wont to retire early, for he ros? early to build the fires and prepare for the labors of the day. Eurie drew his chair close up tc the fireplace, and, leaning againsl the jamb, he bowed his head and pondered again. This had become a habit with him of late. Some? times he would sit thus during a whole hour without speaking 01 even moving, and his mother did not interrupt nim, as she supposed he might be solving some mechanic? al problem that had arisen to bother him. But these fits of thought had become too frequent, too lengthy and too moody for such a conclu? sion, and the good woman was forc? ed to believe that they were caused br something more remote than the business of the forge or the lathe. The youth now sat with his brow resting upon his hand and his eyes beni upon the hearth. For half an hour he. had not moved, and his face wore an anxious, troubled look. "Rurie. my son," spoke the moth? er at length in a low, kind tone, "what is it that occupies your thoughts so much?" The young man started and turn? ed his gaze upon his mother. "Did you speak to me, my moth? er ?,% he asked after having recalled him mind to things about him. "Yes, my boy/* she said, "I did speak to you. I asked you what it was that occupied your thoughts." "Oh. nothing, nothing," Rurie an? swered after some moments of hesi? tation. . "I was only thinking; that was all." "1 know you were thinking, and I know that was all at the time, but of what, Rurie? Come, hide no se? crets from your mother. I have no? ticed you of late, and I know you are changed. That old smile is gone from your face, and sometimes I; have feared the gladness has gone from your heart. I have seen you bent in thought over your work when I knew that of your work you were n^t thinking, and 1 have seen you buried in deep thought when you should be reading or convers? ing with me." "Have T, then, offended vou, mv mother?" "No, no: oh, no, my noble boy. Never did such a thought enter my mind. If 1 have been made uneasy thereby, it was only in love for thee and the fear that thou wert not so happy as in the past. Will you not tell me ali? Oh, 1 hope my hov fears not to trust his motlier with his thoughts." As she spoke thus she moved her seat close to where Rurie sat and placed her hand upon his arm. "Tell me. my boy," she added in a low, persuasive tone, "what it is that dwells thus upon^our mind.'' Rurie reached oui. and took his mother's hand, and, having gazed for some moments into her face, he said: "Surely, my mother, I have noth? ing in my soul that I would h.ice from thee. If I have kept my ^thoughts to myself with unseeming 'silence, it has been because 1 feared you would laugh at me if I told you of them." "Ah, no, my son," the mother re? plied almost reprovingly. "Nothing that could claim such deep and ab? sorbing consideration from a mini] like yours would move me to deri? sion. Speak plainlv, and be sure of my sympathy." A few moments more the youth gazed silently upon his mother, and then he answered : "All this thought ha? been of one person-of Rosalind Valdai." Claudia Neve! started as she heard that name, and for the wh the color forsook her cheeks. "What, my dear boy, what of h have vou thought?" she asked tre; nlously. "What hut for one thing could think, my mother? You have se her?"' "Ye?. Eurie." "And you have marked the gra( thc loveliness, the soul given beau ci thc nollie giri ?" ''1 know that she is beautiful, r son. and ;-:lso chat sha is good; least so 1 think.'"' . "Then what but love could mo me with deep thought of her? 0 my, moi her, I do love her! I love h with the whole strength of my hea and soul." "Alas, my Eurie, she will nev dare love thee !" "You know not that," the you quickly replied, his eyes burnh deeply and his open brow flushin <fT)id I not know she loved me 1 j sure I would never have allowed n thoughts such range. We were ck dren together, and even then \ loved. Fate has dealt differently 1 us in the years that have pass? 'since those childhood times, but y I am sure that her love for me not changed, save as increasing a? must change all the emotions < our nature into deeper, strong! lights and shades." "But think, my boy; you a me: artisan, she the offspring of nobilil and, the ward of a duke-a ster: cold, proud aristocrat, who lool upon our station only as harsh ma ters look upon their beasts of bu den. T fear you will find little eh but misery in such a course < thought." "At least, my mother, I will se Rosalind, and if she loves me as love her, and if she would accept m hand"- 1 ''Hush, my boy. /Do not cheris such hopes. Why should she mal with thee when the richest nobles c the land would'kneel for her hand ? "Hold!" cried Eurie, starting t his* feet, his handsome face flushe and his bright eye burning. "Spea not thus-at least not now. I flal ter not mvself, but I claim a soul a pure and a heart as noble as an man in the land. My mind is as clea] my hopes are as high, my ambitio: is as true to real greatness an my will as firm as any of them. I Rosalind), seeks the love of a tru heart and the protection of stou arms and determined success, then fear not to place myself by the sid of any suitor in the land; but i she seeks immediate wealth and th glitter of some high sounding title then-ah. 1 know she does not! Bu let it pass now. I will see her/' Claudia would not oppose th< wishes of her son, and she said n< more upon the subject. For awhih nothing further was said, until Ru ric remarked upon the increasing force of the storm. "Hark!" uttered his mother, bending her ear in a listening atti tude. "Was that a knock upon om door ?" "Surely no one is out on such i night that could seek shelter here,' returned Ruric. "You must have" The youth did not finish the sen? tence, for at that moment the knock came so loud that it was not to be mistaken. The youth caught up the candie and hastened to the door, opened it, but the blast came roar? ing in, whirling a cloud of snow in? to Ruric's face and extinguishing the light at once. "Is there any one here?" the gun maker asked, bowing his head and shielding his eyes from the driving snow with one hand. "Yes," returned a voice from the Stygian darkness. "In God's name, let me in, or I shall perish." "Then follow quickly," said Ru? ric. "Here, give me your hand. There, now come." The youth found the thickly gloved hand-gloved with the soft? est fur-and, having led the invisi? ble applicant into the hall, he closed the door and then led the way to thc kitchen. As soon as the candle was relighted Ruric turned and gaz? ed upon the newcomer. He was a monk and habited something like one of the black monks of St. Mi? chael. He was of medium height and possessed a rotundity of person which was comical to behold. He was fat and unwieldy and waddled about with laughable steps. His huge black robe, which reached from his chin to his toes, was se? cured about the waist with a sash of the same color, and the snow which lay upon the shoulders and back presented a striking contrast. Ruric brushed away the snow with his own hand, and having taken his visitor's thick fur bonnet the latter took a seat near the fire. Before a word was spoken the youthful host carefully examined his guest's features, and the latter seemed equally desirous of discov? ering what manner of people he had fallen in with. The monk's face was a peculiar one. The features were very dark and prominent and almost, angular in their stronglv marked outlines. His brow was very strong in mental development, and his eves were dark and brilliant. The slight circle of hair that es? caped from beneath thc tight skull? cap which he retained upon his head was somewhat tinged with sil ver, t?iougn his lace did not Betra; such advanced agc as this silver hair would seem to indicate. # "You have been caught in a se vere storm, good father," said th vouth after his guest had somewha recovered from the effect of ttl* cold. "Aye, that I have, my son," th* monk returned in a deep, rumbling tone. "I left the Kremlin this morn ing little thinking of such a change This storm has commenced since '. started on my return. About hal a mile from here my horse got foun dered in the snow, and I left hin with an honest peasant and thei started to make the rest of my wa;; on foot, but I reckoned wildly. Th< driving storm blinded me, and th? piling drifts swallowed me up at ev erv dozen steps. My body is no very well adapted to such work. Ha ha, ha ! But I saw your light, and 3 determined to seek shelter here f o: the night. By St. Michael, but this is a most severe storm. Yet yoi are comfortable here." "Aye, father, we try to be com fortable," said Eurie. "My mothe: could hardly survive a winter ii some of the dwellings which 6tanc ' hereabout." The monk made no answer tc this save a sort of commendatory nod, and shortly afterward th? youth asked: "Do you belong here in the city good father ?" "Aye, at present I do," the moni returned. And then, with a smile he added : "I suppose you would like to know whom you have thus re? ceived. Mv name is Vladimir, anc my home is wherever I may chance to be on G od's heritage. At preseni I am residing here in Moscow, There, could you ask me to be more frank?" Eurie smiled, but he made no di? rect reply. He was too deeply in? terested in the face of the monk to enter with much eagerness inte conversation. At length the guest asked if he could be accommodated with some sleeping place, and, hav? ing answered in the affirmative, the youth lighted another candle and conducted him to a chamber -which was located directly over the kitch? en and which was very well warm? ed by means of several iron tubes that connected with the furnace be? low. "Mother," uttered Eurie as soon as he had returned to the kitchen, "who is that man?" "How should I know?" the wo? man replied. "But have you never seen him be? fore?" Eurie asked in an earnest, eager tone. "I cannot tell, my son. His face most surely calls up some strange emotions in my mind, but I think I never saw him before." "And yet he seems familiar to me," the son resumed. "Those eyes I surely have seen before, but to save my soul I cannot remember when nor where." And so Eurie pondered, but to no avail. After he had retired to his bed he lay awake and thought of the strange face, and all through the night his dreams were but star? tling visions of the black monk. CHAPTER H. A STRANGE PROCEEDING. When Eurie came down in the morning, he found the monk al? ready there and breakfast nearly ready. But little was said during the mealtime, for the monk seemed busy with thoughts of his own, and Eurie was too much engaged in studying the strange man's features and pondering upon the various doubts and surmises that had enter? ed his mind. After the meal was over 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 of arms. Eurie was engaged in finishing a pair of pistols, and for some min? utes the monk had stood silently by his side watching his movements. At length the }routh 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 I must ask you a question. Where have I seen you before ?" "How should I know?" the monk returned, with a smile. "Why," resumed Eurie, with some hesitancy, "I knew not but that you might enlighten me. I have surely seen you somewhere." "'And are there not hundreds whom you have seen in this great citv, ave, thousands, whom von might recognize as you recognize me?" "Ah, it may be so, but not lik? this. There may be a thousand j faces I would recollect to have seen, but not one #of them would excite ? even a passing emotion in my soul. But your face calls up some power ful emotio-n. some startling memory j of the past, which bothers me. Who j ! are you, good father? What are j you? Where have we met before? | I Was it in Spain ?" j "Xo<" said Vladimir, with a shake 1 ! of the head. And then, with a ? j more serious shade upon his face, j ? he added: "Let this pass now. I i 1 will not deny to you that there may ! be some grounds for your strange ' fancies, but I assure you most sa? credly that until last night I nev?r came in direct companionship with you before-at any rate, not to my knowledge. You have acted the good Samaritar toward me, and I hope I may at some time return the favor." "Xo, no!*' quickly responded the youth. "If you return it, then it will be a fr.vor no more. I have only done for you what every man should do to his neighbor, and so far from needing thanks for mv services I 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 artisan's hand, and, with more than ordinary emo? tion, he said: "You touch the harp strings of the soul with a 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 Eurie 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 leaping through his mind he could gather no con? nected thoughts. After the monk was gone Eurie 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 dubiously. "What do you mean?" the gun maker asked, gazing the boy in the face. "'Do you think you have seen him before ?" "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." Eurie was not fullv assured bv this answer. He 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 at present. He had asked enough, he thought, upon su^h a 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 master's in? terest to know it would be commu? nicated in due season. So he ap? plied himself anew to his work, and at noon the pistols were finished. Toward the middle of the after? noon, just as Eurie had finished tempering some parts of a gun lock, the back door of his shop was open? ed, and two men entered. They were young men, dressed in costly furs and both of them stout and good looking. The gunmaker rec? ognized them as the Count Conrad Damonofc and his friend Stephen LTrzen. "I think I speak with Eurie Xe vel?" said the count, moving for? ward. "You do," returned Eurie, 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 pal?r than before, and his nether lip tue?P 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 count's next remark was significant: "You are acquainted with the La? dy EosaliDd Valdai?" he said. ""I am," returned Eurie, now be? ginning to wonder. "Well, sir," returned Damonoff, with much haughtiness, "perhaps my business can be quickly and sat? isfactorily settled. It is my desire to make' the Lady Eosalind my wife." [TO BE CONTINUED.] RYOALPS TONIC A ?EAL CURE FOR HC A. X? XIX A. It has recently been discovered thai the germs that produce Malaria, breed and multiply in the intestines and from there spread throughout the system by means of the blood. This fact ex? plains why Malaria is hard to cure by the old melhod of treatment. Quinine, Iron. etc.. stimulate the nerves and build up the blood, but do not destroy the germs that cause the disease. Rydale's Tonic has a specific effect upon the intestines and bowels, freeing them from all disease breeding mi? crobes. It also kills the germs that infest the veins and arteries. It drives 'rom the blood all poisonous mattel and makes it rich and healthy. RYDALE'S TONIC is a blood builder, a nerve restorer, and a Malaria destroyer. Try it, it will not disap? point you. How to Make Money. Agents of either sex should today write Marsh Manufacturing Co.. 538 Lake Street, Chicago, fer cuts and particulars of their handsome ALUMINUM CARD CASE with your name engraved on it and filled with 100 CalliDg or Business Cards. Ev? erybody orders them. Sample Case and 100 Cards, postpaid, 40c. This Case and 100 Cards retail at 75 cents. You have only to show sample to f-ecure an order. Send 40c. at once for case and 100 cards before some one gets ahead of yon. Sept 16-8m A contract has been signed for the execution of a colossal statue of Vul? can, which is to represent the Bir? mingham district of Alabama at the St Louis exposition. The design is by G. Moretti. It represents Vulcan with his right hand clasping a hammer resting on an anvil, while the left holds aloft an arrow head. The height of the figure is 50 feet. It will be cast in Birmingham iron. . PROF. EDWARD E. PHELPS, iL D., LL. D. Greatest of All Physicians. Eminent Discoverer of . PAINE'S CELERY COMPOUND Prof. Edward E. Phelps, M. D., LL. D., was bom in Connecticut and graduated at yale. His unusual talent soon brought him reputa? tion and prominence. First he was elected to the professorship of anatomy and surgery in tL? Vermont University. Next he was ap? pointed lecturer in Dartmouth College. Tie following year he was chosen to the most important professorship in the country, a place that he occupied when he made his world-famed discovery of Paine's Celery Com? pound. This infallible cure for those fearful ills that result from an impaired nervous system ar.d impure blood, has endeared the great doctor to the world. DIAMOND DYES COLOR ANYTHING- ANY COLOR. Dresses, cloaks, suits, ribbons, coats, feathers, stockings.-everything wearable, Diamond Dyes make to look like new. We bare a special department of advice, and r.-fj answer free any queslione about dyeing. Sead sample of goods when possible. Direction book and 45 dyed samples free. DIAMOND DYES, Burlington, Vt. Unsolicited Testimony. Suited After Thirty-five Ye?rs. First Methodist Church, E. Herbert Jones. Pastor. Sumter, S. C., May 2nd, 1903. Dr. Z. F. Highsmith, Sumter, S. C. Dear Sir and Brother :-This is to say that the lenses furnished by you some weeks ago are giving me great satisfaction, and that I am as well suited, notwithstand? ing the difficulties, as I have ever been. After an experience o? thirty-five year? with Opticians and Oculists in the leading cities in two states, I make this statement to your credit. You are at liberty to use this letter in any way for the benefit of the community. I would like others to know that they can get work in your line done as well ia Sumter as they can in Charleston or Atlanta. Yours truly, \ R. HERBERT JONES. t EiMstat M Geo. S. Hacker & Son, -MANUFACTURERS OF DOORS, SASH., BUNDS, Moulding & Building Material. office and Warerooms, Sing, apposite Cac ooo Street, CHARLESTON? S. C. ?SS* Pnrchae* our make, which we guarani superior to any sold South, and thereby pave money. Window and Fancy Glass a Specialty October 16 -o Crilvrit?lt?v s.?Vs.LISK NilYROYAL FILLS Original and Only Genuin?. SAFE. Alw?Ti reliable. Ladle*, ?sk Drn*r.?' for CHICHESTER'* ENGLISH in lt2D an-1 Gold metallic bozo*, tea. . I with bine ribbon. Take no s th er. Refoae Baicorona Substitution* and imita? tion?. Bur of your Druggist. 0T *?c- ; ?amp? for Particular*. Testimonials .nd "Relief for Ladle*," tn Utttr, bj re 1 urn Malt. 1 A.OOO TeitlmomaU. So<db> ?il Drufgiitt. Chichester Chemleal C*., tai* paper UadUon Su uar?. PU ILA.. PA? SO YEARS' EXPERIENCE TRADE MARKS DESIGNS COPYRIGHTS &C Anyone sending a sketch and description BU? oulckly ascertain our opinion free whether s<i m-ention is probable patentable. Communir.i tions strictly confidential. Handbook on Patent* sent free. Oldest aconcy for securing patents. Patents taken through 3Iunn & Co. receivs special notice, wit bout charge, in the Scientific ?licatu L Handsomely illustrated weeklr. T-.Trest cl elation of any (uneniUlC journal. TVTO??*$8 at venr: four juo?tbe, il. Sold by ail newsdealer*. Brancn <>m< c. 1-33 K St- Washington. 1>. C.