Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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IMWiVrrbVtViVAV I We G . -f?j & *& ?? Bj &. ? ? ? ? . ? ? e*? ,^ [COSTETUEI^] "Aha, yes!" said the duke, bil *\his lip, for in his own mind he : the frankness to acknowledge t le was about as needy of virtue was the count. "But," he resnn vith a faint smile, "yon never lo ri; "the man?" "No, sir," the maiden answei gazing np into her guardian's fi Trith^an inquisitive look. "So I thought, so I thought." ' Olga thus spoke he smiled again i \ moved his chair nearer to Rosall "I am weil aware," he resuir. *that your affections have not yet been set upon any one who capable of making a proper co panion for yon through all the i and downs of life." Rosalinds eves drooped bene* -the steady gaze of the speaker, a % her frame trembled. But ere s could make any reply the duke w? v^on: "My dear Rosalind, I have coi now upon a business which I m jnst?y call the most important ~^my life. I have not approached tl subject lightly nor with overze ' ?mt I have come to it throuj careful consideration and ansio study." Here the duke stopped and gaz into Rosalind's face. She met I gaze, and her eyes drooped agai . She trembled more than before, ai . a dim, dreadful fear worked its w; to her mind. "Rosalind," the nobleman conti ned, "when I was but 19 years < -age, I was married with a girl who I loved. She lived with me foi . short, happy years. In that tin ve were -blessed with two childre "but thev lived not lons to cheer u And then my beautiful wife die {and the world was all dark and dre* to me. I thought I should nev< love again. Time passed on, an you were placed in my eharg When vou first came, I loved voi and 1 wondered if you were to tak -4be place cf the children I had los 3ut you grew quickly up. You mind was expanded; and your hear was large. ? found that 1 could ne make a child of you, and then 1 sa down all alone and asked my sel "what place it was you had assume -in my heart. Can you guess the an swer, Rosalind?" "As a little child," answered th maiden, trembling violently. "No, no, sweet one! 1 pondered "?and I studied, and 1 examined ray self carefully, and 1 found that th? : memory of my departed wife wai fast fading away before the risin< of another one just as pure and jus' as holy. Now do you understand V "No, no! Oh, no!" the maidei : uttered in a frightened whisper. *. "Then listen further," continu?e '"the nobleman in a low, earnest toa? and with a strange fire in his deer. ~~fclue eves. "As your charms of bott mt J -jnind and person were gradually dc ' \eioped I came to look upon you with new feelings, or, 1 should say. ^wTth the old feeling more fully de? veloped. 1 looked around rae. 1 low my sumptuous palace without a legitimate female head. In my par? ities I had no companion to assist and guide me, and in my loneliness - i had no mate to cheer and enliven me. I wished not that such should be the case. At length my eyes w*ere opened, ano*I saw plainly the spirit that was moving upon my soul. 1 looked upon you, and I knew that I had fo .nd the woman who was to give me joy once more. Rosalind, I love you truly, fondly, and I would make yon my wife. Now you can? not fail to understand me, can you?" Rosalind gazed up into thc face of her guardian, and she was pale as death. "You do not mean-oh!" It was a deep, painful groan, and the fair giri clasped her hands to? ward the man before her. "Hold!" he said almost sternly. *1 ara not trifling now. I am not only serious, but firm in purpose. , "When you were placed under my charge, your father bade me do as I "would, and now I would make you my wife. The Count Damonoff was the first who came for your hand, and had he been a proper man, and had you loved him, I should have in? terposed no objections, but you did not love him, and that affair is past. Kow I lay my claim upon you, and mv fortune and title 1 lav at vour feet." "And what is to become of my es? tate?" the maiden asked quickly and meaningly, for flic thought flashed upon her. "Why-we'll have the two unit? ed," returned the duke, with some hesitation. "Ko, no!" Rosalind cried. "You niH not do this ! Oh, spare me from ?2?;h s rato!" SCOW & t? IV ?LVANUS COBB, Jr. I 4 .--? v I r "Spare thee, girl - spare thee j from becoming the wife of one of ? the most powerful noblemen in tba empire? You rtfust be crazy." "My guardian,"* spoke the fair girl, now looking her companion I steadily in the face, "you only da this to try me. When you know that ! such a union would make me misera? ble forever, when you know it would 1 cast out ali the joys of life and cx : tinguish the last hope of peace from j mv soul, von surely will not press it" "Rosalind Valdai,-1 have resolved that you shall be my wife. Mind you, this is one of the firm, fixed purposes of mv soul, and those who know the Duke of Tula l>est know that he never gives up a purpose once fixed in his mind. You cannot mistake me now." Slowly the stern fact dawned up? on Rosalind's mind. There had been a lingering hope that he might be only trying her to see if she loved him or if she would willingly become his wife. Awhile she remained with ber head; bowed and her bosom heaving with the wild emotion thus called up. But at length she looked up and spoke. "Sir,'* she said faintly, but with marked decision, "you cannot make me vour wife/* "Ah! And why not?" "Because I* will never consent" "Ah! Say you so?" "I do. and I mean it." \ "Ha. ha. hal You know little of my power if you think you can thwart me in my purpose. I tell thee, as-sure as the God of heaven lives, you shall be rny wife." "No, no I Before heaven I protest against such unholy union. You cannot have my heart, and such a union would be but foul mockery." "Oho! Now you come to the point I can't have your heart, eh? Perhaps your heart is given to the gunmaker?" Rosalind's eyes flashed in an in? stant. The words of the duke were spoken sneeringly and contemptu? ously, and they jarred upon the young girl's soul. "Aye," she quickly uttered, and boldly, too, "1 do love Ruric ?evel, and he is worthy of my love." "Now, my pretty ward," resumed Olga in a tone of peculiar irony, "you have spoken as I hoped, you would speak-plainly and to the point, so 1 can answer just as plain? ly. Know, then,' that Ruric Nevel can never be your husband. He stands charged with a horrid crime, and the emperor only waits to see whether the count recovers or not ere he awards the punishment. The gunmaker is forbidden on pain of death to leave the city. So you may cast him from your thoughts as soon as possible." "What crime is Ruric accused of?" the maiden asked. "Of murder." _ "In wounding the count?" . "Yes." "Oil, how can you bring your tongue to such speech? You know the noble youth was not to blame in this affair. He was" - "Hold. Rosalind. I want no ar -gument on this question. You have heard what 1 have said, and be as? sured that 1 mean it. 1 had hoped you would receive my proposal with more favor, but 1 did not enter into the plan until my mind was all made up H ntl the thing all fixed. You will become my wife within one month!" "I will flee to the emperor," gasp? ed Rosalind. "You will not leave this palace again until voil are the Duchess of Tula!" "i will never speak the word that is necessary to make me your wife never! At the altar, if you be by my side, my lips shall he sealed, and no power on earth shall loose them !" "Do you mean this?" whispered the duke. "As God lives I do!" "Then mark TUC" - the stout, dark nobleman gazed fixedly into thc maiden's face as he spoke, and in his look and tone there was a fiendish expression that could not be mistaken-"1 shall do ali in my power to make you my lawful wife. If you refuse me, you shall be beat? en with thc knout in the market place, when' all may see the un? grateful girl who refused the heart and hand of the noble Duke of Tu? la. Aye, and after thou art beaten thou shr.lt be cast into the streets for dogs io bark at. Dost hear me, Rosalind Valdai ?" With one deep, soul dying moan the poor girl sank down, shivering and pale. The duke caught her as she fell, and, having laid her sense? less forn\ back upon the couch, he strode fromJ,he apartment. \\\mn CHAPTER IX. THE MASK FALLS LOWER DOWN AND VEALS THE HEART. It was early evening ere Zen( entered the apartment of her yo' mistress. As she opened the d she found all dark within, moved into the room, and, shad her candle with her hand, she < ed about. The wind still how fearfully without, .and the si came driving against the windo When the girl had reached the tremity of the place, she called \ .' mistress' name, and shebas answ ed by a low groan from flic couch thc corner. Thither she hasten and there she found her mistress "Rosalind - my mistress!" : cried, kneeling down. "Who is it?" the maiden ask starting up and gazing frantica around. "lt is 1, Zenobie. Say, my de good mistress, what is it? Wha1 the matter? What has happened With a quick movement Rosali put her attendant away and sat i and. having gazed about her : j some moments, she murmured: "Where am I ? Who is here?" "il i> 1. Von are in )*our cr eh<nn ber. Coin?, yon are cold hen Without resistance the maid suffered herself io be led to t j place where-the heated air came from the furnace below, and th< she sat down. "What is it?" again asked Zer bie eagerly. "What has happened Rosalind bowed her head up her hands, and after some momer of thought she looked up. She vv very pale, and a fearful trem shook her frame. "Zenobie," she uttered in a lo strange whisper, "ask me no mo now. 1 am not well. Oh, ask r no more now." "My mistress," returned tl faithful girl, olacinsr one arm abo Rosalind's neck, "vou know wh you may tell me and what you m? not. But whom will you trust you trust not me?. Oh, give n your love, and if I can serve you 1 me do so." "I would trust vou with life i self," the maiden returned, "ar some time vou shall know all thi has happened here, but not now not now. Oh, I cannot speak now!" "Say no more, my mistress; on] let me serve you. You will hav some refreshment - something t eat." "You may bring me some wini Zenobie." And thereupon the young gi: hastened away. In the meantime the duke was i: his private room below. He wa pacing to and fro across the flooi with his hands behind him, and hi brow was dark and lowering. Eve and anon he would stop near th door and listen and then proceed At length there came a rap upon th door, and the duke said, "Enter.2 It was a priest who entered thi apartment-a small, deformed man somewhere about 50 years of age His face was very dark', bis feature; sharp and angular, his eyes dari and sunken deep into his head, hi: brow heavy above the eyes, when the shaggy brows hung over, bm sloping back from thence, leaving the points where phrenologists lo? cate benevolence and veneration de? ficient and nat. Upon his shoulder; he wore a huge, ungainly hump, and, all in all. he was just such a man as a timid person would shun. His name was Savotano. The duke had been the means of getting him into thc church, and in consideration thereof he had bound himself to do the duke's evil work. But this is nol all. Some years before there had been a murder in Moscow, and Savotano did the bloody deed. It was a work of pure vengeance. Olga had him apprehended, but he was not brought io justice. The duke found him to be a shrewd, unscrupulous wretch, willing to serve those who would pay him well and ready to let himself then to any one who could save his life. Olga was a man ol' plot? and schemes. He fancied that such a man as Savotano might he of use -o him, so he proposed lo save him if he would servo his bene? factor. The villain was glad enough to accept the proposition, and the bargain was made. Could Savotano enter the church and assume the sacred curb he micrht in manv eases work to better advantage. The wretch readily agreed to lins, loo, and through Olga's powerful inilu ence he gained a place in thc church. He knew thal Ihedukc held Iiis very Life, ;i!:;l he failed nol to serve him. His clerical robes "-shielded him from much suspicion, and, moreover, thc place gave him additional advan? tages t<> work at his diabolical trade. His salary from the government was sufficient for his support, while an occasional sum from his master en? abled him io enjoy many of those luxuries which wore denied to most of his brethren. Olga feared not to trust this man, for thc follow had nothing to gain by betrayal, hut ev? erything to lose. And such was Hie mau who now entered the duke's private room. He entered with a bold air, for, though he was somewhat in the duke's power, yet Hiere was^ a pecul when he fell the noble lord n fall with him, part way at le Brethren in crime cannot cc much upon respect. ""I have come, my lord/' the pr said as he shook the snow from robe and then took a seat by furnace pipe. "And how is the count?" as Olga. "Ile is recovering, I am sure.* "Does Kopani say so?" "Ye?. lie says lie will have 1 out within a month." "By heavens, Savotano, this in not bc." "But tell me, my lord, what is particular need of the count's parting?" The duke gazed his visitor a : moments in the face and then sai "Whv, since the affair inten you, r? tell you. Thus far I li paid you promptly all your di but T cannot do so much longer ? less we can make some of our poi work. My property is on the crease fast. I have not enough 1 to live on. Within the past th years I have made some bad v tures. I put it into- But ne mind; suffice it for me to sav tl I am at the end of my fortune." The duke was about to say tl he had placed large sums in 1 hands of the Minister Gallitzin : the purpose of carrying out the c( spiracy by which the Princess i phia was to have been placed up the throne, with Gallitzin for 1 prime minister and himself also hi in power. He chose not to tell this. And no wonder, for heads h ere then been taken to pay for su indiscretions. "And now if this count survive; thus have one source cut off. I half of Drotzen is used up and mo: gaged to him, but if he dies t whole comes to me. His father a; myself married sisters, and th owned Drotzen, and on his side t count is the only heir. So in t event of his death the whole com tc me. You understand this now.: "Perfectly," returned the prie: "And 'tis a pity your first effort d not succeed." "So it is," said the duke uneasil "When I sent him with that me sage to the gunmaker, I felt su he would be slain, and then I hop< that the other could be disposed i for having slain him. But the er peror has turned all my plans u] side down, for the present at leas Savotano, ^ou must have a hand i Damofioff's medicine!" "That is easily done, my lord, replied the priest quietly. "You have free access there?" "Yes." , "And can you not watch with hil some night?" "I think I can." "Then do so. When he is dea( 200 ducats are yours." "Then he dies." "Good.' And now there is on more. This gunmaker must be gc out of the way." "Ahl" uttered Savotano, lookin up incredulously. "Do you mea: so?" "Most assuredly I do." "But why him?" "Do vou fear to undertake th work?"' "Not at all, my lord. I only wish ed to know why he was war.?e? away." t "The reason in simple. I mus marry with Rosalind Valdai. He: property is worth the whole of Drot zen twice fold-over two million o ducats." "So much?" uttered the priest opening his eyes with greedy won? der. "Yes; it is one of the finest es< tates in Moscow, and it pays her now a yearly income of a hundred thou? sand ducats. She does not know it. Ha, ha, ha!" "Ha. ha, ha!" laughed the priest in concert. "She doesn't, eh?" "No: she knows nothing about ir.. But I must secure this, and in order to do it 1 must marry her. and if ? would be sure of that this ac? cursed gunmaker must bc out of the way." "But what is ho to lier?" "She loves him." "And is not your authority" "Hold., Savotano. I'll explain to vou in a lew words. I'm afraid the emperor has taken a fancy to this youngster, and if he has lie may be appealed io in this ease. The girl will take marriage hard. I shall have io hire you to perform ti ie ceremony." "Which I should l>e pleased to do." returned thc priest, with a coarse smile. "Yon .-ha!! have the opportunity. Bu i li iv! we mus? have the young Neve! taken care oT." "i think 1 ran manage that, uv. lon!." "And how will you do it ?" "I suppose you don't want him put where he can gel off and come back !?c?v." ".\n. Finish him while you are aboui ii." "I will." "But. mind, it must bc done so that i:i no possible way suspicion can fall upon mc. You must con? trive some way so that suspicion shall be led at once to some appar? ent point and there baffled," "Leave me alone for that, my lord. I can call help if I want it." "Arc there not places in the city where a body can be hidden-where it may be so disposed of and nev? er be found?" asked the duke as the thought came to his mind. "Xever mind." returned the oth? er, with a confident nod of the head. "If I meddle with the matter, it shall bc well done/' "Yerv well. I'll trust it with you." For a few moments after this there was a dead silence, during which only the moaning of the wind could b*e heard. But at length the duke started up, and, with sudden energy, he said: "Ah, Savotano, there is one thing I came nigh forgetting. You have heard of this strange monk-Vladi? mir his name is." "'Aye, and I have seen him too. You mean that huge lump of human fat?" "Yes. And now tell me who and what he is. He was at the duel, and I know he has been here to my house. Who is he?" "You've secured me there, my lord, for I can tell you no more about him than I can about the man in the moon. In short, io one seems to know him, save thai; he is a monk of some Roman ordor and named Vladimir. He has been here only a few months, as near as I can find out, and yet I think I know what his business is, or, at least, why he's here." "'Ah, you suspect ?" "Yes, and if my suspicions be correct we could have him taken , care of at anv moment." "Explain." "Why, I think he is a spy of the pope, sent here from Rome to learn something of our emperor's plans." "But he has not visited the impe? rial palace." "Oh, yes, my lord: he has been there several times, and once the emperor himself was obliged to send him out of the audience chamber." "But have you any particular rea? sons for thinking him a spy from the pope ?" "Why, he is a Romish monk, and he hangs about the most important places in our city. Even the cir? cumstance I have just related his trying to remain in the audi? ence chamber while private business was going on and having to be or? dered out by the emperor-is some ground for suspicion. I mean to watch him at all events." "That's right," returned the duke. And then, after a moment's thought, he added: "I do not see why he should be around after every petty duel that may be fought if he is a spy from Rome, and, besides, I have heard one or two persons say that they were sure they had seen him before." "Oh, that may be only the result of some strong resemblance which he bears to some one else. I am sure he was never here before-not in Moscow." Again the humpbacked priest was cautioned about the work he had in hand, and, having promised over and over again to be" very careful, he took his leave. And Olga, duke of Tula, was left alone with his own thoughts. Bet? ter for him had that wicked priest been his executioner. Better for him had he been upon the count's bed, racked with dying pains. Bet? ter for him had he been a poor gun 'maker, so he had been honest. Oh, better for him had he been the meanest beggar that walked the earth than what he was! But he did not realize this. He had a goal ahead, and he tried to overlook the black, dreadful gulf that yawned be? tween him and it. CHAPTER X. A STRANGE DISCOVERY. Thc news went out that the Count Conrad Damonoff must die. A few days before the best surgeon in Moscow said he would recover, but now that same surgeon said he must fall. A strange change had come over him. It was not a fever, but, rather, a consuming of vitality. He tras failing fast, and no art of medicine could revive him. Some thought he must be bleeding inward? ly, but others knew better than this, because in that case there would be some outward symptom. Thc wound itself was healing, but thc disease was not. The physician and the priest were now in daily, and the former almost in hourly, attend? ance. The surgeon was Kopani, and tlic priest was the humpbacked Savotano. Thus lay the count upon his bed, weak and faint, hut at present al? most free from pain, and an old wo? man was his only attendant, the priest having just left. It was just aft rr noon. The dying man had just taken a powerful stimulating draft, though it was-against the in? junctions of the priest, as he said that by such means the invalid might -lie bereft of sense and thus lose his hold upon salvation. He had just taken this draft when there was a low rap upon the door. The woman arose to answer the sum? mons. She conversed a few mo? ments with the girl who had knock? ed, and when she returned to the she announced that Ruric Xe vel wished to enter. "Let him come in," whispered the count. "But" "Xever mind," he interrupted cs the woman commenced 'hus to ex- , postulate. "'Let him come in. By heavens, if he is my enemy let me see him? It may serve to arouse me." So the woman went to the door again, and soon afterward Eurie Neve] entered the apartment. He stepped lightly, noiselessly, to the bedside, but it was some moments ere he could dist in STU-sh objects bv the subdued light of the place. By and by, however, bc overcame the diinculty, and lie started back in horror as he beheld the features of his adversary. How pale and sunk? en.' How deathlike and ghastly! The edunt noticed the movement, and he noticed the look. "Count Damonoff," spoke the gunmaker in a low, solemn tone, "a few days since I heard that you were recovering, and I thanked God. But today they told me you were dy? ing, and I have come to ask that I may take your hand ere you pass away from earth. As God is my Maker and my Judge, I would rath? er lie down here and die for you than have you pass away with a carse of me upon your soul or on your lips. Forgive me for what I have done and never again will I en? gage in such a wicked work. For my own life, it is my country's and ' my mother's and I have no right to throw it awav, and my antagonist's life is the sacred property of God, which I have no right to touch but in self defense. Forgive me." Slowly and heavily moved the dy? ing man over, and then he extend ed his thin and wasted hand. "Ruric," he said, and his voice was stronger now, for the potion was working, "I am ?dad vou have come-very glad-for I have wish? ed, above all else of earth, to see ? you. I could not send for you, for I knew not how you might come. I have been all wrong in the things that lia ve passed betwixt thee and me. I was mad and a fool. I blame you not, but rather do I thank you ; for vour kindness through all thc scene. Oh, I forgive you with all my heart. And now tell me that L am forgiven." "'Forgiven?" repeated Eurie, with a trembling lip, still holding the count's hand within both his own. "Oh, would to God I could call you back to life! Forgiven? Oh, God, who reads all hearts, knows how humble, how sacred, is my forgive? ness to you! Could I call you back., could I wipe out the past from my memory, I could die content." "Enough," returned the count warmly. "'This was my holiest wish, though pride has kept back its ut? terance. Oh, I feared you wouli gloat over my death - that you would be glad when I was gone." "Xo, no! I should have been a monster then !" "There are many such. And yet I wronged you by the thought. But I could not help it." A moment more passed in silence, and then the invalid resumed: "There is one reason why I should like to live-I should be prepared for a better life. Since Death has come-since I have known that he stood waiting by my bed-I have wondered at the evil life I have led. and I have thought that if the dark king would let me remain here a few years more I could be a better man. But 'tis too late now. The die is cast. Yet I have some joy in this. You have shed a happy light unon my dving hour. God bless you!" Burk's feelings were easily moved; and there was something in the deep solemnity of this occasion that started his heart to a tender mood, and the last words of the dying man flowed the cup. He bowed his head, and, covering his eyes with one hand while he held in the other the hand of Conrad, he wept freely and si? lently. At this moment che woman arose and left the room. "She's gone," said the count after he had .recovered somewhat from the deep emotions which had been stirred within his own soul. "Sit down here beside me." [TO BE CONTINUED.] Short Time in Cotton Mills. Manchester, England, Dec. lo.-A well attended conference of Southeast Lancashire master spinners here today considered the present state of the cot? ton trade and passed a resolution as follows : "That communication he entered into with the American and Continen? tal associations engaged in the cotton tiade and that the following cable message be sent to each : " 'Lancashire has suggest d short time in the cotton trade. Are you pre? pared to do the same? That a mass meeting of all interest? ed in the cotton trade be called at an early date to consider the position." Fish, Oysters. Place your orders for Casters and Fi?.1* with COLUMBJA FISH AND ICE CO., CO LU * BIA, S.e. Satiffactory piices. quick service. Yoa can mafec money now selling our laige Sonth Mullet while eggs, etc., are so vt ry high. Dec. 2.- 26t. "