Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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?5B I M ? & & & By CC02?T2??ED.3 . CHAPTER XVI > THWASTEO, BOT KOT SUBDUED. ; It was long after mi&iight, and "]' jet the Widow Kevel had not nought her bed. She was now pac? ing to and fro across her kitchen, and the boy Paul sat nodding'in his chair. Suddenly the woman stop? ped, and Paul started np. "Do yon think that message was a false one?" she asked, looking the hoy in the face. "T don't know/' he returned. "If lie came from the black monk, as he j ^said he did, then I think he spoke the truth." "Oh, they would not have de? ceived mei" "Ko, my mistress; I am afire they ifould not." "Butitisvervlate." "Hark! There are bells." The widow heard them, and, with ? wildly buttering heart, slue sank Hp?to a chair. 'They have stopped in front of ?he house/' uttered Pani, whose ears "were bent. "Go-go-open" Pani started. The widow heard the door opened, and she heard Toices in the hall. In a moment store, the. inner door was opened, ?std she looked np. She saw a man? ly form; she h?ard the magic word "Mother!" trembling upon the air. With one low cry of joy she started io her feet, and in the; next moment she was clasped to the bosom of her "Did I not tell }'ou Fd bring him ?)aek to you?"-cried Vladimir, rub-?|B hing his hands with joy. "Oh, God bless you, sir!" the wid? ow murmured, gazing through her tears into the monk's face. "So, sb," returned, the strange ^an. '"The blessing of an honest son! is reward enough for one night, Sso Fl! take myself off for the pres? ent."' . ? -:Slp| &T~ Hfifo, no," cried Ruric. "You'll .^remain here till morning." JBnt. the-monk could not be pre i :mled upon so to do. He had busi? ness to attend io, and he could not s$bp, and he hurried away as quickly -^^Ossible to avoid the thanks that g irafe showered upon him. After Tladimir was gone Ruric sat down and related to his mother ?li that had occurred since that day -m. which he left her to go and see the count. She trembled fearfully as he related the diabolical attempts flfifeai had been made upon him, and ? when he had concluded she sat for a few moments like one in a painful trance. "And do you think,'* she said at length, while a cold shudder ran "through her frame, "that the Duke -of Tula was the cause of all this ?" "I am sure of it, my mother." ""Then you are not safe yet" ; "But I shall see the emperor." Sh ""I have seen him,-mv son." Hy "Ah I And what said he ?" "Why, he said if we could find out Karho had dene you harm he would punish them. Then 1 asked him, *&appose it was a duke?"and he said ia that case he should have to look ; ?EEL?Q the matter. Oh, I fear he would /not dare to punish the powerful J?Ign." &. ^Perhaps not, but yet, my moth? er, I will give him credit for better ibing?. Vet," the youth continued ia a sad tone, "there is one for Rjjjtohorn ? care more thsn self and who is now within the wicked duke's , potter. Oh. she is his beyond any jsower of the emperor !" . "tXot absolutely beyond his pow ?r,is she ?" the mother asked. *4Why, of course, Peter has the pawer lo set aside any wardship,.but' 'fcwouid not be policy for him to in? terfere in the domestic affairs of his j % powerful nobles. I feel sure that.! bis Ilea rt would bid him interfere, "bal his judgment would Oppose it ^Yon -ha ve seen Rosal ind ?" Sf "Yes." **And was she unhappy when she ifaew that 1 was missing?" "Ab, Ruric," returned the moth -er, with a kindling eye, "you do not .-*a&aow how that noble girl loves you I Oh, ber heart was almost broken " sriien she knew that evil had befall : ea yt>u!" The widow had it in her mind to tell of the scene which had transpir-1 -ed apon the duke's coming into the -aaaidea's presence when she was there, but she thought a second time ?re she spoke, and she then conclud? ed not ta speak of it at present, for she faffw 'twould only serve to give p?3Bf?ta additional pain without be? ato wing any benefit. < I "By heavens " uttered Eurie at 'fte ead of a troubled reverie and at ?be same time clasping his hands ^rfKsmeitly together, "was ever man je? surrounded hy impenetrable mys -------------------- - - ... o s nm&ker fl * ? vj* scow M il I Vj fLVANUS COBB, jr. 1*8 ?vi .">?a VI >V?VASVtV?%V>%V?V>V?Va| aBCTgr?5r?aMihi nimaasaoMBi-n--aa tery' before.' This monk is surely good man. He has served me well, and 1 am sure he would serve mo more if opportunity offered. But who is he? Have you found out any? thing concerning him ?" "I have not, my. son." "But is it not strange?" . ?It is." And so ihev conversed until their drooping lids would no longer re? main apart, and then, having first rendered up their thanks to God and asked his help for the future, they retired to their respective places of rest. Eurie had strange dreams, and' for the lite of him he could not tell whether they were good or bad. Once he dreamed that he was a duke himself and that he had a wife whose face he Had never seen. She would not raise lier veil untii the ceremony was performed. Then she removed the obstruction, and Ruric started on beholding the face of Vladimir, the monk! And then Vladimir seemed to sav, "All this I have done for thee. Do you like it?" And Ruric dared not object, because Vladimir had done so much ! for him. And now while Eurie awakes from his. dre?ms and wonders what they mean let us look in and see what is going on in the ducal palace. lt was early morning, and the Duke of Tula was once more in his own private apartment. He had not slept well, for he, tob, .had had dreams, and they were troublesome ones. They hung about him even now, and they filled his mind with dark and gloomy forebodings. He paced to and fro across the apart? ment, sometimes stopping and bow? ing his head and then starting on again with new clouds upon his brow. Thus he walked and pondered until he was aroused by a stealthy footfall close by the door. He stop? ped and listened. He knew the step. Twas the one he had been waiting for. He moved to the door and opened it, and the humpbacked priest, Savotano. entered the apart? ment. "By St. Paul, Savotano, I feared yon >w?uld never come," the duke uttered as his workman--closed the door behind him. "I would have come sooner if I could, my lord, but even now it is early morning. The sun is hardly above the city walls." "Well, it is early, I know, but I have not slept well." "I have not slept at ali, my lord." ".No, Savotano. You look worn and weary. But you have -been at work." "Ave; I have." "And you have cc-me to tell me the result of that work. Does it move you so to do such work? I thought you were used to it ?" The priest gazed into his master's face, but he did not speak. "Bah!" uttered Olga contemptu? ously. "What is the killing of a man? But tell me, did you conceal the bodv so that no one will find it?" It was some moments before Sa? votano spoke. His frame trembled, and his hands worked, nervously to? gether. But at length he said in a hesitating tone: . "He is not dead, mv lord." "Xol dead vet ? But vou promis ed mc he should be." . . "1 know, but we could not do it." "Bali ! 1 gave you credit for more firmness. Xot kill a man ? What is there so terrible in that?" ."You misunderstood me, my lord. We did all we could toward killing him, but he escaped us." "Hold!" cried the duke, starting forward and grasping the priest by the shoulder. "You do not mean that Ruric Nevel has escaped vou ?" "He has. my lord." "But not entirely. Y'ou do not mean that he has fairly gone from out vour hands?" "He has. my lord. But listen" "Listen, thou bungler! By the saints, what story can you tell to make that smooth and reasonable? You had him in your power, and you should have kept him." "But, my lord, the devil himself is working for that man. We went last night to kill the fellow, and I waited all of two hours for Tolma and Yiska. but the rascals did not come, and I engaged others." "And did they prove treacher? ous?" cried Olga in sudden passion. "No, my lord; they did their best, but they were interrupted by that accursed monk, who came backed by some dozen men." "What ! Do you mean that Vladi? mir came there?" "Yes." "And with a band of armed men?" "Yes." j "Then, bv the gods, ther ! treachery somewhere." "1 know not what to think, i j lord," returned Savotano in ui i j easy, perplexed tone. "The 01 men who are absent are Lesko T ma and Frederic Viska, and they ? surely our best men." "But you see plainly that th< must have been treachery," exelai ed the duke passionately. "Oh, h I would like to know the man! A did this monk carry off the gr j maker?" "He did. And he captured fo of our men. I escaped without 1 j ing seen." ""That is fortunate" "I mean that the monk did n see me, nor did any of his followe: j But the gunmaker saw me." 'And do you think he mistrust you had aiiy hand in the matter < his imprisonment?" "I should judge so," returned tl priest, with a peculiar twinge < vengeance about the lips. "The vi lain knocked medowri." "fin!" "Aye : the moment he saw rna^" "But do you think he knows an; thing a bo ut it?" ' "No. I do not think he does. 13 can only suspect." ? "Then we'll be prepared for hil if your own men are to be depende upon. But leave tliat to me. I'll fi that matter with the emperor. F see him this very day, and be sure h shall have a story that can destro all evidence which these fellows ca hatch up." "But I must flee/my lord." "Not vet, Savotano. I must hav your help within a very short time By the true God, I swear that th Countess Rosalind Valdai shall b my wife within the present week F? place the seal of fact upon tha matter at once. Fear not, for know my influence over the empero will shield you from all harm. Why Peter would sooner lose his righ hand than lose me." "Then most surely I will remain my lord, for I much wish to perfora that ceremony for you. But who i this black monk-this Vladimir ?" The duke started across the floor and for some moments he continu?e pacing to and fro. When he stop ped, he brought his hands together with an energetic movement, and looking the priest sternly in the face, he said: "Let that monk be who he may whether man or devil, God or saint I'll destroy him ! I have the power and I'll use it. As warden of the cit} I haye the power to arrest him upon suspicion of conspiracy. I'll do it! Where is he now?" "I know not." "Never mind; I'll to the emperoi first, jil study my plan, and ere the sun sets it shall be carried out. Bj heavens, F1I be baffled thus no more. I could have wished that this gun maker had been quietly out of the wav, for then all would have been clear and plain, and I should not have feared the trouble of his clam? oring about my ears. But let him go. I would not give much for the life lie has left. I'll dispose of him soon. But that monk ! By heavens, he dies at once and without consul? tation with the emperor, for I can swear he is a conspirator." "Good !" ejaculated the priest. And thus the business was ar? ranged for the present. Passion helped the duke wondrously in his conclusions, and the wish was made into the power. But even before the priest left the stout nobleman began to wish that he had a very lit? tle more power. In fact, as he came to reason he began to doubt, but he gave up not one idea of the plan he had formed for the vengeance his soul so madly craved. CHAPTER XVII. TRAXSACT10XS OF A NIGHT. "I dare not ! Oh, I dare not !" "But it is your only hope." "And whither shall we go ?" "Anywhere rather than remain here. Oh, my mistress, if you do stay here you know the fate which awaits you. There is no other means of escape ' from the wicked duke's power." "And 1 must thus cast myself among strangers, lose my all of earth" "Hold, Rosalind! By St. Paul, there i> surely one in Moscow who will help you ! Let us go to the em? peror. Oh{ if he be the man I have heard, he will surely listen I" "Ah, Zenobie, the duke is high in power, and his influence is great at court. Peter would not dare to thwart him." "It may be so, but I do not ?believe it. And yet, my mistress, just think for one moment how you stand in that respect. You have nothing to lose. This life of earth, with all it? pains and sorrows and with its most exquisite tortures, holds nothing worse for you within the bounds of possibility than to become the duke's wife. If there were but one chance in the thousand, you had better try it. Remember, you can? not possibiy lose anything, but the chances are for you. Let us go to the emperor." "But how, Zenobie?" "This evening, after the darkness of night has gathered over the city, Jet us -11. 1 Jell you 1 do not bel the emperor will deliberately si] a greai wrong to be done for sake o? pacifying the duke. He more noble independence t that." . The young countess did not swer at once. She pressed her sr white hand hard.upon her brow, thus she remained for some t buried in profound thought, length she raised her head, and fire of determination was in her i "1 will go." she said. "I will to the emperor. He will help m he has a human heart."" "You have one satisfaction, mistress-he cannot harm you." "Cannot?" "I mean that you can but be mi to marry with Olga,, and all ot] harm would be as nothing compai with that." "Aye ; you arc right, Zenobie. will go this very night." The more Rosalind pondered i on this new resolve the more he did she derive from it. Ere long s conversed more freely with her tendant, and at times that old sm would struggle for a moment up her face. Yet she had gloomy n ments too. Her fear was too dee] fixed to be swept away so easily. The afternoon passed away, a as the shades of night gathered the great city the two girls w( astir. Zenobie gathered toseti such articles of clothing as would needed and then proceeded to p] pare her mistress for the adventui . 'Tear not," she said as she dr< on Rosalind's robe of fur, "for the can be no danger worse than that J flee from. Try only to rememb that you flee from the duke's fo embrace." This served to nerve the fa young countess up to the task, ai her frame ceased its trembling. "I shall not falter now," she sai "But shall we find the emperor ; this late hour?" c'Bless me, 'tis not late ! But eve if we do not see him tonight we cz do it in the morning. We shall fix plenty in the imperial palace wi will shelter us till then." The girls were now ready, and a that remained was to start on the strange mission. With noisele: steps they left the apartment whei they had dressed and proceede along the corridor to the great stai: case. Zenobie knew there weald t less danger there than to go dow the other way among the servant: Having descended these stairs, the came to the great hall which opene one way into the saloons. The took the former course and wei soon in the court. The only troubl now was in passing the porter lodge at the gate, for tftey knew th great gate was not open, and to gai: the street they must pass throng' the room where the porter alway staid. Zenobie went ahead and look ed in. The porter sat by the fir playing with his dog. "My mistress" whispered the gil as she came back, "old John is in th lodge, and we need have no fear. H is a simple, good natured fellow, an< I am sure I can get by him. Do yoi go in advance; cover up your face don't look at him, and be sure yoi don't tremble. Leave it all to me Remember, now, you have" "Fear not, Zenobie. Go on." So on they went, and when the; reached the lodge Rosalind went ii first and stood by the wicket, whili Zenobie followed and opened th< door that looked into the porter'; room. "Good John," she uttered in anx ions tones, "come and open the wick et for me, quick. My good mistress is very ill, and Tilda and I are goin< for the doctor. Come; be quick." "But why don't some of the mer go?" asked John as he started ur and forced his dog back. "Because 'twould take them lon? ger to do the errand than 'twill us, But don't detain us. We shan't bc long." The honest porter had orders not to allow the co un I ess io pass out. but he thought not of that now. He had known the gentle girl from a child, and so well did he- love her that he might not have stopped lier even had he known she was then waiting to pass out. At all events, he could not refuse the present re? quest, so he came out and opened the wicket without further ques? tion, and the girls passed through. "Now, now," uttered Zenobie in nervous haste, "we are clear of the palace. Here is the street. Our walk is not long." Rosalind answered not; but, draw? ing her robe more closely about her to keep out the cold, biting wind, she hastened along by the side of her companion. Hope was now alive within lier. She turned one glance behind her, and she could see the ? light which she had left burning in ? her chamber. It seemed at that mo? ment to be the fiery eye of a demon gazing after her, and instinctively she quickened her pace. * * * . . . . . Twice during the day did the Duke of Tula call at the imperial palace without being able to find the emperor, but in the evening he was more fortunate. The emperor was in, and Olga was admitted at once to his presence. "Well, my lord duke," said Peter as Olga approached, "what busine calls you from home at this hour ?: "Business of importance, sire business of less moment to me thi to the state.7' "Ah! Proceed." Only two attendants were wi the emperor, one of whom was D metrius the Greek, and the place audience wes in one of the priva apartments near the bedchambc where only privileged ones were ev allowed to come. "Sire," commenced the dui "you remember the gunmaker wi was before you not long since ?" "Ah. yes-the one who took rx Greek's sword from him?" "The same, sire. Have vou heai from him since?" "By my soul, Olga, I had we nigh forgotten the fellow. Ye yes; I remember him well row. E was a right stout knave.55 "Aye, and a dangerous one, to' sire-a dangerous man," said tr duke, with a dubious shake of h head. "Ah! What has he done?" "Why, he has been engaged in vi nous robberies to my certain know edge, and only a few evenings sine he knocked down one of our ho] priests and robbed him of all h had. He is at the head of a numei ous band of desperadoes." ?Is it possible?" "I know it, sire." "By St. Paul, I should not hav believed this !" "NOT would I have believed r sire, had I not received proofs nc to be questioned. I, as is my dut] have long been anxious to ferret ou this gang of robbers" "But I never heard of them, OJ ga," interrupted Peter. "Ah, sire, because I gave direc tion that you should not be troubla with the affair. But I have ther now. It is only last evening that. got a clew upon them. We founi them in an old building near th river here in the Kremlin, and thi same Ruric Xevel was with them But he made his escape." "I do remember me now that th fellow had a bold bearing and ; fearless look," said the emperor hal to himself, "and if such a man turn: villain there must be danger in it." "Aye, sire, you speak truly, an< now, with your order, I can appre bend the fellow at once." "I can send and have it done, nrj dear duke." '.'But your officers may not fine him. I . know where he is and cai have him taken at once. He has several hiding places." "Well, then you might do th< work with more advantage." "Aye, and I can have him triec and disposed of without furthei trouble to you, sire." "No, no. I wish to see him," re? turned the emperor. "I will giv< you the necessary order, and yoi may bring him here." Peter then turned to his secreta? ry and bade him fill an order for Eu? rie bevel's arrest. The stout mas? ter at arms looked on with a trou? bled countenance, and his glances toward the duke were anything hui loving. He did not seem to relish the business at all, and the expres? sion of his countenance would seem to indicate that he did not believe all that the duke had said. However, the order was soon made out and in the duke's posses? sion. "Remember," said Peter, "you j will bring him before me." "You shall be obeyed, sire." If the emperor did not notice the strange, dark look of the duke ' as he turned away, the Greek did. and he fancied, too, that he knew what it meant. But he said nothing then. i Olga bowed low as he clutched the ! order, and, having once more prom? ised obedience, he hurried from the imperial presence. As he passed out through the wide court lie walk? ed slowly and thoughtfully and with his head bowed. But soon he start? ed up, his hands came together with an emphatic movement, and he mov? ed on more quickly. He had gained the street and approached a small court within which stood a house of entertainment, where he stopped. In a few moments more a man came out from the inn, and as soon as he had satisfied himself that the new? comer was the duke he spoke. "Olga. is*t YOU?" "Yes." It needed but a single glance in the dim starlight to recognize the form of the humpbacked priest. He walked quickly to where the duke stood, and the two moved o rf to? gether. "Now what luck ?" Savotano ask? ed as the gained the street once more. "Good-as good as I could even hope," returned the duke. "I have the power for arresting the gun maker." "And for executing him ?" "lt amounts to the same. 1 am ordered to bring him before the em? peror, but that is easily managed." Here the duke stopped and gazed about him, and then, bending his head so that no word could possibly pass beyond his companion's ears, he continued : "You can call upon three of your; best men, and I carl furnish two fror, among my own servants. Early ii the morning, by the time the sun i. up, they must be at the gunmakc?\ dwelling. They must make him ai? gry-of course he will resist-and then kill him. It is very simple very. They can easily dispatch him thus, and then we have only to tall the emperor that he resisted the im? perial authority even unto death. So, you see, this is even better than it would have been had I received direct authority for his death, for then some form of trial would have been necessary, but now we have only to go to his house, provoke him to quarrel, kill him and then tell the emperor how it happened. What think you?" "Why," returned the priest, with a wicked chuckle, "I can only say that Master Neyel is done for-he is a dead man/'' "Exactly. Nothing could be bet? ter-nothing/' After the explanation of this I fiendish, hellish scheme the -two walked on some distance in silence. "Stop!" uttered^ the. duke, catch? ing his companion by the arm,.. "There come two persons this way. We must not meet them. Here-^ into this passage-quick !" It was a narrow,, dark passage leading to the next street, into which the duke dragged his compan? ion, and here he meant to remain, until the two persons had passed. ! The fact was the duke did not wish to be seen - with the priest at that j hour in the street, and it is no mair j ter of surprise that he should at. I that moment have been. influenced: by .guilty fear. The two pedestrians came on and passed the spot wnire the men stood. They were females,., and one of them- the priest saw in the face. The.features were upturn? ed to the starlight, .and he recognize ed them. He caught the duke quick? ly and nervously by the arm. "By the host cf heaven/' he whis? pered, " 'twas the countess !" . "Rosalind ?" gasped Olga. 'Tes, as sure as death !" j "Then come, quick !" Savotano understood the mean? ing of this, and he followed the duke - quickly out. At a few bounds Olga reached the females, and one of " them he caught by the arm. She - uttered a sharp, quick cry, and as she turned her face up she revealed the fair features of the Countess Rosalind Valdai. The priest had no . need to stop the other girl, for she stopped of her own accord as soon as she found that her mistress was captured. "Aha!" Olga uttered when he saw that pale face. "What now, ehr' Where are you bound at this un? seemly hour?" "OGod!" It was all the poor girl could utter. She saw the dark face of her hated and feared guardian,. and the last glimmer of hope faded, from her soul. "By my soul," the duke resumed, fastening his grip surely upon the ma . ..en's arm. "it is fortunate 1 have - found you. for you might have fall? en into difficulty else. You were bound for the imperial palace, eh??'" At first Rosalind thought of* 1 struggling for escape, bul she feit the strong grip upon hcr'arm. and > she knew that such a mo vernen: could result only in her own barn). "Say," repeated the duke, "were you not bound for the palace?" "Aye, proud duke, i was," tbe countcss replied, gazing up into the . man's face. "1 was trying to es? cape from your accursed power!" "Aha! But come; we'll turn to? ward home. You'll be better ofT there. And this is our little Zeno? nie, is it?" The attendant ! ked up, but she made no reply. Then Olga turned to the priest. "Savotano, hurry off your men in the morning, and then come to me. . Til have work for you tomorrow. By St. Paul, the work delays no longer !" And then, with a sinking, break? ing bear:. Rosalind Valdai was lcd back toward the ducal palace. [TO UK CONTINUED.J NOTICE. Having purchased the stock and good will of the drag bus? iness of J. S. Hughson & Co , I desire to inform the patrons of this drug store and the pub? lic generally that I will con? tinue the business at the same stand with a full stock of drugs and sundries The prescrip? tion department will be in charge of experienced, licensed druggists, and the business will be under the mai agement of Dr. E. Mood Smith. Respectfully. O. B. DAVIS. Jan 23 lvr_ C. P. Osteen, M. D. No 104 N. Main Street, (Winburn's old Gallery), SUMTER, S. G.