The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-02-15

| eQ ltS neaQ, ana SAID,
"Gualtierp'
He almost screamed. It was the name Nina
alone had used; none other had ever called him
so. The voice made him almost faint. shall
translate the following:
tits long since we have metp'
She spoke low: it was woman.
"Longw said Trafford. "There is that in
your voice-that- am mad, in.
deed"
He clenched his hands,
"That speaks of summer night at Saint
Cloud, Gualter."
"Do not dare--do not dare, mask, to repeat
that name~
The mask laughed-that mocking laugh
Trafford sank on q seat
1.-The nights are cold where live, but you
will not yet forsake me quite! Ora pro mev'
The holy words, sanctifed by the awfulmean.
ing they had once conveyed to him, froze his
blood. He moved away; the mask sped after
him.
"What want you9" he cried, turning round.
"Love" replied the mask.
Traford shuddered.
"Mine lies low" he muttered. The mask
shook its head "You are enraging desperate
man with your fooleryp'
The masked laughed, and laid its dull and
hard fingers on his trembling hand. He drew
back.
"You wear it stillp' said the mask.
"Whats" gasped Traford
The mask made amovement, as if to describe
her own long hair.
"Fool! wretch' cried Trafford, in convul.
sion ofrage and dismay.
Hard names, Gaultiero moiT
She laid her hand on his arm. He grasped it.
"Ihis instant unmaskp'
She replied calmly:
"You were wont to be gentler" Then she
drew near, and, in voice like that of the dy-
ing, she said, "Dammi la tua cara mano~
They were words engraven on the heart of
the listener rs the last of Nina.
"Unmask he gasped.
"You would not wish to see my facet"
"Unmaskw persisted Trafford.
"Herel No, the interview must be ore of
closed doors, between long parted lovers"
Earth holds not my love now J" said Traf-
ford
"1he mask sang, in the peculiar English
Nina had learned to use, from Haydn's Spirit
Song
"AlI pensye and alone saw thee sit and weep,
Thy head upon the stone whore my cold ashes Sleep"
"Follow mel" said Trafford, in the most
dreadful state of agitation.
The mask did so. They went quickly through
the crowd; they swiftly passed the lighted cor.
ridors, and went into side-room, Illuminated
only by one lamp. On their way they met Ire.
vor. He was unmasked, but did not recognise
T'raford. At last they were alone. The figure
stood motionless.
"Speak! speak! explain, or will tear you
limb from limb! How dare you thus insult
broken heart! Unmaskw
Again warn you, ask it not"
"Unmaskp' shouted Traford, cor | will tear
the accursed thing from you face"
"Prepare, then~
81 am ready"
"Gualtier" sighed the mask
"Heavenw cried Trafford, every limb sha.
king, his heart vibrating till he thoug gh it would
burst.
"You would not wish to see my face"
"ldiot, unmask"
The figure waved its hand, as if to quiet him,
and slowly raised the white mask. Traford
started forward, looked, and, with yell of an
guish, fell OH the floor in faint!
When he came to himself, he found crowd
round him. Trevor held his head
What is it 9-where ami? She she!'
He tried to rise.
"My dear Traford," said Mr.. Trevor, "you
must 20 home. You are in a brain fever, veri-
ly believe. There's no one here"
She!-search for her search for her"
shriekcd Traford. "She is in black white
mask-a white mask"
He stopped, and fell down again in a faint.
The search was made; the white mask was
traced; she had been seen to enter the gondola
of man known to one of the walters of the
Hotel de pEurope. The gondolicr was called
ON. 1t was late, or rather early i'll the morn-
ing The Opera was deserted, the crowds
of m,asquers departing, when Trevor found the
man near the landing. place of the Opera house.
"You rowcd away a mask :" said Trevor.
"Uh, many an one tonight" said the gon-
dolier.
"Onc in white mask :" said Trevor.
"Yes," said the gondolier
"Now," said Trevor, here are five ducats, if
you'll tell me where she went to"
"Your Excellenza will laugh at me-"
"Not l. Tell me"
"Well, then, she ordered me to take her to
the gate the burial ground there she landed.
| was i'm q fine fright, but watched her. She