Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-07-15
"But you must be blindfolded."
sNa.,, ,,o1II,, t.#.

he trick reasoned Eugene Merville,
"but | have no fear of personal violence.
| am armed with this trusty sabre, and
can take care of myself" But there
was no cause for fear, r,since he soon found
the vehicle stopped, aud he was led blind.
folded into the house. When the band
age was removed from his eyes. he found
himself in richly furnished boudor,
and before him stood the domino, jusl
as he had met her at the masked ball.
To fall upon his knees and tell her how
much he had thought of her since their
separation. that his thoughts had never
left her, that he loved her deyotedly, was
as natural as TO breathe, and he did Sc
mos, gallantly and sincerely.
''Shall | believe all you say?"
LADY let me prove it by any test you
may put upon me-"
"Know, then, iha, the feelings you a.
VOW are mutual. Nay, unloose your arm
from my waist, | have something more
to say" ..' '.s..
Talk on forever, lady! Your voice
| is music to my heart and ears"
"Would you marry me, knowing no
more of me than you now do!"
"Yes if you were TO go to the very al
tar masked" he replied.
/ "'rhen will tes, you"
allow lady!" ..... b.
"For one year be faithful to the love
/ you have professed. and will be yours
AS truly as Heaven shall spare my
life."
20 cruel, cruel suspense!''
you demur" ID
May, lady, shall fulfil your injunc,
| tions as promised - .-. @a
! "if at the expiration of year you do
not hear from me, then the contract shall
be null aud void. Take this half ring,
and when supply the broken portion,
will be yours"
He kissed the little emblem, swore a.
gain and again to be faithful, and press.
ing her hand to his lips, bade her adieu.
He was conducted away again as my ster-
iousIy as he had been brought thither,
nor could he by any possible means dis
cover where he had been; his companion
rejecting all bribes, and even refusing to
answer the simplest question.
Months roll on. Col. Merville is true
to his vow, AMI happy in the anticipation
of love. Suddenly he was ordered on
an embassy to Vienna, the gayest Of all
the European capitals, about the time
that Napoleon is planning to marry the
Arch Duchess Maria Louisa. The
young colonel is handsome, and already
distinguished in arms, and becomes a,
once great favorile al court. every effort
being mace by tho women to captivate
him, but in VAN, he Is constant and true
TO his VOW.
But his heart was not made of stone;
the very fact that he had entertained such
tender feelings for the white domino,
had doubtless made him more suscep,i.
BILE than before.
AT last he met The young baroness Car
oline Won Waldorf, aud in spite of his
vows she captiva,es him, and he secret
ly curses the engagement, he had so blind
ly made at Paris. She seems to wonder
at what she believes to be his devotion,
and yet the distance that he maintains
The truth was, that his sense of honor
was so great, that, though he felt he real
/ ly loved The baroness, and even that she
returned his affe elton, still he had given
his word, and it was sacred.
The satin domino is no longer the ideal
of bis heart but assumes the most repul-
sive form in his Imagination, and becomes,
in place of his good angel-his evil ge-
! Mus!
| Well, time rolls on; he is to return in
a few days; il is once more the carnival
season, and in Vienna, too, that gay city. I.
He Joins in the festivities OF the masked
| ball, and what wonder fills his brain,
| when about the middle Of the evening the
white domino steals before him, in the
same white satin dress he had seen her
wear year before at the French Opera
House in Paris. Was it not fancy?
81 come, Col. Eugene Merville, to
hold you to your promise" she said lay
ing her hand lightly upon his arm.
"ls this reality or dream?" asked the
amazed soldier.
"Come. follow me, and you shall see
that i. is realilv," continued the mask,
pleasantly.
II will"
"Have you been faithful to your prom
ise!" asked the domino, as they retired
into saloon.
"Most truly in act, but alas, fear not
in hearl!'
"lndeed."
"lt is too true, lady, that have seen
and loved another. though my vow to
you has kept me from saying SO to her."
Sand who is this that you thus love!"
81 will be frank with you, and you
will keep my secret"
"Most religiously."
at is the Baroness Won Waldorff,"
he SAID, with sigh.
"And you really love her!"
"Alas! only too dearly" said the SOL
der, sadly.
Nevertheless, l must hold you to
your promise. Here, is the other half
Of the ring; can you produce its mate!''
"Here it is" said Eugene Mervile.
"Then l, too, keep my promised" said