Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1852-10-14

The young French Colonel becomes
moody; he has lost his heart and knows
not what to do. He wauders hither and
thither, shuns his former companions,
and. in short. is miserable as lover
can be, thus disappointed. One night,
lust after he had left his hotel, on foot,
a figure, muffled to the very eyes, stop
ped him.
well, monsieur, what wonld You do
with mel' asked the soldier.
'You would know the name of the
white domino?' was the reply.
Il would, indeed replied the officer,
hastily. 'How can it be done?'
Follow me-
ITO the end of the earth, If it will
bring her to me-
But you must be blindfolded.'
very well.'
Step into this vehicle
And away ratified the youthful soldier
and his strange companion. This may
be 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, since he soon
found the vehicle stopped, and he was
led blindfolded into the house. When
the bandage was removed from his eyes,
he found himself in a richly furnished
boudoir. and before him stood the DOM
inc. Just as he 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, and that he loved her
devotedly, was as natural as to breathe,
and he did so most gallant!y and SIM
cerely.
'Shall / believe all you say?'
Lady, let me prove II by any test you
may put upon me-
know, then, that the feelings you a.
VOW are mutual. Nay, unloose your
arm from my waist; | have something
more to say
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.
'Then I will test you.'
'How, lady?'
'For one year be faithful TO the love
you have professed, and | will be yours
as truly as Heaven shall spare my life.
If, at the expiration of a year, you do
not hear from me, then the contract shall
be null and void. Take the half ring
she continued, and when supply the
broken portion, ] will be yours
He kissed the little emblem, swore
again and again to be faithful, and, pres
sing her hand to his lips, bade her a.
dieu. He was conducted away as mys.
terious as he had been brought thither,
nor could he, by any possible means,
discover where he had been; his COM
panion rejecting all bribes, end even re-
fusing TO answer the simplest questions.
Months rolled on. Colonel Merville
is true 10 his VOW, and happy in the an
ticipation of love. Suddenly he was
ordered on an embassy to Vienna, the
gayest of all the European capitals, a.
bout the time that Napoleon is planning
to marry the Archduchess, Maria Loui-
sa, The young colonel is handsome,
manly, and already distinguished in
arms, and becomes at once a great ia
vorite at court, every effort being made
by the women to captivate him, but in
vain; 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.
tible than before.
At last he met the young Baroness,
Caroline Won Woldoff, and, in spite of
his vows, she captivates him, and he Sc
cretly curses the engagement he had so
blindly made at Paris. She seems TO
wonder al what appears to be his devo-
ton, and yet the distance he maintainsI
The truth was, that his sense of honor
was so great, that though he felt he re-
ally loved the young Baroness, and even
that she returned his affection, still he
had given his word, and it was sacred.
The satin domino is no longer the
idol of his heart, but assumes the
most repulsive form in bis magma
tion, and becomes in place Of bis
good angel-eviI genius.
Well, time rolled on; he is to re-
turn in few days; it is once more
the carnival season, and in Vienna,
too, that gay city. 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 a syear before, at the