The Woodville Republican, and Wilkinson advertiser. (Woodville, Miss.) 1853-18??, 1853-04-05
"No, | am sure not ~
Are you very confident I"
GNae I f...J Al -. -. - L -. a

A4ScioS seoil ol tle Nelie1 prophet OF MO
rassan-how, when he disclosed his counte-
nance, the hideons aspect killed his beloved
onei How do you know that | shall not turn
out veiled prophet Of Khorassanl"
"Ah. lady, your every word convinces me
to the contrary" replied the enraptured sol
dier, whose heart began to feel as It had new
er done before; he was already in love-
She eludes his efforts at discovery, but per-
mits him to hand her to the carriage, which
drives off in the darkness, and though he
throws himself upon his feetest horse, he is
unable to overtake her.
The young French Colonel becomes moody;
he has lost his heart, and knows not what to
do He wonders hither and thither, shuns his
former companions, and, in short, is miserable
as lover can be, thus disappointed. One
night, Just after he had left his hotel, on foot
a figure, mufied to the very eyes, stopped
him.
"Well, monsieur, what would you with
me-" asked the soldier.
"You would know the name o. the white
domino 7" was the reply.
a. would indeed" replied the officer, hasti-
ly, show can it be done"
"Follow me-"
"To the end of the earth, if it will bring me
to her"
But you must be blindfolded."
Every we'll"
"Step into this vehicle"
And away ratified the youthful soldier and
his strange companion. "This may be a
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 domino, just as he
met her at the masked ball. To fall upon his
knees, and tell how much he had thought of
her since their separation, that his thoughts
had never left her, and that he loved her de-
votedly, was as natural as to breathe, and he
did so most gallantly and sincerely.
"Shall believe all you sayr'
Lady let me prove it by any test you may
put upon me-"
"Know, then, that the feelings you avow
are mutual. Nay, uhloose your arm from my
waist, / have something more to say"
Talk on forever, lady! Your voice is mu-
sic 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 altar
maskedl' he replied.
"Then | 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 year you do not
hear from me, then the contract will be null
and void. Take this half ring" she contin-
ued, "and when supply the broken portion
| will be yours"
He kissed the little emblem, swore again
and again to be faithful, and pressing her hand
to his lips, bade her adeu, He was conduct
ed away as mvsterously as he had been
brought thither, nor could he, by any possible
means, discover where he had been, his com
panion rejecting all bribes, and even refusing
to answer the simplest questions.
Months rolled on. Colonel Merville is true
to his vows, and happy in the anticipation Of
love. Suddenly he was ordered on an embas-
sy to Vienna, the gayest of all the European
capitals, about the time that Napoleon is plan
ming to marry the Arch Duchess, Louisa Ma
ria. The young Colonel is handsome, manly,
and already distinguished in arms, and be-
comes at once great favorite at court every
effort being made 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 susceptible than before.
At last he met the young Baroness, Caro-
line Won Woldof, and in spite Of his vows,
she captivates him, and he secretly curses the
engagement he had so blindly made at Paris.
She seems to wonder at what appears to be
his devotion; and yet the distance he main
tains The truth was, that his sense of hon
or was so great, that though he felt he really
loved the young Baroness, and even that she
returned bis affection, still he had given bis
word, and twas sacred.
The satin domino is no longer the ideal Of
his heart, but assumes the most repulsive form
in his imagination, and becomes in place Of
his good angel--his evil genius.
Well, time rolls on he is TO return in a
few days; it is once more the carnival season
and in Vienna, too, that gay city. He joins
the festivities Of the masked ball, and what
wonder fills his brain, when, about the middle
Of the evening, the white satin dress he had
seen her wear a year before; at the French
Opera House in Paris. Was it not fancy
III come, Colonel Eugene Meville, to hold
you to your promise she said, laying heI
hand lightly on his arm.
ais this reality or dream & asked tn
! amazed soldier.