Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1860-05-19
Translated from the French of Octave Feu-
illet.
THE BEAUTIFUL LANDALUSIAN:
LOVE BEYOND THE TOMB.

"Will you love me even beyond the
tomb ?"
The question came from the vermill-
ion lips of a young girl at fancy ball
IN Paris, during the reign of Louis XIV.
She was brilliant brunette, with abun-
dant raven hair, and wore the Spanish
veil and mantllla, which she had cho-
sen for the occasion, with all the ease
OF q daughter Of Andalusia. Her in
terlocutor, a young Viscount of twenty.
arrayed as q page Of Mary Stuart, in
Scotch plaid and Highland bonnet and
feather, had been pursuing the fair un-
known all the evening WITH protesta-
tions Of love and eternal fidelity. His
answer was prompt and unhesitating.
q es, | swear it. If | die [ will
dream Of you in the sepulcher, and a
thrill Of JOY will welcome you if your
foot but press the grass above my
head"
"And if I should die % enquired the
young girl in sad tone.
''If you should die, | will be as faith
full to you dead as living, and if you
should be permitted to visit ne [ will
kiss your cold hand with as much love
rs at this tilAe'-and he pressed to his
lips the little white hand Of the beauti-
ful Spaniard.
"Ah, well! [ permit you then to love
me. We shall see if you will be con-
atant. Farewell; we shall meet again. :"
''But where ?-when ?" demanded
tho i1-n,raf
81 cannot tell perhaps here, per-
haps elsewhere but you shall see
me-" And with gesture which for
hado him to follow, she disappeared in
the crowd.
Two years passed, during which Wis
count Ralph sought vainly at Marty,
at Marsailles-a tall places of public re-
sort, for his beautiful unknown. He was
q Scotchman by birth, and like many
Of his countrymcn had entered the ser
vice of the King OF France. But q
court life did not comport very well
with his slender fortune, and he be-
camc, cro long, quite deeply involved
III debt.
''Iru must 1t&5 some rich heicose, .,
SAID his sym"aoAi"in@ fr:or1s-it was
the resource If I'll omAarnaa>o0 gen
tlemcn OF that day Ban the Visoount
had not forgotten the hewitching An
da0Sian, and was in no mood for the
search. lie was spared the trouble,
for his uncle IN Archbishop 57 g2dy-
ti5Ua, Of an AssYrian city DESTROYED by
the Romans, informed him, one. dav.
that it was time for him to marry, and
that ae had found wife for him.
lis she lich," inquired Ralph. Il
do not ask if she is pretty-it is all the
same to me-"
~ cry rich and very pretty
The Niscount thought of his unknown
and sighed; then thought of his credi-
tors and consented The uncle arrang.
ed everything, and when all was set
tied he gave his nephew his benedic.
ton and two hundred pistoles, and sent
him off to Burgundy to pay his respects
to Mile. de Roche Noire, whom he was
to marry in fortnight.
A gloomy journey of several days
duration brought him at length to the
ancient feudal manor-house of Roche
Noire, situated in the heart Of fores
on lofty rock, from which it derived
its name. He was expected. Th'
grand door of the mansion was open
and an aged servant met him at th,
threshold, and conducted him to larg,
hall at the extremity Of which sat al
old man and young girl The former
whom he OWNED at once to be the Ba
ron Of Roche Noire, rose at his en-
trance, and, saluting him in the some
what formal fashion of the day, pre-
sented him to his daughter Hermine
The latter had the delicate beauty 0
the flower which has unfolded under
Northern sun. She was pale, with fai
hair, and eyes Of the deep blue of al
Italian sky. Her figure was slight bu
graceful, her hands exquisit ely shaped
and transparent as alabaster. So mucl
the Niscount saw as he bent low be
fore his betrothed, and in spite of hi
professed indifference, he inwardly con
graduated himself on his good fortune
The Niscount and Baron exchanged
the usual reciprocal compliments ant
inquiries. Ralph was accustomed t
society, and understood we'll the art c
making himself agreeable the Baron
inspite of his seventy winters. had no
forgotten how to be a courtier, an
Hermine had the simple grace, the die
nifty, the modesty without prudery, {
young girl of high birth, religiousl
educated, but without any rigidity.-
The conversation soon became amin;
ted and sparkling, while Ralph watcl