Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1860-07-17

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led the way to the dining room. Ii was
lofty apartment furnished IN the mas
sve STYLE of Louis XIV. and upon the
walls were suspended ancient family por-
traits. AS Ralph's eye glanced over
these. it was attracted by one whose
freshness formed a striking contrast 10
the smoky canvasses of the defunct bai
ons of Roche More. 1t represented
young girl of dazzling but foreign beau
ty, such as is only found under Southern
skies. 4 more brilliant daughter Of
Spain never danced The 6olerO in the per-
fumed gardens of the Aihambra. Erhe
eyes of Ralph were fixed immovabiy up
on the canvas; the first glance had told
him it was his long lost unknown of the
fancy ball.
"Come, my dear Viscount," said the
Baron, ''let US be seated"
Ralph started aud obeyed, then turned
his eyes from The portrait TO Hermlne.
In contrast with that glowing beauty she
appeared to him utterly inslpId. He made
some remark about the picture. The Bar
on did not reply, but cloud passed over
his face, and HermIne turned pale, and
sat silent with doWncast eyes. \ chill
seemed TO be thrown over these three
persons, just now talking so Joyously.-
Brief remarks were made occasionally,
in a constrained tone, and the supper en-
ded almost in silence. At It's close the
Viscount made the fatigue Of his journey
an excuse for retiring early. As the
servant was conducting him to his apart
ment, they passed again thro' the dining
hall.
"Whose portrait IS this2" he asked
pointing to the picture of the lady.
The servant hesIlated.
Speak said the NiscOunt, imperiOus-
ly.
at is the portrait of Mile Fulmen."
said the old man, trembling.
And who IS she!"
The elder sister Of Mile. Hermine."
''But she is dressed in Spanish cos
tune"
Yes, her mother was a Spanish Ia
dy."
And FuImen, where is she now?"
"She is dead" said the old man, sol
EMMY. "She lies at the left ofthe altar
in the chapel OF the chateau
Fatigue had no power that night to
bring sleep to Ralph eyelids Ii was
in vain that he eXunguished the candles,
and buried his head under the blankets;
the image Of Fuimen still pursued him.
Now, ii was Fulmen radiant WI-h beau
", as she was represented in the picture,
and as he had seen her at the fancy ball;
again it was Fulmen, pure and cold, eX-
tended In her coffin under the pavement
of The chapel. Then he remembered his
oath to love her as well dead as living,
and cold sweat batned his brow. AT
that moment a light at the opposite ex-
tremIty of the apartment attracted his al
! tention: door, whose existence he had
not suspected, turned noisiessiy on It's
/ hinges; the candles relighted themselves
spontaneously, and a figure, draped in
winding sheet, entered the room and APP
/ preached Lae bed. II advanced slowly;
the most acute ear could have detected no
sound of toolS.ep Brave as be was,
/ the Vlscouul lrembIed al the appariton.
When the figure was within a few feet
of the bed, the winding sheet was thrown
back, and revealed young girl dressed
in Spanish costume.
"FulImenr' he murmured; "the pic
ture has descended from It's frame?'
1t was indeed Fulmen, just as she was
painted, save that the lips were pale, the
eye mournful, the whole expression IN
speakably sad.
! .Fulmenr' repeated the Viscount, with
tone of terror, IN which was mingled
sort of feverish Joy.
'It is IT, she sand. "Do you remember
your oath? They have told you that
am dead!'
The teeth of Ralph chauered; / ut he
voice was 80 pure, 50 meIodiouS. that It
aided him 10 shake off the torpor which
was creeping over HIM.
NO. you are not dead" he exclaimed
with an effort.
II have been dead year" replied
/ Fulmen, sadly. They buried me in the
chapel. You can read my epitaph on
/ the marble slab, the third from The high
alter"
Ralph could not detach his eyes from
tins singular creature, whose marvellous
beauty counteracted 10 some dsgree the
lerror which the apparIlIon would other
wise have caused.
ALAS" resumed the spectre-draping
the shroud about her form with all the
+ coQuelry with which living belle might
wrap an opera cleak around her-"I am
dead, really dead, at seventeen; when
I life was full of light, and perfume, and
music; when tears. even, were 50 sweet
mat they resembled smiles; when the
! present was so happy that the future was
! quite forgotten. And tIen | loved yuu,
/ trusted you in your oath; and you did
not care for me. You have come here
+ 10 marry my sister.
+ "TuImen." murmured Ralph, who felt
a pang Of remorse al his heart, Il have
loved YOU; lore you still
/ She shook her head.
The dead are never loved" she said
sadly.
Ralph irembled. He fel, his blood
curdle in his veins. He remembered his
oath. Yet Fulmen did not complain
She did not overwhelm him with re-
proaches. She seemed resigned. He
saw her lean her head upon her hand
a tear shone in her eye, and shiver
passed through her frame.
''I am co.d,' she said, and rising from
the chair in which she had seated her
self, she approached the fire place, and
bent as If TO warm hsrself by the hall
extinguished brands. The dead are
always cold," she mu-mured.
..Iaavarf'- avrlaip,aj PaIDb ssr-7t, n 70