Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-04-29
Translated from the French Of Octave Feuillet,l
THE BEAUTIFUL ANDALUsIAN; OR,
LOVE BEYOND THE TOMB.

tomb?"
The question came from the vermillion lips
of young girl at fancy ball in Paris
during the reign of Louis XIV. She was
brilliant brunette, with abundant raven hair,
and wore the Spanish veil and mantilla, which
she had assumed for the occasion, with all
the grace of daughter Of Andalusia. Her
interlocutor, a young Viscount of twenty,
arrayed as page of Mary Stuart, in Scotch
plad and Highland bonnet and feather, had
been pursuing the fair unknown all the even
ing with protestations of love and eternal
fidelity. His answer was prompt and unhesi-
tating.
''Yes, swear it. If die will dream of
YOU in the sepulcher, and thrill of Joy will
welcome you if your foot but press the grass
over my head"
"And if should die?" inquired the young
girl in a sad tone.
"if YOU should die, l will be as faithful to
you dead as living; and if you should be per-
mitted to visit me Twill kiss your cold hand
with as much love as at this moment'-and
he pressed to his lips the little white hand of
the beautiful Spaniard.
"Ah, WE'LL permit you, then, to love me.
We shall see if you will be constant. Fare
well; we shall meet again.
but where2-when?n demanded the Vis-
count, anxiously.
81 can nottell. Perhaps here-perhaps else
where--but you will see me-" And with a
gesture which forbade him to follow her, she
disappeared in the crowd
Two years passed, during which Viscount
Ralph sought vainly at Marty, at Versailles
in every place of public resort-for his beau
tiful unknown. He was a Scotchman by
birth, and, like many of his countrymen, had
entered the service of the King of France.
But court life did not comport very well
with his slender fortune, and he became, ere
long, deeply involved in debt.
'You must find some rich heiress said his
sympathng friends-it was the resource of
all embarrassed gentlemen of that day. But
the Vscount had not forgotten the bewitch-
ing Andalusian, and was in no mood for the
search He was spared the trouble, however.
His uncle, who was Archbishop IN pdrtibus of
an Assyrian city destroyed by the Romans, in
formed him, one day, that it was time for
him to marry, and that he had found wife
for him: ...
SIS she rich?' inquired Ralph. 81 do not
ask if she is pretty-it is all the same to me-"
Every rich and very pretty"
The Viscount thought of his unknown, and
sighed; then thought ofhis creditors and con-
sented. The uncle arranged everything, and
when all was settled he gave his nephew his
benediction 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 ofseveral days duration
brought him at length to the ancient feudal
manor-house of Roche Noire, situated in the
heart of the forest on a lofty rock, from
which it derived its name. He was expected.
The grand door of the mansion was open,
and an aged servant met him at the threshold,
and conducted him to a large hall at the eX-
tremity of which sat an old man and young
girl. The former whom he OWNED at once
to be the Baron of Roche Noire, rose at his
entrance, and, saluting him in the somewhat
formal fashion of the day, presented him to
his daughter Hermine The latter had the
delicate beauty of the flower which has un-
folded under Northern sun. She was pale,
with fair hair, and eyes of the deep blue of
an Italian sky. Her figure was slight but
graceful, her hands exquisitely shaped, and
transparent as alabaster. So much the Wis
count saw as he bent low before his betrothed,
and in spite of his professed Indifference, he
inwardly congratulated himself on his good
fortune.
The Viscount and Baron exchanged the
usual reciprocal compliments and inquiries.
Ralph was accustomed to society, and under
stood well the art of making himself agree
able; the Baron, spite of his seventy winters
had not forgotten how to be cOurtier, and
Hermine had the simple grace, the dignity
the modesty without prudery, of young girl
of high birth, reigiously educated, but with
out any rigidity. The conversation soon
became animated and sparkling, while Ralph
watched Hermine, and now and then muir
INJURED to himself, 'She is charmingl blessings
on my uncle for finding me wife at once so
pretty and so rich"
When supper was announced he offered his
hand to the young girl, who accepted it with
blush, while the Baron led the way to the
dining room. 1t was lofty apartment, fur
nished in the massive style fLouis XIV, and
upon the walls were suspended ancient family
portraits. As Ralph's eye glanced over
these, it was attracted by one whose fresh
ness formed striking contrast to the smoky
canvases of the defunct barons of Roche
Noire. II represented a young girl of dazzling
but foreign beauty, such as is only found
under Southern skies. A more brilliant
daughter of Spain never danced the boleTo in
the perfumed gardens of the Alhambra. The
eyes of ofRalph were fixed immovably upon
the canvas; the first glance had told him il
was his long-lost unknown of the fancy ball
"Come, my dear Viscount," said the baron
"let us be seated" 10
Ralph started and obeyed, then turned hi:
eyes from the portrait to Hermine. In con-
trs.st with that glowing beauty she appeared
to him utterly insipid. He made some re
mark about the picture. The Baron did moi
reply, but cloud passed over his face, anc
Hermine turned pale, and sat silent will
downcast eyes. A chill seemed to be throw
over these three persons, just now talking 81
joyously. Brief remarks were made oc
casionally, in constrained tone, and tn
supper ended almost in silence. At its clos
the Viscount made the fatigue of his journe
an excuse for retiring early. As the servan
was conducting him to his apartment, the
passed again through the dining hall.
"Whose portrait is this2" he asked point
ing TO the picture of the lady.
The servant hesitated.
"SpeakI' said the Viscount, imperiously.
"lt is the portrait of Mile Fulmen," SAT-
the old man, trembling
"And who is she2" "....
"The elder sister of Mile Hermine."
"But she is dressed in Spanish costume"
ayes, her mother was Spanish lady"
"And Fulmen, where is she now?"
''She is dead, I" said the old man, solemnly
"She lies at the left of the altar in the chape
Of the chateau" Hl.
Fatigue had no power that night to brinl
sleep 10 Ralph's eyeids II was in vain tina
he extinguished the candles, and buried hi
head under the blankets; the image of Full
men still pursued him. Now, it was Fulmei
radiant with beauty as she was represente,
in the picture, and as he bad seen her at tn
fancy BALI again II was Fulmen, pure an,
cold, extended In her coffin under the pave
ment Of the chapel. Then he remembers,
his oath TO love her as well dead as living an,
cold sweat bathed his brow. At that mo
ment a light at the opposite extremity Of th
apartment attracted his attention: n door