Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-07-10
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THE PHANTOM BRIDE.

will you love me even beyond the tomb?'
The question came from the vermllion lips
of young girl at fancy ball in Paris, du-
ring 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 a daughter of Andalusia.-
Her companion, n noble Scotch Earl of some
two or three and twenty arrayed as a warrior
of Mary Stuart's, in Scotch plaid and High
land bonnet and feather, had been pursuing
the fair unkn all the evening with protes-
tations of love and eternal fidelity. His an
swer was prompt and unhesitating.
Yes, swear it. If | die l will dream of
you in the sepuchre, and thrill of joy will
welcome you if your foot but press the grass
over my head
And if should de? inquired the young
girl, in saddened tone.
If you should die, | will be as faithful to
you dead as living and if you should be
permitted to visit me- | will 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 well, permit you then, to love me.
We shall see if you will be constant. Fare
well, we shall meet again..
/ DuJ Wu0Te !--WHeH! ueHldluCu NALL
anxiously.
elsewhere-but you will see me- and with
gesture which forbade him to follow her, she
disappeared in the crowd
Two years passed, during which Earl
Ralph Morton sought vainly at Marty, at
Versailes-in every place of public resort
for this beautiful unknown. He was Scotch
man by birth, and, like many of his country
men, 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.
Il You must find some rich heiresS,' said
his sympathizing friends--t was the usual
resource of embarrassed gentlemen of the
day. But the Earl had not forgotten the be
witching Andalusian, and was in no MOOD
for the search He was spared the trouble
, however. His uncle, who was archbishop O
an Assyrian city destroyed by the Romans
| informed him, one day, that it was time fol
him to marry, and that he had found a wifi
for him.
is she rich p inquired Ralph Il do no
l ask if she is pretty-itis is all the Same to me.
, very rich, and very pretty.
1 The Earl thought of his unknown, AM
. sighed; then thought of his creditors, ant
consented The uncle arranged everything
and when all was settled he gave his nephew
/ his bepediction and two hundred pistoles AM
4 sent him off to Burgundy to pay his respect
f to Mademoisele de Roche Noire, whom h
a was to marry in fortnight.
A gloomy journey of several days dura
a ton brought him at length to the ancieu
fvudal manor-house Of Roche Noire, situate
5 in the heart of forest, on lofty rock, fror
which it derived its name He was expected
IL The grand door Of the mansion was oper
!. and an aged servant met him at the thresf
;. hold, and conducted him to large hall, 8
d at the extremity of which sat an old ma
, and young girl. The former, whom he di
yined at once as the Baron of Roche Noir
E. rose at his entrance, and saluting him in tn
a somewhat formal fashion of the day, presel
ID ted him to his daughter Herminie. The lat
e. ter had the voluptuous beauty of the flowt
rs which had unfolded under southern sun
of She was pale, with fair hair and eyes of tt
Ill deep blue of an Italian sky.-Her figure W:
IN rich but graceful, her hands exquisitely shape
IS and transparent as alabaster. SO much Il
a. Earl saw, as he bentlow before his betrothe
,ly and in spite of bis, professed indifference,
congratulated himself on his good fortune.
e. The Earl and Baron exchanged the usu
Is, reciprocal compliments and inquiries. Rail-
ay was accustomed to society, and quderstot
ge, a we'll the art of Rsking himself agreeable; t
. Baron, spite - his seventy winters, had n
I'VE ,o, forgotten Sw to be Gourtier; and Hern
ent ME had the simple grace, the dignity, t
rds TSs modesty without prudery, of youEg &
sn. OF high birth. religiously educated but wit
Jus, out any rigidity, The conversation soon
.Sie sate came animated and sparkling, while Rall
was watched Herminie, and now and then mu
ent INJURED to himself. She is charming! Bic
n. ms ings on my uncle for finding me wife
:. once so pretty and SO rich