Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-02-20
The PHANTOM BRIDE;
OR
THE TEST OF LOVE.

THE TEST OF LOVE.
"Will you love me. even beyond ths
tomb?" The question csme from the yer.
million lips OF . young girl at fancy ball
in Paris during the reign of Louis XIV
She was brilliant brunette. with sbundani
raven hair. and wore tho Spanish. vail and
msntifa. which she had assumed for the
occasion. with all the grace of daughte,
of Andalus;a. Her companion. nobl,
Scotch Earl of some two or three and
I wenty. arrayed IS warrior of Mary Stu
arts in Scotch plaid and highland bonnet
and feather. had been pursuing the fair un
known all the evening with protestations
of love and eternal fidelity. His answer
WAS prompt and unhesitating:
Eyes. swear it. If die l will dream
Of you in the sepulchre, and.a thrill ofioy
will welcome you if our foot but press the
grass over my head" r4,ls..
= 'And If | should die?" inquired the
young girl. in sad tone.
elf you should die. will be as faithful
to you dead as living: and if you should
be permitted to visit me I will kis.
your cold hand with as much love as al
this moment" and be pressed to his lips
the little white hand of the beautiful Span
lard.
"Ah. welllI permit you. therto love me.
We shall see If you will be constant
Farewell; we shall meet again"
but where-when?" demanded the
Earl. anxiously-
Il cannot tell Perhaps here perhaps
elsewhere--but you will see me-
And, with gesture which forbade
him to follow her. she disappeared in tho
crowd.
Two years passed away. during which
Earl Ralph Morton sought rainly at Marty.
Ct Versailles. in every place of public
resort, for his beautiful unknown. He was
a Scotchman by birth. aud like many OF
his oountrymen, had entered the service OF
4hs King of France. But court life did
not comport very well with his slender
fortune. and he become, ero long. deeply
Involved in debt.
"You must find some rich heiress. said
his sympsthising friends; il was the usual
resources Of embarrassed gentlemen of that
day. But the Earl had not forgotten the
beautiful Andalnsisn. and was in no mood
for such a search He was spared the
trouble. however. His uncle, who was
the Archbishop of an Assyrian city de-
stroyed BY the Romans. informed him one
day that II was time for him to marry. and
that he had found wife for him.
Ills she rich" inquired Ralph. Il do
not ask il she is pretty--it is all the same
to me-"
Every rich and very pretty"
The Earl though. Of his unknown. and
sighed. then thought Of his creditors and
consented. The uncle arranged every.
thing. and when all was settled he gave
his nephew his benediction and two hun
dred pistoles, and sent him of to Burgundy
TO pay his respects to Mademoisells de Ro
che. whom be was TO marty In fort
night
a gloomy journey Of several days du
ration brought him at length to the ancient
feudsl manor house Of Roche Noire.. situa
ted in the heart of forest. on lofty rocl
from which it derived its name. He was
expected. The grand door Of the mansion
was open, and an sged servant met him 81
the threshold. and conducted him to a larg'
hall a. the extremity o: which sat an ole
man and young girl. The former. whom
he di~ised at once to be the Baron Of Ro
che Noire. rose at his entrance, and salu
ting him in the somewhat formal fasion o
the day, presented him his daughter Her
mimic. The latter had the voluptuou
.beuuty of flower which has unfolded nm
der southern sun. She was pale. viii
fair hair and eyes of the deep blue of al
Italian sky Her figure was rich but grace
fol. her hands SO exquisitively shaped. ant
transparent ~ alab4ster. SO much the
Earl saw Is he bent before his betrothe,l
and in spite Of bis psofessed indifference
he inwardly congratulated himself on hi
good fortune.
The Earl and Baron exchanged the usu
al reciprocal compliments and inquiries
Ralph was accustomed to society. and nm
derstood xell the art of making himsel
agreeable; the Barren. spite of his sevent.
winters. had not forgotten to be courtier
and Herminie had the simple grace. tn
dignity, the modesty without prudery. o
ayouna gil Of high birth. religiously edu
Gated. bat without any rightly. The con
versation soon became animated and spark
ling while Ralph watched Herminie an,
now and then whispered to himself Ssh
is charming! Blessings on my uncle 70
finding me wife At once so pretty and u
,sS5ika supper rax snuounesdhs ofsss'
his hand to the young girl. who accspte'