Nebraska advertiser. [volume] (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882, 1867-11-07

ration brought him at length TO the an
Cientfeudal manor house of Roche Noire,
Situated in the heart of a forest, on tof
tY rock from which il derived its name,
He was expected. The ground door Of
the mansion was open, and an aged ser.
want met him at the thEesholds and con.
Quoted him to large hall, at the ex-
tremily of which sat an old man and
young girl. The former whom he di-
vlned at once 10 be the Baron of Roche
MORE, rose at his entrance. and. saluled
him In the somewhat formal manner of
the day, presented him to his daughter
Herminne,. The latter had the volup-
teous beauty of the flower which had un-
folded under southern sun. She was
pale, with fair hair, and eyes of the deep
blue of an Italian sky. Her figure was
rich but graceful. her hands exquisitely
shaped, and transparent as alabaster.
SO much the Earl saw as he bent before
his betrolhed, and in spite of his profes.
sed indifference, he inwardly congratula-
ted himself on his good fortune.
The Earl and the Baron exchanged
the usual reciprocal compliments and en-
CURES. Ralph was accustomed to soCie
ty, and understood the art of making
himself agreeable the Baron, spite of
bis seventy winters, had not forgotten 10
be a courtier, and Herminne had the
simple grace and dignity, the modesly
without prudery, of young girl of her
birth, feligi6usly educated. but without
rigiGng. The conversation soon became
animated and sparkling, while Ralph
watched Herminne, and now and then
whispered to himself, She is charming
Blessings on my uncle for finding me a
wife at once so pretty and so rich.
When supper was announced he offer
ed his hand TO the young girl, who ac.
cepted il with blush, while the Baron
led the way to the dining room. Ipwas
lofty apartment, furnished in the mas
sive style of Louis XIV, and upon the
walls were suspended ancient family
portraits. As Ralph's eye glanced over
these it were attracted by one whose
freshness formed a striking contrast to
! The smoky canvass devoted TO the de-
! funCt Barons of Roche Noire. Ii repre-
senled young girl of dazzling, but for
eign beauty, such as IS only found under
Southern skies. A more brilliant daugh-
ter of Spain never danced the bdtezd IN
the perfumed gardens of the Alhambra
The eyes of Raj ph we're fixed immova-
bly, on the canvass; the first glance told
hlm that i: was his long-lOsl unknown al
the fancy ball.
Come, my dear Earl said the Ba-
ron, let US be seated
Ralph started and obeyed, turning
his eyes from The portrait &c Herminne.
In contrast with that glowing beauty she
appeared to him utterly insipld. He
made some remark about the picture.
The Baron did not reply. but a cloud
passed over his face, and Herminne
turned pale and sal silent, with downcast
eyes. "A chill seemed TO be thrown, n,over
those three persons, just now talking so
! ioyously. Brief remarks were made oc.
caslonalIy, in a constrained voice, and
the supper ended almost in silence Al
Its close the Earl made the fatigue of his
Journey an excuse for retiring early As
the servant was conducting him to his
apartment, they passed again through
the dining hail @ aamaaG
Whose portrait is this?i he asked,
pointing to the portrait. of the lady.
The servant hesllared. m
4 Speak ? said the Earl imperiously.o
1t is. the portrait Of Mademoiselle
FulmeD, said the old man, trembling.
H. And who is she g g.
The elder sister of MademOiselle
Herminne.' s,go ~
But she is dressed in Spanish cos.
tune
Yes; her mother was a Spanish lady.
And Fulmen, where is she?' 9hi
she is dead,' said ;he old man, sol.
elnnly; she lies at the left of the altar
in the chapel of the castle.'
l. Fatigue had no power that night tc
bring sleep to Ralph's eyelIds. 1t was
in vain that he extnguished the. candles
and buried his head under the blankets /;
the image of Fulmen still pursued him.
4 Now, il was Fulmen radiant with beau
~. as she was represented in the PIC.
t1re. and as he had seen her at the fancy
balE-; again it was Fulmen pale and cold
extended in heTCcofin. 5upder the pave.
ment of the chapel. Then he Femem-
bered his oath to love her as we'll dead
as living and a cold sweat balhed bis
brow. Al that moment a light at the
opposite extremity of the apartment a.
tracted his attention, door whose exis.
tenee he had not expected, turned noise
lessly on its hinges; the candles relighl-
ed yes&POhtaueously, and fig.
ure, draped in winding sheet, entered
The room and approached his bed. Il
advanced slowly; no sound of footsteps.
Brave as be was.5the Earl IrembIed al
the apparItion When the figure was
within few feet of the bed. the winding
sheet was thrown, back. and revealed a
young girl dressed in Spanish costume.
i .FuImen, he murmured.: the picture
has descended from lis frame.
1t was indeed FuImen, Just as she wa:
painted, save that the lips were pale. the
eyes mournful, the whole expression un.
speakably sad.
'Fulmenr . repeated the Earl, with q
tone of terror. in which was mingled q
sor, of feverish JOY. r -.
lis T. she said do you remember