New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-08-16

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The question came from the vermilion
lips OF young girl at a fancy tall in Paris
during the reign of LOuis XIV. She was
a brilliant brunette, with abundant raven
hair, and wore the Spanish veil and man
tilia, which she had assumed for the Occa-
sion, with all the grace OF daughter oil
Andalusia. Her companion, noble
Scotch earl, OF some two or three and
twenty, arrayed as warrior OF Mary
Stuarps, in Scotch plaid and highland bon
net and feather, had been pursuing The fair
unknown all the evening with protest
atoms of love and eternal fidelity. His
answer was prompt and nnhesitating.
"a Yes, swear it. If die I will dream
Of YOU in the sepulchre, aud 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 sad tone.
1t 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 be pressed 10 his lips the
little white hand of the beautiful Spaniard.
Alb, well Ipermit you then, to love
me. We shall see if You will be constant
Farewell /; we shall meet again"
But where-When :" demanded the
earl, anxiously.
can not tell Perhaps here-perhaps
lsewhere-but you will see me-" And
with gesture which 70, babe him to follow
Der, she disappeared in the crowd
Two years passed, during which Earl
Ralph Morton sought vainly at Marty, at
Versailles-in every place of public re-
sort-t0r his beautiful unknown. He was
a Scorchman by birth, and, like many of
his cOuntrymeD, had entered the service Of
the king of France. But court life did
not comport very well with his slender for
tune and he became ere long deeply In
volv-d 10 debt.
You must find some rich heiress," said
his sympathziBg friends-it was the usual
resource Of embarrassed gentlemen OF that
day. But the earl had not forgotten the
Oewtcbing Andalusian, and was in no
mood for the search. He was spared the
trouble, however. His uncle, who was
archbishop Of an Assyrian city destroyed
by the Romans, informed him one day that
1t was time for him TO marry, and that he
had found wife for him.
Is she rich?' inquired Ralph. I do
not ask if she is prelty-it is all the same
to me-"
Very rich, and very pretty.r
The earl thought Of his unknowa, and
sighed then thought of his creditors, and
consented. The uncle arranged every
thing, and when all was settled he gave
the nephew bis benedictien aud two humid
red pistOles, and sent him off to Burgundy,
to pay his respects to Mademoisele de
Roche Noire, whom he was TO marry in a
fortnight.
A gloomy journey Of several days dura-
tion brought him at length to the ancient
ieudal manor house of Roche Nore. situated
IN the heart of forest, on 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 on
the threshold, and conducted him to large
hall, at the extremity of which sat an old
man aud young girl. The former, whom
he OWNED at once to be the Baron OF
Roche Noire, rose at his entrance, and,
saiuting him in the somewhat formal fash
ION OF the day, presented him to his daugh.
ter Herminie. The latter had the voluptu-
Gus beauty of the flower which has unfoided
under the 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 bent low before his betrothed, and
IN spite Of his professed indifference, be in
wardly congratulated himself on his good
fortune.
The earl and baron exchanged the usual
reciprocal compliments and Inquiries.
Ralph was accustomed to society and un-
derstood well the art of making himself
agreeable; the baron, in spite Of his seventy
winters, had not forgotten how to be
couriier; and Herminie had the simple
grace, the dignity, the modesty without
prndery,. of young girl Of high birth,
iehglously educaied. but without any rigid
ny. The conversation soon became ami
mated and sparkling, while r 4lph watched
herminie, and now and then murmured to
hin self:
"She is charmingl Blessings on my
uncle ior hnding me wife at once SO pref
ty and SO rich.n
when supper was announced he offered
bis band to the young girl, who accepted
It with a blush, while the baron led the
way to the dining room. Il was a lofty
apartment, furnished in the massive styie
or Louis XIV, and upon the walls were
suspended ancient family portraits. AS
Raiph's eye glanced over these, it was at.
tracted by one whose freshness formed a
striking contrast to the smoky cauvases of
the detunct barops Of Roche Noire. II rem
resented young girl of dazzling but
foreign beauty, such as Is only found under
Southern skies. A more brilliant daughter
OF Spain never danced the b0lero in the per
tnmsd gardens of the Alhambra. The eyes
OF Ralph were Fixed immovably upon the
canvass the FIRST glance bad told him that
Il Was bis long-iost unknown of the fancy
ball.
s Come, my dear earl, 2 said The baron,
slet as be seated.u
Ralph started and obeyed. then turned
his eyes from the portrait 10 Herminie. In
contrast With shat glowing beauty she APP
neared to him utterly insipid. He made
some remark about the picture. The
baron did not reply, but q cloud passed
over bis face, and Herminie turned pals,
and SAT silent with downoasf eyes. A chill
seemed 70 be thrown over these three per-
sena' lhst now talking So jayoualy.s Brief
remarks were made occasionally, il q con
strained tone, and the supper ended almost
u silence. At Us Close The earl made the
fatigue Of bis Journey an excuse for retiring
early. As the servant was CONDUCTING him
2 pc apartment, they passed again through
The dining ball.
z ''Whose portrait Il thar he asked, point
lpg q The picture Of the LADY.
The servant hesitated.
@speaklp said the earl impefioasIy