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

attractions for you. And you are but
twenty hFe, Ralph. At your age life is
The earl shook bis bead.
ITO live without You is death; to be
united 10 you, even in the tomb, would be
hfe."
Take care my friend"
"Of what, dear Fulmen?" exclaimed
Ralph. over whom the smile of the yOl ng
girl seemed to exercise an oVetpowering
| fascination.
"Du you know she said, ''that if YOU
utter such a wish, God may hear your
prayer"
"Ah! if he would An eternity by your
side would he infinite hRppinessn
"Ralph, my friend" interrupted Fulmen,
while smile of celestial Joy snone in her
lace. take care you will die il you love
me''
Il wish to de-
'But you are betrothed TO my sister"
An exclam ,tiOn of anger escaped him.
II hate her " he said, vehemently-
"Why?n
Because she ia alive while you are
dead. What has she done that she should
Enjoy the light of the sun, the perfume of
the flowers, the melody of birds? Was
she any younger or more beautiful ~
"Ralph, you are unjust. Ny sister had
no control over her destiny or mine"
''Y0u are right, perhaps; but swear to
yon that will never marry Herminie. l
wish to be yours, and only yours, forever"
"You are mad, my friend l can not &C.
cept happiness at such a sacrifice"
She rose slowly.
"Adieu, Ralph, she said. Marry Her.
mimic, and pray for me"
& Fulmen Fulmen!" exclaimed Ralph,
falling on his knees al her ieet. do not
abandon me ] love yoHi"
Bat your love is death.n
" 1t is hippiness-it IS life
His tone was so earnest, 80 touching,
that the young girl hesitated.
" Let me live eternally with you," he
persisted.
listen, my friend" she said at length.
as if she could no longer re,ist his en-
treaties, I" In this casket,n pointing to
richly'carved box which stood upon the
table, q there is phial containing a dark
liquid"
=" And this liquid ?"
" Is DEATH"
g. It is happiness exclaimed Ralph.
Selling the casket.
Fulmen stopped him by gesture.
mot yet" she said !; "by -and-by-at
midn 'ght-but first-rehect! ;"
Immediately the candles were extin-
gni-hed, and he found himself in complete
darkness. .----.-.
Ii Earl Ralph had been Frenchman as
soon as Fulnen disappeared he would have
opened the window, and let the cool night
air play upon his brow. Then the fever ct
being over be won have said to himself
"Al this is folly. am twenty-five years
old, an officer in the kings service, and am
abont to marry young girl, blonde as a
Madonna, fair as lily, who will bring me
an income Of hundred thousand llvres.
| have only to be quiet, and let things take
their course"
After which he would have slept quietly.
and dreamed no more of Fulmrn. But
alph was Scotchman, with an imagina-
ZION as susceptible of exaltation as most OF
his couDtrymen of the land of mount ,in
and mist As soon az the phantom van
ished, be relighted the candle by the aid of
a half extinguished irebrand, and opening
the casket he took ont the phial
"Fulmen Fulmen wait for me am
coming " he murmured, and swallowed the
contents at draught.
For moment be experienced a strange
and inexplicable sensation q GOODNESS In
bis chest, a heat in the head; then his eyes
became heavy, his limbs trembIed, an OK
treme languor crept over him, and he sank
upon the floor still murmuring family,
"Fulmen. wait for mel love your
When Ralph swallowed the contents of
the phlal he expected to awake 10 the other
world. He was mistaken the phial con-
tiiued only a narcotic and he was very
much astonished on opening his eyes to
fad himself 10 bed, and to see the sun
shining through tn cnrtained windows. A
lady lat by his bedside. 1t was Fuimen !!
but no longer the pale, sad Fulmen with
liVld lips and form engelOped in winding
sheet but Fulmen, fresh. radiant Joyous,
IN the same costume which she wore at
the fancy ball.
The reader will understand the explana-
ton OF all this mora readily than the young
earl, whose head was still somewhat CON
fused from the effect OF the narcotic. The
young girl had wished to put the sudden
passion Of her ballroom lover to tho test /;
and with some difficulty she had persuaded
her fond old father aud her cousin Her
mimic to lend themselves to the n.ystiliea-
ton. A little ingenuity, some invisible
assistance, a transparent glove of serpent
skin, aided by the native superstition OF the
young Scotchman, were all that was neces-
sary TO the success of the scheme.
We need not say that the earl, when he
recovered is senses. was very glad to ex-
change his phantom bride for living one.