The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-04-27

"Know, then, that the feelings you avo,
are mutual. Nay, uuloose your arm from M
waist have something more to say"
"Talk on forever, LADY, Your voice
music to my heart and ears"
"Would you marry me, knowing no NOR
OF me than you now do p
Yes, if you were to go to the very alta
masked = he replied
s'Then will test you"
"How, lady p
"For one year be faithful to the love 20,
have protested, and 1 will be yours-as trul
| as Heaven shall spare my life."
ooh, cruel suspense"
"You demur 2"
NAY, lady, shall fulfill your injunction
as promised
IF, at the expiration of year, you do no
hear from me, then the contract shall be Dul
and void. Take this half ring" she contin
ued, :'and when | supply the broken portion
will be yours.
He kissed the little emblem, swore again
and again to be faithful, and pressing hel
hand to his lips, bade her adieu
He was conducted away as mysteriously as
he had been brought thither, nor could he by
any possible means discover where he had
been, his companion rejecting all brides, aud
even refusing to answer the simplest ques
tons
Months roll on. Colonel Mervile is true
to his VOW, and happy in the anticipation OF
love. Suddenly he was ordered on an EN-
bassy to Vienna, the gayest Of all the Euro
pean capitals about the time that Napoleon
was planning to marry the Archduchess
Maria Louisa. The young Colonel is hand
some, manly, and already distinguished III
arms, and becomes at once great favorite al
court. every effort being made by the women
to captivate him, but in val he is constan,
and true to his VOW.
But his heart was not made of stone the
very fact that he had entertained suA tende.
feelings for the white domino had doubtless
made him more susceptible than before
At last he met the young Baroness, Caro-
line Won Wodrof and ia spite Of his vows
she captiyates him, and he secretly curses the
engagement he had so blindly made at Paris
She seems to wonder at what she believes to
be his devotion; and yet the distance he
maintains! The truth was, that his sense OF
honor was SO great that though he felt he
loved the young baroness. and even that she
returned his affection, still he had given his
word, and it was sacred
The satin domino is no longer the ideal OF
his heart, but assumes the most repulsive
form in his imagination, and becomes 10 place
Of his good angel. his evil genius.
"Well, time rolls on; he is to return in a
J.. i - 1
season, and in Vienna, too. that gay city He
joins in the festivities of the masked ball, aud
wonder fills his brain, vixen about the mid
die of the evening, the white domino steals
before him, in the same white satin dress he
had seen her wear year before at the French
Opera House in Paris Was it not fanoy2
Il come. Colonel Eugene Merville, to hold
you to your PROMISE she said, laying her
hand lightly upon his arm.
us this reality or dream ?" asked the
amazed soldier
Come. follow me. and you shall sec thai
it is a reality" continued the mask pleasantly
II will"
Have you been faithful to your promise p
asked the domino, as they retired into sa-
loon.
'Most truly in act, but alas, I fear not in
heart p
"Indeed"
ut is too true, lady, that have seen and
loved another, though my VOW to you has
kept me from saying SO to her"
And who is it that you thus loye?"
II will be frank with you, and you will
keep my secret?"
Most religiously"
'It is the Baroness Won Waldroff," he
said, with sigh.
"And you really love her ?"
ALAS only too dearly, said the soldier,
sadly.
"Nevertheless, I must hold you to your
promise Here is the other half OF the ring;
can you produce its mate?''
Here it is" said Eugene Melville.
"Then [, too, keep my promise p said the
domino raising her mask, aud showing to
his astonished view the face of the Baroness
Won Waldrotf!
She had seen and loved him for his manly
quiry that he was worthy of her love- she had
managed this delicate intrigue; and had test
ed him, and now gives to him her wealth.
title and everything.
They we're married with great pomp, and
accompanied the Archduchess to Paris Ma
poleon, to crown the happiness of his favor
tie, made him at once general Of division.
An Affecting Scene.