The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-10-04
THE MASKED LADY.

louht hiuioCll tJ Ditohcu UllI
French Opera-house. Better adapted ir
his tastes to the field than the parlor, he
tlirted but little with the gay figures thai
covered the floor, ard Joined but seldom If
the gddy waltz. But at last, while stand
ing thoughtfully, and regarding the assem-.
bed throng with a vacant eye, his attention
was suddenly aroused by the appearance
it OF person in white satin domino, the
universal elegance Of whose figure, manner,
and bearing, convinced all that her face
and mind must be equal to her person in
grace and loneliness.
Though in so mixed an assembly, still
there was q dignity and reserve in the
manner of the white domino that
rather repulsed the idea of a familiar
address, and it was some time before
the young soldier found courage to speak
to her. ID
Some alarm being given there was a
~ violent rush of the throng toward the
door. where, unless assisted, the. lady
would have materially suffered. Eugene
Meville offered his arm, and with his
broad shoulders and stout frame
kept oil the danger. 1t was a de-
lighttul moment, the lady spoke the pur-
est French, was witty, fanciful and cap
tivatng. - - lsaaa
"s All! lady, pray raise that mask,
and reveal to me The charms Of
feature that must accompany so sweet
voice and so graceful form as YOU nos
sess ?D
..H would, perhaps, be disappointed.V
mo, am sure not"
Are you SO very confdentY' 4
"fes. | feel that you are baauti-
ful-it cannot be otherwse.o @
Don't be too sure of that,n replied
the domino. "IIave you never heard of
the Irish poet Moore's story of the yelled
prophet of Khorasan- when he dis
closed his countenance, its hdeous aspect |
killed his beloved one? How do You |
know that ! shall not turn out yelled |
prophet of Khorasan?" |
"Ah, lady, your every word convinces
me to the contrary" replied the enrap-
tured soldier, whose heart began to feel as |
it had never felt before he was already |
in love. IN g.
She elndes his efforts at discovery but
permits him to hand her to her carriage.
which drives off in the darkness, and
though he throws himself upon his Aeetest
horse, he is unable to overtake her. II
The young French Colonel becomes |
moody; he has lost his heart, and knows I
not what TO do. lie wanders hither and
thlther, shuns his former places of amuso-
mcnt, avoids his military companions, and, /
IN short, is miserable as lover can well be
thus disappointed.
One night, just alter he had left his hotel
on foot, figure, muflled to the very ears,
stopped him. ,5T.1 -
"Well, monsieur, what would you with
me?'' asked the soldier.
"You would know the name of the white
domino? was the reply. .,
u would, indeed" replied The officer,
hastily. slow can it be done?'
'sEollow me-" l.
'To the end of the earth, if it will bring
me to her."
''But you most be blnd(olded.' II
every WELL" III
''Step into this vehicle" II
II am at your command" e II
And away ratified the youthful soldier
and his companion.
"This may be a trick" reasoned Eugene
Mervlle, "but have no fear of personal
violence. | am armed with this trusty
sabre, and can take care of myself /,
But There was no cause for fear since
he soon found the vehicle stopped and he
was led, blindfolded, into the house.
When the bandagc was removed from his
eyes, he found himself in richly fur
nished boudoir, and before him stood the
white domino, just as nc had met her at !
the masked ball. To fall upon his knees {
and tell her how much he thought of her !
since their separation, that his thoughts
had never left her, that he loved her /
devotedly, was as natural as to breathe /;
and he did SO, calamity and sincerely. Is
" Shall believe all you say?" |;
"lIady, let me prove it by any test you {
may put upon me-" Il
I" Know, then, that the feelings you {
avow are mutual. Nay, unloose your /
arm from my waist; | have something
more to say" Ii
"1alk on forever, lady! Your voice is
music to my ears" Ia
"Would you marry me, knowing no [
more OF me than you now do Y' .-i II
"Yes, if you were to go to the very [
altar masked !" he replied. ss. |,
"Then will test YOU" l.
slow, lady ?' te# .E
"For one year be faithful to the love you !
have protested, and will then be yours
as truly as Heaven shallspare my lfe.n
sob, cruel suspense!D
"You demur ?''
"Nay, dearest lady, / shall fulfill vour
injunctions as promised"
IF, at the expiration of year. YOU do ,
not hear from me, then the contract shall :,
be null and void. Take this half-ring, and /
when supply the broken portion / will I
be yours"
He kissed the little emblem, swore again
and again to be faithful, and pressing her
hand to his lips, babe her adieu. \,
lie was conducted away as mysteriousIy
as he had been brought thither; nor could |
lac by any possible means discover where
he had been, his companion rejecting all
brides and even refusing to answer the SIM
plest questions.
Months roll on. Colonel Merville is true
to his VOW, and happy in the anticipation
OF love. Suddenly he was ordered on an
embassy to Vienna, the gayest of all the
European capitals, about the time that {
Napoleon was planning to marry the Arch
duchess Maria Louisa. The young Colonel
is handsome, manly, ard already distin- I
guished in arms, and, of course, become
at once great favorite at court. every |
effort being made by the women to capt.
vate him, but in vain he is constant and
true to his vow. :
But his heart is not made of stone.
The very fact that he had entertained