Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1873-11-15
TRIED AND TRUE.

TRIED AND TRUE.
1t was the Carnival season in Paris;
and Colonel Eugene Merville, an attache
of the great Napoleon's staff, who had
won his way to distinction with his own
sabre, found himself at the masked ball
in the French opera-house. Better
adapted in his taste to the field than the
boudoir, he firts but little with the gay
figures which cover the floor, and joins
but seldom in the waltz. But at last,
while standing thoughtfuliy and regard
ing the assembled throng with vacant
eye, his attention was suddenly aroused
by the appearance of person in white
satin domino, the universal elegance of
whose manner and bearing convinced all
that her face and mind must be equal to
her person in grace and loveliness.
Though in so mixed an assembly, still
there was dignity and reserve in the
manner of the white domino that rather
repulsed the idea of familiar address,
and it was sometime before the young
soldier found courage to speak to her.
Some alarm being given, there was a
violent rush of the throng toward the
door, where, unless assisted, the lady
would have materially suffered Eu-
gene Merville offers his arm, and with
his broad shoulders and stout frame
wards the danger. 1t was delightful
moment; the lady spoke the purest
French, was witty, fancifuT and capti-
vating.
"Ah! 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 possess"
"You would, perpaps, be disappoint-
ed" Ia ,-.tIf- .t--.
"No, am sure not"
care you SO very confident?"
eyes l feel that you are beautiful
it cannot be otherwise"
"Don't be too sure of that" said the
domino. "Have you never heard of the
Irish poet Moore's story of the yelled
prophet of Khorasan-how, when he
disclosed his, countenance, its hideous
aspect killed his beloved one. How do
you know that / shall not turn out a
velled prophet of Khorasan?"
"Ah, lady, your every word convinces
me to the contrary" replied the enrap-
tured soldier, whose heart had begun to
feel as it had never felt before; he was
in love.
She eludes 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 fleet
est horse, he is unable 10 overtake her.
The young French Colonel becomes
moody; he has lost his heart, and knows
not what to do. He wanders hither and
thither shuns his former places of
amusement, avoids his military compan-
ions, and in short, is miserable as lover
well can be, thus disappointed. One
night, just after he had left his hotel on
foot, figure muffied to the very ears,
stopped him.
"Well, monsieur, what would you want
with me?" asked the soldier. rir
"You would know the name of the
white domino?" was the reply. ..o
81 would, indeed" replied the officer,
hastily. GLOW can it be done?"
"Follow me-"
'To the end of the earth, if it will
bring me to her.
''But you must be blindfolded."
Every Well"
'Step into this vehicle"
81 am at your command"
And away ratified the youthful SOL
dier and his strange companion. "This
may be trick, F" reasoned Eugene Nor
vile, '"but l 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 bandage was removed from
his eyes, he found himself in richly
furnished boudoir, and before him stood
the white domino just as he met her at
the masked ball. To fall upon his knees
land tell her much he thought of her
| since their separation, that his thoughts
had never left her, that he loved her de-
votedly, was as natural as to breathe,
md he did so gallantly and sincerely.
,a9 "Shalll believe all you say?"
"Lady, let me prove it by any test
you may put upon me-"
"Know, then, that the feelings you
ayow are mutual. Nay, unloose your
arm from my waist. 1 have something
more to say .,iio o s..asa nag, s.' a,'" :
Talk on forever, ladyt your voice is
music to my heart and ears.n
"Would you marry me, knowing no
more of me than you now doT' - 7sg |
o" ''Yes, If you were TO 60 to the very
altar maskedp" he replied. fsa5
"Then I viii test You"