River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-10-24

do not hear from me, then the con-
tract shall be null and void. Take
this half ring she continued, "and
when | supply the broken portion /
will be yours.
He kissed the little emblem, swore
again and again to be faithful, and
pressing her hand to his lips babe
her adleu.
He was conducted away as mystic
riously as he had been brought thith-
err: nor could he by any possible
mean discover where he had been, his
companions rejecting all brides, and
even refusing to answer the simplest
questions.
Months roll on. Colonel Melville is
true TO his vow, and happy in the an
ticipation 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 Archduchess
Maria Louisa The young Colonel is
handsome, manly. and already dis
guished in arms, and becomes at once
great lavorite at court, every effort
being made by the women to captivate
him, but in vain; he is constant and
true TO bis vow.
But his heart is not made OF stone
the very fact that he had entertained
such tender feelings for the white DOM
inc had doubtless made him more sus-
ceptible than before.
At last he met the young Baroness
Caroline Won Waldorf, and IN spite of
his vows she captiyates him, and he Sc
cretly 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 ne felt be low the young bar
oness, and even she returned his affec-
tion, still he had given his word, and
that was sacred.
The satin domino is no longer the
ideal of his heart, but assumes the
most repulsive form in his imagination,
and becomes, in place of his good
angel, his evil genius.
Well, time rolls on; he is to run in
few days-it is once more the carni-
val season and in Vienna, too, that
gay city. He joins in the festivities of
the masked ball, and wonder fills his
brain, when, about the middle of the
evening, the white domino steals be-
fore him in the same white satin dress
he hid seen her wear year before at
the French Opera House in Paris.
Was it not fancy
81 come, Colonel Eugene Melville,
to hold you to your promise, she said,
laying her hand lightly upon his arm.
/" Is this a reality or dream2" asked
the amazed soldier.
"Come, follow me, and you shall
see that it is reality, continued the
mask, pleasantly.
~ will.
Have you been faithful to your
promise = asked the domino, as they
retired into a saloon.
"Most truly in act but, alas, | fear
not in heart.
Indeed"
1t 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 love9"
g will be frank with YOU, and you
will keep my secret.
Most religiously.
" 1t is the Baroness Won Waldroff, "
he said with a sigh.
"And You really love her?
/" Alas only too dearly" said the
soldier sadly.
Nevertheless | must hold you to
your promise. Here is the other half
OF the ring; can you produce it's mate 2"
"Here it is, said Eugene Merville.
"Then |, too, keep my promise. I"
said the domino, raising her mask, and
showing to his astonished view the face
of the Baroness Won Waldroff.
She had seen aud loved him for his
manly spirit and character, and having
found by inquiry that he was worthy of
her love, she mad managed this deli
cate intrigue, and had tested him, and
now gave him her wealth, title and
everything.
They we're married with great pomp,
and accompanied the archduchess to
Paris. Napoleon, to crown the happi
ness of his favorite, made him ut once
a general of division. - E30ljSh PoDey.-