The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-03-11

Know, then that feelings yo,
avow are mutual. Nay, unloos
your arm from my waist. l hav'
something more to say"
Talk on forever, lady! You
voice is music to my heart and ears.
Would you marry me, knowing
no more of me than you now do ?"
Yes, if you were 20 60 to the
very altar masked !" he replied
Then | will test you"
How, Lady,"
For one year be faithful to the
love you have professed, and l will
be yours-as truly as heaven shall
spare my life"
"Oh, cruel suspenser'
You demur?"
Nay, lady, | shall fulfil your in
functions as l promised"
'.If at the expiration of year, you
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 portions l
will be yours"
/ He kissed the little emblem, swore
again and again to be faithful, and
pressing her hand to his lips bsde her
adicu.
He was conducted awav as mvs-
teriously as he had been brought
thither or could he by any possible
means discover where he had been.
his companions rejecting all bribes,
and even refusing to answer the sim.
plest question.
Months rolled on. Colonel Mer-
vile is true to his vow, and happy
in anticipation of love Suddenly he
is ordered on an embassy, to Vienna,
the gayest of all European capitals,
about the time Napoleon was planning
to marry the Archduchess Maria
Louisa. The Colonel is handsome,
manly, and already distinguished in
arms, and becomes at once q great
favorite at court, every effort being
made yb the woman to captivate 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 |
such tender feelings for the white
domino had doubtless made him more |
susceptible than before.
At last he met the young Baroness
Caroline Won Waldroff, and in spite
of his vows she captivates him, and
he secretely curses the engagement
he had So blindly made in Paris.
She seems to wonder at what she be-
lieves 10 be his devotion-and vet
the distance he maintains The truth
was that his sense of honor was so
great that, though he felt be loved
the young baroness, and even she re-
turned his affection, still he had
given his word and that was sacred.
The satin domino is no longer the
ideal of his heart, but assumed the
most repulsive form in his imagina-
ton, and becomes, in place Of his
good angel, the evil genious
Well, time rolls on; he is to run in
a few days--it is once more the car
nival season and in Vienna, too, that
gay city. He joins in the festivities
IF the masked ball, and wonder glls
his brain, when, about the middle of
he evening, the white domino steals
before him in the same white dress
lc had seen her wear a year before
It the French Opera House in Paris.
Was it not a fancy?
Il come, Colonel Eugene Merville,
o hold you to a PROMISE she said,
aging her hand lightly upon his
lrm.
is this n reality or dream?"
lSked the amazed soldier.
Come follow me, and you shall
zee that it is reality" continued the
mask pleasantly.
II WILL
Have you been faithful to your i.
DrOmise?" asked the domino, as they
etired into saloon
Most truly il fact, but alas, | ..
ear not in heart"
Indeed"
1T is too true, lady, that | have
een and love another; though my
'ow 10 you has kept me from saying |,
% to her"
And who is it that you love-"
Il will be frank with you, and you !.
will keep my secret"
Most religiously" .,
ut is the Baroness Won Waldroff,"
le said, with sigh.
And you really love her ?"
"Alas only too dearly" said the !.
older, sadly.
Nevertheless | must hold you to /,
our promise. Here is the other |
alf of the ring can you produce its
nate?n
Here it is" said Eugene Mer- !
lille.
Then, /, too, keep my PROMISE"
aid the domino, raising her mask
nd showing to his astonished view
he face Of the Baroness Won Wal
rolf.
She had seen and loved him for a
is manly spirit and character, and !.
aving found by inquiry that he was
;ortby of her love. she had manage !
d this delicate intrigue, and tested I
nd now gave him her wealth, title y y
nd everything.
They were married with great '
omp, and accompanied the arch
uchess to Paris. Nopoleon, to
rown the happiness of his iavorite,
lade him at once general of divi-