Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-07-02

ne soon 1ouno the VenlcIe stopped; ana
was led, blindfolded, into the house.
When the bandage was removed from
his eyes, he found himself in richly
furnished bcudoir, and before him stood
the white domino, just as he had met
her at the masked ball To fall upon
his knees and tell her how much he
had thought of her since their separa-
ton, that his thoughts had never left
Der, that he loved her devotedly, was
as natural as to breath; and he did so
gallantly and sincerely.
"Shall | believe all you say?'
''Lady, let me prove it by any
test you may put upon me-
''Know, then, that the feelings you
avow are mutual. Nay, unloose your
arm from my waist; have something
more to say"
'Talk en- forever, lady! Your voice
is music to my ears.
"Would you marry me, knowing no
more of me than you now do?
eyes, You were to go to the very
altar masked y he replied.
''Then l will test YOU
''How, lady?"
''For one year be faithful to the love
you have professec, and will then be
yours as truly as heaven shall spare
my life"
"Oh, cruel suspensel"
"You demtlr g
'Nay, dearest lady, I shall fulfil
your injunction as promised"
"lf, 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 I 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 Der
adieu.
He was conducted away as myste>
riously as he had been brought thither;
nor could he by any possible means
discover where he had been, his COM
panion rejecting all brides and even
refusing to answer the simplest cues
tons.
Mouths roll on Colonel Merville is
true to his vow, and happy in the
anticipation of love. Suddenly he was
ordered on embassy to Vienna, the
gayest of all the European capitals,
about the time that Napoleon was
planning to marry the Archduchess
Maria Louise. The young Colonel is
handsome, manly, and, of course. be
comes at once great favorite at court,
every effort being made by the women
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
secretly curses the engagement which
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 loved the young baroness,
and even she returned his affection, still
he had given his word, and it was
sacred.
The satin domino is no longer the
ideal of bis heart but assumes the most
repulsive form in his Imagination; and
becomes, in the place Of his good angel
his evil genius.
Well, time rolls on. He is to return
in few days. 1t is once mole the
Carnival season; and in Vienna too,
that gay city. He joins in the festivi>
ties of the masked ball, and wonder
fills his brain, when about the middle
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.
81 come, Colonel Eugene Merville. to
hold you to your promise" she said,
laying her hand lightly upon his arm.
els this reality or dream 2" asked
the amazed soldier.
"Come, follow me, and you shall see
that it is reality continued the mask
pleasantly.
81 will.
'Have you been faithful to your
promise 2 asked the domino, as they
retired into saloon.
"Most truly, lady, in act; but, alas !!
| fear not in heart.
"Indeed !"
at is too true, lady, that Ihave seen
and loved another though my VOW to
you has kept he from saying SO to
her,"
"And who is it that you thus lover"
q will be frank with you, and you