Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1875-06-01
NO. 90.
fural as TO breathe, and he did s.


gallantly and sincerely.
sssShal believe all you say ?"
Lady, let me prove it by any test you may
put upon mi" 'i ~ -
know then that the feelings you avow are
mutual. Nay, unloose your arm from my
waist have something more to say"
Talk on forever, lady your voice is music
20 my heart and ears"
"WouEd you marry me, knowing no hofe
of me than you now do 1"ast.s3sd u Hi-. 3
7ttYes, flyou were TO go TO the very alter
masked r. he replied. ), s.,ss>F...s =.
t'Then 1 will test you"
"How, lady 2"
"For one year be faithful to tho love You
have prOfessed, and I will be yours-as true
as heaven shall spare my life"
"Oh, cruel suspense!"
"You demur Z"
may, lady. shall fulfill your ipjunctions
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" she con.
tinued, "aud 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 bade her adieu.
he had been brought thither nor could he by
any possible means discover where he had
been, his companion rejecting all bribes, and
refusing to answer the simplest questions.
Months rolled on. Col. Melville 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 European capitals
about the time that Napoleon was planning to
marry the rArchduches Maria Louisa. The
young Colonel is handsome, manly, and ais
ready distinguished in arms, and becomes at
once great favorite at court, every effort be-
ing made by the women to captivate him
but in vain, he is constant and frue to his VOW.
But his heart was not made Of stone !; the
very fact that he had entertained such tender
feelings for the white domino had doubtless
had made him more susceptible than before.
AT last he met the Baroness Caroline Van
Waldrof; and in spite of his vows she capti-
waited him, and be secretly rescinds the en-
gngement he had so blindly made in Paris
She seems to wonder at what she believes to
be his devotion-and the distance he main
tains. The truth was, that his sense Of honor
was SO great that, though he felt he loved the
young Baroness, and even she returned his
affection, still he had given his word and it
was sacred. go
The satin domino is no longer the ideal of
his heart, but assumes the most repulsiye form
in his imagination and becomes in place of his
good angel, his evil genius
Well, time rolls on he is to return in a
few days-it is once more the carnival season;
and in Vienna, too, that-gay city. he joins
in the festivities Of the masked ball, and won>
der 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 q year before at the French Opera
House in Paris. Was it not fancy?
''I come Colonel Eugene Melville, 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.
'.I wilI.''
"Have you been faithful to your PROMISE"
asked the domino as they retired into saloon.
Most truly in act but alas. fear not in
heart"
''Indeed."
"1t is true, lady, that 1 have seen and loved
smother though my VOW to You has kept me
from saying soto her." 7-rr.
''And who is that you love 2"
81 will be frank with you, and you will
keep my secret?"
"Most reiigiously."
SIT is Baroness Won WoldrOff, he said with
sigh.
"Aud you really love her ?"
ALAS !! only too dearly" said the soldier
sadly.
Nevertheless, must I bold you to your
promise. Here is the other half Of the ring;
can you produce its mate 2"
"Here it is" said Eugene Melville.
"Then |, too, keep my promise !" said the
domino raising her mask, and showing to his
astonished view the face of Baroness Van
Waldroff!
She had seen and loved him for his manly
spirit and character, and having found by in.
quiry that he was worthy of her love. she had
managed this delicate intrigue aud had tested
him, and now gave him her wealth, title and
everything.
They were married with great pomp and
accompanied the Archduchess to Paris. Ma
pOleOn, to crown the happiness of his favorite,
made him at once General of division.
WEDDING ANN1vERsAR1Es..-Th mar
riago anniversary celebrations are given as
follows
First nuiyersary-Iron.