The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1875-03-06

lHe cOHVeISdIlOn SOON Uecdine aHllndJ-
ed and sparkling, while Ralph watched
Herminie, and now and then murmur-
ed to himself:
''She is charming Blessings on my
uncle for finding me a wife at once so
pretty and so rich -
When supper was announced, he Of
fered his arm to the young girl, who
accepted it with blush, while the
baron led the way to the dining room.
1t was a lofty apartment, furnished in
the massive style of Louis XIV, and
upon the walls were suspended numer-
GUS family portraits. As Ralph's eye
glanced over these, it was attracted by
one whose freshness formed striking
contrast 10 the smoky canvases of the
defunct barons of Roche NoiIe. 1t
represented a young girl of dazzling
but foreign beauty, such as is found
only under southern skies. A more
brilliant daughter of Spain never dane
ed the bolero in the perfumed gardens
of the Alhambra. The eyes of Ralph
were fixed immovably upon the canvas /;
the first glance had told him that it was
his long lost unknown of the fancy
ball.
"Come my dear EARL" saidlthe baron,
get us be seated
Ralph started and obeyed; then
turn ID his eyes from the portrait to
Hermine. In contrast with its glowing
beauty, she appeared to him utterly
insipid. lie made some remark about
the picture. The baron did not reply,
but cloud pas sed over his face, and
He-nlinie turned pale, and sat silent,
with downcast eyes. A chill seemed
O!be thrown over these three persons,
just now talking so joyously. Brief
remarks were made occasionally, in
constrained tone, and the supper ended
almost in silence. At its close, the
earl made the fatigue of his journey
an excuse for retiring.
AS the servant was conducting him
to his apartment, they passed again
Though the dining-hall.
"Whose portrait is this..?" he asked,
pointing to the picture of the lady.
The servant hesitated.
"Speak !" said the earl, imreriously.
sit is the portrait of Mademoiselle
FLlmen," said the old man, trembling.
Sand who is she ?"
"The elder sister of Mademoiselle
Herminie."
"But she is dressed in Spanish cos
tune"
"Yes, her mother was Spanish
lady"
"And Fulmen, where is she now ?"
"She is dead," said the old man, SOL
EMMY. "She lies at the left OF the
altar in the chapel of the CASTLE"
Fatigue had no power that night to
bring sleep to Ralph's eyelids. 1t was
in vain that he extinguished the can
dies, and buried his head under the
Blankets the image of Fulmen still
pursued him Now, it was Fulmen ra-
diant with beauty, as she was repre-
sented in the picture, and as he had
seen her at the fancy ball; again, it was
Fumen, pale and cold, extended in hel
coffin under the pavement of the
chapel. Then he remembered his oath,
to love her as well dead as living, and
a cold sweat bathed his brow. At thai
moment light at the opposite eXtrem-
ity of the room attracted his attention
door, whose existence lie had not ev en-
suspected, turned noiseessly on its
hinges; the candles relighted themselves
spontaneously, and finger draped in
a winding sheet, entered the room, and
approached his bed. 1t advanced
slowly; the most acute ear could have
detected no sound of footsteps. Brave
as he was, the earl trembled at the ap
partition. When the figure was within
few feet of the bed, the winding sheet
was thrown back and revealed young
girl, dressed in Spanish costume.
"Fulmen |" he murmured; "the pic
ture has descended from its frame 70
1t was indeed Fulmen, just as sht
was painted, save that the lips weri
pale, the eye mournful, the whole ex-
preston unspeakably sad.
"Fulmen /" repeated the earl, in {
tone Of terror, in which was mingled
soft of feyerish joy.
"It is l." she said. "Do you re-
member your oath? They have tolC
you that 1 am dead"
The teeth of Ralph chatteled; bu
| tha voica waS so mira sn maIodious