Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1875-09-23

me!' asked the soldier.
"You would know the name of the white
domino p was the reply.
IL would, indeed, replied the officer has
tily. How can it be done?"
Follow me-
''To the end of the earth, if it will bring
| ne to her.
''But you must he blindfolded."
Every we'll"
''Step into this Vehicle
Il am at your command;
And away ratified the youthful soldier and
his strange companion. ''This may be a
| trick, }" reasoned Eugene Merville, ''but l have
no fear of personal violence. | am armed
with this trusty sabre and can take care Of
myself. But there was no cause for fear,
since he soon found the vehicle stop; and he
was led, blind folded, into the house. When
the bandage was removed from his eyes, he
found himself in richly furnished boudoir,
and before him stood the white domino lust
as he met her at the masked ball. To fall
upon his knees and tell her how much he had
thought of her since their separation, that
his thoughts had never left her, that he loved
her devotedly, was as natural as to breathe,
and he did SO gallanty and sincerely.
''Shal believe all you say??"
LADY, let me proyeit 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 saw
Talk on forever, lady! Your 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 to 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 will be yours as truly
as heaven shall spare my life
''Oh, cruel suspense!'
''You demur?"
"Nay, lady, shall fulfill your injunctions
as promised.
eff at the expiration of year you do not
hear from me, then the contract shall be null
and void. Take this half ring" she contin-
ued, land when supply the broken portion
will be yours"
He kissed the little emblem, swore again
and again to be true, and pressing her hands
to his lips, bade her adieu.
He was conducted away as mysteriOusly
as he had been brought thither; nor could he
by any possible means discover where he had
been, his companion rejecting all bribes, and
even refusing to answer the simplest ques-
tiOns.
Months rolled on. Colonel Merville is true
to his VOW, and happy in the anticipation of
love. Suddenly he was ordered on an en-
bassy to Vienna, the gayest of all the Euro
pean capitals, about the time that Napoleon
was planning to marry the Arch Duchess
Maria Louisa. The young Colonel is hand
some, manly, and already distinguished in
arms, and becomes at once great favorite
at court, every effort being made by the wo-
men to captivate him, but in vain; he is con-
slant 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 Caro-
line Won Waldroff, and in spite of his VOWS
she captivates him, and he secretly 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 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
still he had given his word, and
that was sacred.
bis heart, but assumes the most repulsive
place of his good angel, the evil genius.
Well, time rolls on; he is to return in a
few days-itis once more the carnival season.
and in Vienna, too, that gay city. He joins
IN the festivities of the masked ball, and won
ler fills his brain, when, about the middle of
he evening, the white domino steals before |
lim in the same white satin dress he had seen |
Ter wear year before at the French Opera |
IN porSc "oo 0Ao
IL come, Colonel Eugene Merville, to hold |
land lightly on his arm.
''Is this reality or dream?" asked the
amazed soldier.
''Come, foil wv me. and you shall see that |
t is reality" continued the mask pleas
'nt!{: y WILL"
"Have you been faithful to your promise?"
Isked the domino as they retired into salon.
''Most truly in act; but, alas, fear not in
leart."
'sIndeed"
''lL is too true, lady, that have seen and
o7el another; though my vow to you has
lept ME from saying so to her"
'And who is it that you love?'
81 will be frank with you, and you will
,eep my secret"
8 Most religiously"
1T is the Baroness Won Waldroff," he said
With sigh.
''And you really love herr"
''Alas, only too dearly" said the soldier,
adly.
''Nevertheless, must hold you to your
,romise. Here is the other half of the ring
an you produce its mate?"
''Here it is, said Eugene Merville.
"Then /, too, keep my promise, said the
omino, raising her mask, and showing to
lis astonished view the face of the Baroness
ION Waldroff. ii
She had seen and loved him for his manly