The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-09-23

adieu. lie was conducted away again
rs mysteriously us he had been brought
thitlcr, nor could he by any possible
| means discover where he had been, his
companion rejecting all brides. and
ever refusing 10 answer tho simplest
questions.
Months rolled on. Colonel Merville
| was true to his vow, and happy i'm the
| anticipation of love. Suddenly he was
ordered on IN embassy to Vienna, that
gayest of all European capitals, about
the time that NapoleoL was planning
to marry tho Archduchess Maria Lou
isa. The young colonel was handsome,
manly, and already distinguished in
| arms, and became mt once II great FL
vorite ut court, every effort being made
by the wOmcn Ia ~captivato him. but in
vain; he was constant and true to his
VOW.
But his heart was not made of stone;
the very fact that he had entertained
| such tender feelings for the white dem
inc had doubtless made him more sis-
| ccptible than before. At last he met
the young Baroness Caroline Waldorf,
and in spite If his vows she captivated
him. and he secretly cursed the engage
ment he had SO blindly made in Paris.
She seemed to wonder at what she be-
licvcd 10 he his devotion, and yet tho
distance that he maintained. The truth
| was. his sense of honor was SO great,
that although he felt he really loved
the young baroness. and even that she
returned his affection, still he had Civ
on his word. and il was sacred.
Tho satin domino was no longer the
ideal of his heart, but assumed tho
most repulsivo form in his imagination,
and became, In place Of his good
angel. his evil genius!
Well, time rolled on; he was to re-
turn in a few days; it was once more
the carnival season. and in Vienna. too,
that gay city. He joined in the festiv-
tiles Of the masked ball, and what Won
der filled his brain when about tho
middle of the evening the white DOM
inc stood before him, in the same white
satin dress he had seen her wear a year
before mt the French Opera House in
Paris. Was il not a fancy?
II come, Colonel Eugene Mervillc,
to hold you TO your PROMISE" she said,
laying a hand lightly upon his arm.
lis this reality or O dream?" asked
the amazed soldier.
Come. follow mo. and you shall see
that it is a reality" continued the
mask, pleasantly.
II will"
"Have you been faithful to your
promise?" asked tho domino, as they
retired to q n~cighboring saloon.
Most truly in act. but, alas! l fear
not in heart"
"Indccdr'
at is too true, lady. that I have seen
and loved another, though my vow to
you has kept me from saying so to
her."
"And who is this that you thus lOve?''
II will DO frank with you, and you
will keep my s~ecret?"
'Most ~religiously."
at is the Baroness Won Waldorf"
he said. with a sigh.
.And you really love herP"
"Alas, only too dearly" said the
soldier, sadly.
Nevertheless. I must hold you to
yOul DiOihitoOs Ia IL OtuCl a.
Of the ring; can you produce its mate?'
"IIere it is" said Eugene Merville.
"Thcn l, too. keep my promise!'said
the domino. raising her mask, and
showing to his astOnished view the
face of the Baroness Won Waldorf.
"Ah, it was the sympathy of true
love that attracted me, after ALI" ex-
claimed the young soldier, as he pressed
her to his heart.
She had seen and loved him for his
manly spirit and character, and, hav-
ing found by inquiry that he was wOr-
thy of her love, she had managed this
delicate intrigue, and had tested him,
| and now gave to him her wealth, title,
and every thing.
They were married with great pomp.
and accompanied tho archduchess to
Paris. Napoleon, to crown the happi-
ness of his favOrito, made Colonel
Eugene Melville at once General Of
Division.