Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1881-12-03

TO the end oi the earth, if it will
bring Inc to lte."
But you mus: bs blindfoldea.
"Very welt"
Step into this vehicle
Il am at Your command.
And away ratified the young soldier
and his strange companion.
This may he a trick. . reasoned Eug-
enc Merville; ''but have no fear OF
personal violence. T am armed with |
this trust.r sabre, aud can take care of |;
myself"
But there was no cause for fear. since |
he soon found the vehicle stopped. and |
he was led bliudfolded into a house. |
When the baudage was removed from |
his eyes, lie found himself in a richly |
furnished boudoir, and before hlm stood !
the domino Just as he had met her, at
the masked ball 70 fall upon his
knees, and tell her how much he had
thought OF her since their separation,
that his thought, had never left her,
that he loved her levotedly, was as ma
tural as TO breathe. and he did 80 most
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, unlocse y2nr
~
more to say.
Talk on forever, lady! Your voice
is music to my heart and ears. :
"Would yon marry me, knowing no
more OF me than you now do?''
eyes, it you We're to go to the very
altar maskedl' he replied.
Then l will test vou.,.'
How, ladv?''
"For one year be faithful to the love
as truly as Heaven shall spare my
life
80, cruel, cruel s,spense!'
"You demrn?''
/ Nay lucy; shall fulfil you ,njunc-
] ton rs | have promised.
! '1f at the expiration OF year you
!, do not hear from me, the contract
i shall be null and void. Take this half
+. ring" she continued. land when I
supply the broken portion l will he
yours.
He kissed the little emblem, swore
again and again to be faithful, and, pres
sing her hand to his lips, bade her adieu
teriously as he had been brought thith-
er, nor could be by any possible means
discover where he had been, his COM
panion rejecting all bribes, and even
refusing 10 answer the simplest ques-
tons.
Months rolled on. Colonel Merville
was true to hi. vow, and happy in the
anticipation of love. Suddenly he was
ordered on IN embassy to Vienna, that
gaycst of all European capitals, about
the time that Napoleon was planning
to marry the Archdnchess Maria Loui
50. The Young colonel was handsome
manly, and already distinguished il
arms, and became at once a great favo
ute at court, every effolt b eing made b,
the women to captivate bin, out il
vain; he was constant and true To hi
vow
| But his heart was not made of stone
the very fact that he had entertaine,
such tender feelings for the white dom
mo had doubtless made him more sus
ceptible than before. At last he me
the Young Baroness Caroline Waldorf
|, and in spit. of his vows she laptiv ate.
him, and he secretly cursed the engage
: ment he had 50 hlintily made In Paris
g She seemed to wonder at what she be
: lieved to be his devotion. ana vet til
i distance that he maintained Ti1f trlt
;, was, his scrse Of honor was 50 great
!, that although. i lit he really love
i the Young baroness, aud even that sh
returned his Affection, still he had give
> his Word. aud it was sacred
!. The satin domino was no longer th
q ideal Of his heart. but assumed the mo:
Is repulsive form IN his Imagination. an
became. i'll place OF his good angel. h
:, evil genius
er Well, time rolled on he WAS 10 retul
k in few davs: it wa, once more the ca
n nival season, aud III Vienna. too. thi
10 gay city. He Joined in the festivities
the masked hall, anu wha, wonder file
ae his brain when abou. the middle OF Il
W evening the white domino stood hefol
er him. ID the same white satin dress
IS had seen her wear year before a. I.
NJ French Oper, House ,n2Psris. Was
lie no, fancy:
IL II come. Colorel Eugene Mervlle,
lis hold you 10 your promise. sue said la
be ing hand lightly upon his arm.
is this reality or dream asked u
on amazed soldier.