The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-05-20

he was IN ade quite at home amongst them
and they found that be was as much ac
complished in dancing as be was in music
and art No gentleman of all their se
was SO easy and so graceful.
Else was a very fine dancer, and to her
he paid very particular attention. To
getber they glided through the slow and
graceful waltz. through the rapid and ex
hilerating polka, and many was the deli.
cate and tender compliment which he
looked and spoke during the evening.
IL heart she had when she retired that
night, she felt that she had given it tc
the elegant and gifted stranger. And
more than one other lovely girl beneath
that roof lay long awake, thinking of him,
and asking the oft repeated question
"Who, or what is bel"
On the next morning after breakfast,
the stranger, who still took his meals in his
room, made his appearance in the shoot.
ing gallery-at that hour favorite re.
sort for the guests of both sexes. He
quietly watched the shooting for some
time, and then was invited to try his skill
The target at which they were shooting
was as large as 6 oshen cheese. He took a
quarter eagle from bis pocket and placed
it on top of the target on its edge. He
took pistol, turned bis back to the mark;
then suddenly wheeled and fixed with the
quickness Of thought. His bullet struck
the little piece of gold, and sent it
flying to the other end of the gallery.
"Perhaps the Cavalier fences!' said
the gentleman who had first acted as in-
terpreter, and who, having been favor
ite pupil of the celebrated Roset, prided
himself upon his skill with the sword,
The stranger bowed, and willingly
consented to q trial. The foils were
brought, positions taken, the salute en- pa
rade handsomely given, and the southern
gentleman began with fayorite feint
and lupge.
10 second bis foil was thrown twenty
feet behind him. Aud it was done with
SO little apparent effort that he seemed to
have been disarmed by magic.
He picked up his weapon and again
crossed with the stranger; now, however,
standing upon the defensive. Quicker
than lightning flashes from the bursting
thunder cloud, now came thrust upon
thrust. touching him at every point, carte
over and under the arm, tierce, second,
octave, until he scarcely knew what he
was about, until at last, with a sudden
wrench. his foil was thrown high up in
air. As it escended, the stranger caught
it, and politely presented it to him, not
having yet received single touch.
The Southcrner acknowledged bis mas
ter, and thenceforth the stranger was as
popular with the gentlemen as with the
ladies. That day by especial request, he
dined at the table d hOte, and though no
one knew his name, which he would not
give without he had done so ip confidence
to the landlord, the table before and a.
round him was crowded with glasses, for
every one sought "tbe honor of glass OF
wine" with him.
After dinner, riding parties were form
ed as usual, and the stranger, having pro-
cured very spirited and almost untam-
able horse from the Major, which no one
else dared to ride, sprang into the saddle.
In vain did the wild steed try to uuseat
bis fearless rider. Firm, cool. strong Of
arm, and as graceful as if be had been
born and bred in the saddle, be forced
the animal down to its PAGES, and soon
had it as much under command as the
best tanned animal on the ground.
And again as the gay party galloped
through the shadowy avenues, over the
green hill sides, and along BY the margin
of bright and swift rushing stream, he
sought the side of Elsie C, who was
a graceful and daring rider. And again
his loud voice rung in her ears. remind
ing her of something which che had heard
before, yet she could not bring hcr mem.
ory to localize it. a
Upon a smooth and level road which
led for couple of miles along pretty
valley, through which murmuring
stream meaDdered, race was proposed,
and at the word, the whole party, some
twenty 10 number, started off at full
speed--the ladies out of courtesy being
allowed the advance. The horses were
all of choice blood, aud sped away like
the wind. Of the ladies, Elsie was by
far the best m ounted, and her horse was
only equalled by the wild fresh steed oI
the stranger. @ =
As the latter reached her side, Low
scream broke from her lips, for at that
moment the light suaffie bit in her horses
mouth snapped in the centre, and the
rains coming home in her hand, told her
that she had lost all power over the ami
NAL Keeping bis horse close by the
side of her ungovernable steed, the stran-
ger still speaking in French, and as cool
as if ho were in the ballroom yet, told
her to be calm and disengage her foot
from the stirup, and to clear her dress
from the horn of the saddle. Danger
aye, death itself, was close before her. for
only few hundred yards in front, the
road made a sudden elbow to the left on