Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1870-03-04
Betrothed, Welded, Divorced.
By " Ned Buntline."

her, for my very soul is in chains since l first
set eyes upon her. have striven in vain to
learn who she is. Mounted as well as the best
cavalier in the park, 1 sought to trace her
home. Three times observing that followed,
she has eluded me-her horse far outstripping
mine, and yet each day, see her here again
and look on some beauty had not seen be-
fore.'
| The two who thus conversed stood holding
their horses by the side of one of the romantic
bridle-paths in the Central Park. They were
! frst-class gamblers, Leslie Durant and Frank
| Belphor by name, partners in one of the great
gaming palaces of the city.
| "You mean to force yourself on her ac
quaintance, if 1 understand you, Frank ?" said
the elder of the two.
| 81 dc, and my plan is such that it cannot
| fail You observe that vagabond boy, smok
ing cigar beneath the tree nearly opposite
He smokes to keep fire ready for use. Watch
his motion and mine, as you see the beautiful
stranger approach, and you will read my plar
and see it executed at the same time. Look
there she comes !" St {5}tt
| A sharp whistle from Frank Belphor caused
the vagabond boy to look alive, and as lady
with tresses of dark brown hair, hoating
| loosely from beneath her jet black riding hat,
| galloped up the narrow roadway on magnifi-
cent horse, the young wretch threw lighted
! fireworks in the path.
| The horse, terrified, bounded to one side, so
quickly too, that it seemed scarcely possible
the. beautiful rider could keep her seat-then
as the young villain cast another bunch di-
rectly beneath the animal, the horse, wild
| with alright, sprang forward, and dashed
madly toward point where deep chasm
| yawned before it.
| "Heavens !" cried Belphor, realizing the
young lady's peril, "she is going to her
| death %
| She was almost on the edge of the chasm,
| when a man in the military garb of an officer,
rose from the verge of the rock where he
! had been reclining, seized the horse by the
| bit with giants strength, and held it rear
ing on the very verge Of the cliff, till the lady
slipped from the saddle and stood by his side.
| 81 owe you a life, sir,'' she said, in low,
tremulous tone. 81 owe you life, and
shall never forget it.''
"Fair lady, the service have had the hap
| piness to render is a thousand times repaid by
| the thought that Providence placed me where
1 could prevent the sacrifice of such marvellous
beauty. Pardon mel, soldier, reared afar
from courtly scenes, may be rude and hasty
in speech, but 1 would not be discourteous"
81 know it, sir, and as I see strangers ap-
preaching, will ask you to adjust my broken
bride rein, and to assist me to my saddle
without their interference This card, with
my name and residence, will tell you where to
call to receive from me more fitting acknowl-
edgment that appreciate your courage and
manly kindness"
| She handed him the card just as Frank Bel
phor rode hastily up, and the latter saw the
officer receive it.
His face was white-anger the cause of the
pallor, for another had rendered the service
| he had courted-another evidently re-
ceived the encouragement he sighed for-the
! probable chance Of a visiting acquaintance.
| 81 feared a terrible accident and rode
hither to endeavor to avert it." he exclaimed.
| "This gallant officer has nobly preserved
| me- and now renders the assistance of stran-
gers unnecessary" said the lady, with cold
| dignity.
"Your bride is ready, and I think your
horse is now completely controllable," said
the officer "Permit me to assist you, and at
the same time proffer my card with my name
and rank
Gratefully 1 accept both, and shall expect
an early CALL" she said as the officer lifted
her to the saddle.
The gambler heard her words. and saw
the look which accompanied them, and his
face was CHASTITY in his effort to suppress the
rage which filled his breast.
| But he did not forget his intention to force
an acquaintance, at all events and at all risks.
| Suggesting that the lady's horse was not
yet under safe control, he asked permission to
escort her as she rode On. ,
With dignity the lady declined his offer on
the ground that she did notneed aid frsm
stranger, and preferred to ride alone.
| Before he could say another word she was
far away on her spirited animal.
Baff1ed, the angry gambler turned to the
officer and demanded to see the card the lady
had gwen. a s
The demand was refused with the contempt
it merited. +! 1,tttL tIi- at
The foiled libertine, swearing to have salts
faction, demanded the card ofthe officer, who
quietly gave it to him with his address.
"Mother, have met MY DESTINY at last!"
1t was the mysterious equestrienne of the
Central Park who spoke.
Beautiful in an evening neglige, with her
brown curling hair falling over full, sloping
shoulders, her queenly form half concealed
and half displayed in the loose robe she wore,
her dark eyes full of enthusiasm, it was no
wonder the mother gazed on her with proud
admiration as she answered:
"Your destiny, Anna? What do you
mean?" H
"That have this day had a strange adven-
ture, dear mother. / have looked death
squarely in the face, and had it not been for
the man whom term my destiny, you would
now be childless. / will tell you all by and
by, bit this will say now In him to whom
allude have also found the first person in
whom Icy heart in its inner throbbings has
ever acknowledged an interest-the first
whose voice has fingered on my ears after he
was out of sightl"
Anna, have you fallen in love, and with a
stranger?' '
81 am in love, / believe, mother, and with
one whom never saw until to-day. But he
is not a stranger to me, to you, or to fame.
He is an officer and gentleman, one whose
services have been acknowledged by deserved
promotion, and who has made his mark with
his pen as well as his sword! ~
ellis name, my daughter"
Colonel Edgar Mansfield, mother. Have