Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-03-03
j BY "Ned Buntline."

= ffkft..tsfE {8tfFt .-ilst HttsF
els this the. point? Are you sure. that the
beautiful stranger win pass here = ,,...,..f
=" Eyes. Each day for . week past she has
eanoped up this bride path, on the same
thorough bred horse, riding With fearless
grace. She Is bsautiful in face. exquisite In
form. BY fair means or foul, will possess
her. for my very soul Is In chains since first
set eyes upon her. have striven in vain to
learn who she L. Mounted as well rs the best
cavalier In the park, Il sought to trace her
home. Three times observing that followed,
she has eluded me-her horse Gar outstripping.
mine, and yet, each day, / see her here again
and look on some beauty | had not seen be-
FORE" ~ go .-s.sssa'a i
The two who thus converted stood holding
their horses by the side Of one Of theromantic
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. I
"You mean to force yourself on her ac-
quaintance, If understand you, Frank ~ said
the elder of the two.
~ do, and my plan is such that 1t 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 plan
end SEE II executed at thcsameStime. Look
there she comes ~
A sharp whistle from Frank Belphor caused
the vagabond boy to look alive, and as lady
with tresses of dark rownhalr, floating loose
" from beneath her jet-black riding hat, gall
Hoped up the narrow roadway on magnificent
horse, the young wretch threw lighted fire
works u thepath. - ~
The horse, terrified, bounded TO one side, 80
quickly too, that it seemed scarcely possible
the beautiful rider could keep her seat-then
IA the Young villain cast another bunch direct
" beneath the animal, the horse, wild with
alright. sprang forward, and dashed madly
toward point where deep chasni yawned
before it. lsgv
" Heavens" cried Belph0r, realizing the
young lady's peril, "she is going to her
death ~ 4
She was almost on the edge of the chasm,
when a man in the military garb' an officer,
rose from the verge of the rock where he had
been reclining, seized the horse by the bit
with a giants strength and held lit rearing
on the very verge of the cliff, till the lady
slipped from the saddle and stood by his side.
81 owe you life, sir,' she said, in low,
tremulous tone. Lowe youa life, and shall
never forget it,"
+ "Fair lady, the service have had the hap
piness TO render is thousand times repaid by
the thought that Providence placed me where
/ could prevent the sacrifice of such marvel
GUS beauty. Pardon mel, soldier, reared
afar from courtly scenes, may be rude and
hasty in speech, but l would not be dlscour-
teous." 9tf ~ !3IU| Es
81 know it, sir, and as l seeI strangers ap-
proeching, 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 a more fitting ac-
acknowledgement thatYI appreciate your cour-
age 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--angcr the cause Of the
pallor, for, another had rendered the service
he had cdurted-another evidently received
tile encouragement he sighed for--tle proba-
BILE chance Of a visiting acquaintance. .
81 feared terrible accident and rode hither
to endcayor to avert it," he exclaimed. i.
"This gallant officer has nobiy preserved
me. and now renders the assistance OF stran-
gers unnecessary said the lady, with cold
dignity, ltA{B.l If3II 81
"Your bride is ready, and / think your
horse is now completely controllable," SAID
the officer. Permit me to assist you, and at
the same time to profer my card, with my
name and rank" .F.s .x.
sGratcfully 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 bis face
was ghastly in his effort to suppress the rage
which filed his breast i1s.t ~ bHa ..g' III
But he did not forget his intention to force
an acquaintance, ut all events and at all risks.
Suggesting that the ladys horse was not
vet under safe control, he asked permission to-
escort her as she roae on. T8.EI "a
With dignity the lady declined his offer on
yfe ground that she did not need MD from q
stranger, and preferred to ride alone. 4
Before he could say another word size was
far away ON her spirited animahJ
Baffied, the angry gambler turned to the
officer, and demanded TO see thu card the lady
had given. ~ fai3na3tdp2 ,w9T .d0Nt~H
The demand was refused with thecontempt
II rnerfted. r2He1 ms9tS - yfoa'9 ;s'4na 4.
The foiled lfbertnc, swearing to have salts
faction, demanded the card Of the officer, who
quietly gave II to him with his address.
.0g* ~ "a IN
z Mother have met me- DESTINY At last J"
1t was the mysterious equestrienne OF the
Central Park who spoke. - 80
Beautiful % On evening. regligea With her
brown curling hair falling over full, slopine
shoulders, bst qhecnny form half concealed
and half displayed in the loose robe she wore,
her dark eyes full OF enthusiasm, " was no
wonder the mother gazed ON her with proud
adniration is she Answered :S@s - ~ ta3
'sYour destiny, Anna? What do y2u
49, a., .Ia514 ssAsBat5t62 D|
THAT have this day had q strange adven.
turc,, dear mother. have. looked death
saHarsly in the face, and had IT not been for
the man whom I term my. destiny, you would
pow bo childless I will tell Won all by and