The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-02-24
sHADowED ALTAR.
Betrothed, Welded, Divorced.
By Ned Buntline."

gall0ped up this bride path, on the same /
Thoroughbred horse, riding with a fearless |
grace. She is beautiful in face, exquisite in |
form. BY fair means or foul, l will possess |
her, for my very soul is in chains since / first |
set eyes upon her. l have striven in vain to |
learn who she is Mounted as well as the best |
cavalier in the park, l 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.n
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
first-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 l understand you, Frank ~ said
the elder of the two.
81 do, and my plan is such that it cannot
fail. You observe that vagabond boy, smok-
ing a 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
and see it executed at the same time. Look
there she comes ~
A sharp whistle from Frank Belphor caused
the vagabond boy to look alive, and as a lady
with tresses of dark brown hair, floating
loosely from beneath her jet black riding hat,
galloped up the narrow roadway on magnif-
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 Il point where deep chasm
yawned before it.
"Heavensr 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,
rOssN from the verge of the rock where he
had been reclining, seized the horse by the
bit with giants strength, and held it rear
inc on the very verge of the cliff, till the lady
slipped from the saddle and stood by his side
Il owe you life, sir" she said, in a low,
tremulous tone. 81 owe you life, and
shall never forget it."
Fair lady, the service l 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 marvellous
beauty. Pardon mel, soldier, reared afar
| from courtly scenes, may be rude and hasty
in speech, but | would not be discourteous"
~ know it, sir, and l strangers APP
| 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-
cdgment 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 whte-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 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 L 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
ard rank"
4" Gratefully 1 accept both, and shall expect
an early call" she said, as the officer lifted
her to the saddle.
no har 50
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 OF
the ground that she did not need aid from q
stranger, and preferred to ride alone.
Before ne could say another word she wa.
far away on her spirited animal.
Baffled, the angry gambler turned to The
officer and demanded to see the card the lady
had given.
The demand was refused with the contempt
it merted.
, The foiled libertine, swearing to have salts
faction, demanded the card Oft the officer, wh(
quietly gave it to him with his address.
"Mother, have met MY DESTINY at lastn
1t was the mysterious equestricnne of The
Central Park who spoke.
Beautiful in an evening neglige, with he
brown curling hair falling over full, slopins
> shoulders, her queenly form half concealed
= and half displayed in the loose robe she wore
, her dark eyes full of enthusiasm, it was NJ
wonder the mother gazed on her with PROUD
admiration as she answered.
"Your destiny, Anna? What do yOl
mean?"
"That have this day had a strange adven
ture, dear mother. / have looked dealt
squarely in the face, and had it not been TO
the man whom term my destiny, you woul,
now be childlcss. / will tell you all by an,
by, but this i will say now: In him to whom
allude have also found the first person il
Y whom my heart in its inner throbbings ha
, ever acknowledged an interest-the frs
r whose voice has fingered on my ears after h
4 was out of sight!'
Gamma, have you fallen in love, and with
strangery
Il am in love, believe, mother, and witt
|, one whom / never saw until to-day. But n
is not stranger to me, to you, or to fame
He is an officer and gentleman, one who's
/ services have been acknowledged by deserve,
promotion, and who has made his mark witt
his pen as well as his swordf'
Ellis name, my daughter"
"Colonel Edgar Mansfield, mother. Hav
, you not seen it in printg'
, eyes, often but tell me how, when an,
where you met him."
Anna Marston gave an account of the dan
gcr which she had escaped and enthusiastic