Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-02-23
ny "NED RUNTLINE.u

tlNOTOuSU-DTeu nOE5ey WITH d ISdT1CsS
grace. She is beautiful in face, exquisite IN
| form. By fair means or foul, / viii possess
/ her, for my very soul is in chains since [ first
set eyes upon her. / have striven in vain to
learn who she is. Mounted as well as the
best cavalier in the park, sought to trace
! her hCme. Three times observing that l fol-
Lowed, she has eluded me-her horse outstrip-
lping mine, and yet, each day, see her here
again, and look on some beauty had not
seen before"
The two who thus cow rsed stood holding
their horses by the side of one of the roman
tic bridle-paths in the Central Park. They
were first class gamblers, Leslie Durant and
4 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 [ understand you, Frank" said
the elder of the two. t.as..zst q
Il 81 do, and my plan is such that it cannot
fail. You observe that Sagabond boy, smok-
ing cigar beneath the tree nearly opposite.
He smokes TO keep fire ready fer 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 che eomesi" # -Httt R--Fs -..-
+ A sharp whistle from Frank Belphor caused
the yagabond boy to look alive, and as a lady
with tresses of dark brown hair, floating
loosely from beneath her Jet black riding hat
galioped up the narrowroadway on magnifi-
+ cent horse, the young wretch threw lighted
7 fireworks in the path.
The horse, terrified, bounded to one side,
so quickly, too. that it seemed scarcely pos
sibie the beautiful rider could keep her seat
then, as the young villain cast another
bunch directly beneath the anims |, the horse,
wild with alright, sprang forward, and dashed
rnadly toward point where deep chasm
vawned beneath.
Heavens /" cried Belpner, realizing The
young lady's peril, "she is going to her
death ~
She was almost on the edge of the chasm,
when a manin 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 rearing
On the very verge of the cliff, till the lady
| had slipped from the saddle, and stood by his
/ side.
Il owe you q life, sir" she said, in low,
| tremulous tone, 81 owe you life, and shall
never forget it." So
''Fair lady, the service have had the hap
piness to render is thousand times repaid
| by the thought that Providence placed me
where l could prevent the sacrifice of such
marvellous beauty. Pardon mel, soldier.
reared afar from courtiy scenes, may be rude
and nasty in speech, but would not be dis
| courteous.
| 81 know it, sir, and as see strangers ap-
| prosching, will ask you to adjust my broken
| bride rem and to assist me to nav saddle
without their interference. This card with
my name and residence, will tell you where
to- cal and receive from me a more fitting
1 acknowledgement that | apr eciate your cour-
age and manly kindness. ls@ - g .
She handed him the card just as Frank
/ Belphor roue hastily up, and the latter saw
| the officer receive it.
! His face was white-anger the cause of the
palor, for another had rendered the service
he had courted-another evidently received
the encouragement he signed for the prob
| able chance of visiting acquaintance.
| Il feared terrible accident and rode
/ hither to endeavor to avert it," he exclaimed
-F'This gallant officer has molly preserved
me, and now renders the assistance of stran-
gers unnecessary" said the lady, with cold
dignity. -. 49,,
horse is now completely controlIable,' said
the officer. Permit me to assist you and at
the same time to profer my card, with my
name and rank"
Gratefully I 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 filed his breast. -
But he did not forget his intention TO
force an acquaintance, at all events and at all
risks. s..sE-..s - ~
/ Suggesting that the lady's horse was not
II Yet under safe control, he asked permission
to escort her ds she rode on.
With dignity the lady declined his offer on
the ground that che did not need aid from a
stranger, and preferred to ride alone
Before he could say another word she was
far away on her spirited animal.
/ Bdf1ed, the angry gambler turned to the
officer, and demanded to see the card thu
lady = given.
The demand was refused with the contempt
it merited. s~-~ Is --~-
The foiled libertine, swearing to have salts.
faction, demanded the caro- Of the officer
who quie tly gave tito him, with his address
|
t'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 halt conce aled
and half displayed in the loose robe she wore:
her dark eyes full Of enthusiasm it was po
| wonder the mother gaZed On her with proud
admiration as she answered.:
Your destiny, Annaf What do you
meanf'
''That1 have this day had strange adven-
ture, dear mother. I have looked death
squarely in the face, and had it not been for
the man whom term my destiny, you would
now be childless. 1 will tell You all by and
by, but this will say now In him to whom I
allude have also found the first person in
whom my heart in its inner thrnbbinqs ha
ever acknowledged an interest-the frat
whose voice has fingered on my ears after he
was out of sightl"
stranger?"
81 am in love, I believe, mother, and with
one Hhom never saw until to-day But he
Is not stranger to me, to you, or to fame
He is an officer and gentleman, one whose
services have been acknowledged bv de-
served promotion, and who has made his
mark with his pen as well as his swordIu
III name, my daug hter ?"
Colonel Edgar Mansfield, mother. Have
you not seen 1t IN print ??
Yes, often; but tell me how, when and
where you met him."
Anna Marston gave an account of the dan
ger which she had escaped, and enthusiastic
cally described the heroio conduct Of her pre-
server.
Mother" she said, at the close of her mar
ration, 81 looked down into his blue eyes
while faltered between life and death ar d
IN their soulful depths read nay fate In an
instant loved him with love that will know
no change bat in death"
anna, my child, this is follyl To give
your love before it is sought is unmaidenly
to say the least
Mother, 1t is she voice of nature and Who
tshall still its pleadings? Till now have been
/ aslce to all who have sought ny smIIes-til
now d'strustful, believing that the heiress
and not the woman, being wooed, should
ne'er be won. But it is over. He will come
to see me-he will wool shall accept. and l
pray Heaven We may be happy
At a late hour, when Mrs. Marston was
alone III the drawing-room, servant enter
ed and said: 10y :.
| "Colonsl Mansfield has called to see Miss
Anna" So s
Request him to walk ia and will gladly
welcome him; then you may INFORM nv
daughter of his arrival"
The Colonel entered, was received with q
courtesy, grateful Kindness, which made
that queenly malron nobly prepossessing in
his sight.
The conversation, Ringing much On the
service he had been so happy as to render
continued until the rustic of her dress an
nounced beautiful Anna Marston. our he
rome. As she rose, she glided forward, and
WIN hands extended to grasp his, exclaimed:
Il am so glad you have come so soon. that
my dear mother may with myself join in
renewal OF grateful expressions for -"
"A service which fortune threw in nv wav.
and to which | hope, my kind friends viii
make no further illusions, for by the honor
lftT ia oIxNta