The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-02-25
ANOTHER
SHkDOWED ALTAR
BETROTHED, Welded, DIVORCED.
BY 'NED "

49, - ~ az an \ AAh4 ~ - oNN
her home. Three times observing that l fol-
lowed, she has eluded me-her horse outstTip
ping NINE, and yet, each day, l see her here
again and lock on some beauty l had not
seen before"
The two who thus conversed stood holding
their horses by the side Of one of the roman
tic bridle-paths in the Central Park. They
were fIsl-class gamblers, Lee 10 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 Understand you, FrsDk?' said
the elder If the two.
Il do, and my plan is such that it csnnot
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 beautllui
stranger approach, and you wiilread my plan
and zee it executed at the came time. Look!
there she cOmesl
A sharp whistle from Frank Belphor caused
the vagsbond boy to look alive, aud as a lady
with tresses of dark brown hair, floating
loosely from beneath her jet black riding hat,
galloped up The. narrow roadway on a magulh-
cent horse, the young wretch threw lighted
fireworks in the path.
The horse, terrified, bounded TO one side,
80 asskls+&OSs kbssibasSSHe3-soaEoel5 pes
slble the beautiful rider could keep her seat
then, as the young villain cast aEother
bunch directly beneath the animal, the horse.
Wild with alright, sprang forward, and dashed
msdly toward a point where q deep chasm
yswned beneath.
''Beavens P' cried Belphor, realizing the
young lady's peril, "sho is going to her
deathl'
She was almost on the edge of the chasm,
when a man in the military gaTb of an officer,
rose from the verge Of the rock where he had
been reclining, seizzd the horse by the bit
with a giants strength, and held it rearing
on the very verge of the elf, till the lady
had slipped from the saddle, and stood by his
side.
Il owe you a life, sir" she said, in a low,
tremulous tone, Il owe you life, and shall
never forget it."
"Fair lady, the service I have mad the hap
piness to render is a thousand times repaid
by the thought hat Providence placed me
where ! could prevent the sacrifice of such
marvellous beauty. Pardon mel, a soldier,
reared afar from courtley scenes, may be
rude and hasty in speech, but l v would not be
discouTteous."
81 know it, sir, and as 1 see 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 a more fitting SEX
n~Owledgment that l 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 1t.
His face was w~hite-snger the cause of the
paior, for another had rendered the service
he had cOurted-another evidently resolved
the encouragement he sgned fOr-the prob
able chance Of 8 visiting acquaintance.
81 feared q terrible accident and rode
hither to endeavOr to avert it, he exclaimed.
This gallant officer has nobly preserved
me, and now readers the assistance of stran-
gers unnecessary, said the lady, with cold
dignity.
your bride is ready, and 1 think your
horse is now completely comfortable" said
the officer. Permit me to assist You, and at
the same m to profer my caro-, with my
name and rank"
"Gratefully 1 accent both, and shall expect
an early cal" 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 HE effort TO suppress the rage
which filled his breast.
But he did not forget his intention to force
an acquaintance, at all events and as ali risks.
Suggesting that the lady's horse was not
vet under safe control, he asked permission
to escort her as she rode OF.
With dignity the lady declined his offer on
the ground tbst she did not need aid from a
stranger, snd preferred to ride alone.
Before he could say another word che was
far away on her spirited animal.
Bafled, the angry gambler Turned to the
t4-ASNA GAN ~ = II NaAA Ia
lady had given.
The demand was re fused with the contempt
it merited.
The fooled Ibertine, swearing to have salts
faction, demanded the card of the officer,
who quietly gave it to him, with his address.
''MotheT, 1 have met my destiny at lastl'
1t was the mysterious equestTienne of the
Central Park who smoke.
Beautiful in an evening neglige, with her
brown curling hair falling over full, sloping
shoulders, her queeniy form half concealed
and halt displayed in the loose robe she
wore, her dark eyes full of enthusiasm, it was
no wonder the mother gazsd en- her with
proud admiration as she answered:
"YOur destiny, Anna2 What do you
mean?"
'-ThatI have this day had a strange adj
venture, dear mother. l have looked death
squarely IN the face, and hadit not been for
lie man whom l term my destiny. YOU would
not be chlldless. 1 will tell you all by and
~, but this l will ray now: In him to whom l
ailude l have also found the first person in
whom my heart in its inner throbbings has
ever acknowledged an interest-the first
whose voice has fingered on my ears after he
"Anns, have you fallen in love, and with a
~stranger?"
81 am in love, I believe, mother, and with
one whom 1 never saw until to day. But he
IS nota stranger to me, to you, or to fame.
He Is an officer and a gentleman, one whose
services have been acknowledged BY deserv-
ed prom otion, and who has made his mark
with his pen as well as his sword!''
Ellis name, my daughter? 2"
"Colonel Edgar Mansfield, mother. Have
you not seen 1t in print 2"
"Yes, often; but tell me how, when and
where you met him."
Anna Marston gave an account of the dam
ger which she had escaped, and enthusiast
lically described the heroic conduct OF her
preserver.
Mother" she said, atthe close Of her mar
ration, Il looked down into his blue eyes
while l faltered between lie and death, and
IN their soulful depths I read my fate. In an
instant / we'd him with a love that will know
no change but in DEATH"
Gamma, my child, this is folly To give your
love before it is sought, is unmaidenly to say
the least"
Mother, it is the voice of nature, and who
shall still its pleadings? Til now / have been
as ice to all who have sought my smiles-till
now distrustful, 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 /
pray Heaven We may be happy!"
At later hour, when Mrs. Marston was
alone IN the d~rawing-room, a servant enter
ed snd said:
"Colonel Mansfield has called to zee Miss
Anna"
Request him to walk in and I will gladly
welcome HIM; then you NAV inform my
daughter of his arrival"
The Colonel entered, was received with a
courtesy, a grateful kindness, which made
that queenly matron nobly prepossessing il
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 M Marston, our he
rOine. As he rose, she glided forward, and
with hands extended to grasp his, ex-
claimed:
81 am so glad you have come so soon, that
my dear mother may with myself Join
in a renewal of grateful expressions for ="
"A service which fortune threw in my way,
and to which l hope my kind friend will make
no further illusions, for by the honor Of her
acquaintance l am more than rewarded. 1
hops you feel no evil effect from the startling
incident of the dayl"
None at all. And I can row explain to
you how it occurred"
The reader, who has noted all the incidents
of the plot laid by Belphor, needs 10 repeti-
ton of them here.
Colonel Mansfield listened, and with the
keen perception of a man of the world, read
the entire plot in all its dark details. And
while he rejoiced at its failure, he warned the
lady that bad linen seldom give uD a wicked
d an because fOiled at first. and that she