Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-03-03
ii BY "Ned Buntline." 2

81 II Ueilna ) iaia3ar .saJil9EI
els this the point? Are you sure that the
beautiful stranger will pass here p
eyes Each day for = week past she has
Sanoped up this bride path, on the same
thorough bred horse, riding with fearless
grace. She IL besutiful in face. exquisite In
form. BY fair means or foul, I will possess
her, for my very soul is in chains since first
Get eyes upon her. have striven in vain to
learn who she Is Mounted as well Is the best
cavalier In the park, II sought to trace her
home. Three times observing that followed,
she has eluded me-her horse far outstripping
mine, and yet each day, / zee her here again
and look on some beauty l had not seen be-
The two who thus converscd,stood holding
their horses by the sidc Of one Of theromantic
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 &C
quaintance, If understand you, Frank ~ said
the elder of the two.
lido, and my plan is such that 1t cannot
fail. You observe that yagabond 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
and SEE Il executed at the .sameStime. Look !!
there she comes"
A sharp whistle from Frank Belphor caused
the vagabond boy to look alive, and rs lady
with tresses of dark brownhair, floating loose
" from beneath her jet-black riding hat, gall
loped up the narrow roadway on a magnificent
horse, the young wretch threw lighted fire.
works n thWpath. - e
The horse, terrified, bounded 10 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 direct
ly beneath the animal, the horse, wild with
alright, sprang forward, and dashed madly
toward point where deep chasnl yawned
before it.
!. g Heavcns!" cried Belphor, realizing the
young lady's peril, "she is going to her
death ~
She was almost on tho edge Of the chasm,
whena 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 q 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 a thousand times repaid by
the thought that Providence placed me where
I could prevent the sacrifice Of such marvel
GUS beauty. Pardon mel, soldier, reared
atar from courtly scenes, may be rude and
hasty in speech, but / would not be diseour-
teOus." aIs f3 tElG@ Iti
az know it, sir, and as I see1 strangers APP
proaching, 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 that Il 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 1t. @ 81
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--the proba-
Bile chance of a visiting acquaintance.
81 feared terrible acidcnt and rode hither
to endcayor 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. aass5 GtIs83I .I4
"Your bride is ready, and / think your
horse is now completely comfortable" said
the officer. "Permit me to assist you, and at
the same time to proher my card, with my
name and rank" ss g
"Gratcfully 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. 't8, ~ te !,
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, T.EBpfT
With dignity the lady declined his offer on
she ground that she did not need aid from
stranger, and preferred to ride alone.
Before he could say another word size was
far away on her spirited animal
Baffied, the angry gambler turned to the
officer, and demanded to see the card the lady
had given. n iaigs s8aS .wsT .dd9FN.
The demand was refused with thecontempt
n neerffed. rgRo1 msgi@ le y'co'H ss7ua
The foiled lihertine, swearing to have salts
faction, demanded the card Of the officer, who
quietly gave i to him With his address
aq% ~ sFBf NV
! q Mother have met Nh DESTINY ct last!'
1t was the mysterious cqucstrienne OF the
Central Park who spoke. .m
Beagtiful N On evening rssiige. With her
brown curling hair falling over full, sloping
het qnAcfly 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
sdn,iration as she ANSWERED. :sss Ia " M
"Your destiny, Anna? What do you
%, .bssbR ,sAss%a03n III
sThat have this day had strange adyen.a
sase, dear mother. have looked death
s4narely in the face, and had y not been for
the man whom term my destiny, you would
49,, T.. .l,;ldlaos will fall vo,, all nv oyd