Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-07-10
THE SMUGGLER'S LEAP.

"OH! there's not in this wide world" /
exclaimed, quite unintentiOnally quoting
Tom Moore; "there never has been, nor
can ever be again, so charming creature.
No nymph, or sylph, or winged ariel, or
syren with song and mirror, was ever SO
fascinating-no daughter of Eve so pretty
and provokingw
This apostrophe, which certainly APP
pears, now that in cooler moments recall
it, rather rhapsodical, was not uttered UioO
Uoce, nor even sotto D0ce, seeing that its OBJ
ject, Miss Dora M'Dermot, was riding
along only three PAGES in front of me,
whilst her brother walked by my side.
1t was mere mental ejaculation, ELECTED
by the surprising projections of the afore-
said Dora, who was assuredly the most
charming girl | had ever beheld. But for
the Pyrenean scenery around us, and the
rough, ill-conditioned mule on which she
was mounted, instead Of the Spanish jen-
net of well-bred English palfry that would
best have suited so fair an equestrian, |
could, without any great exertion of fancy,
have dreamed myself back to the days of
the M'Gregor, and fancied that it was Di
Vernon riding up the mOuntain-side, gaily
chatting as she went with the handsome
cavalier who walked by her stirrup, and
who might have been Frank Osbaldistone,
only that he was too manipulating for
SCOTS somewhat efieminate hero. How
beautifully moulded was the form which
her dark, green habit set off to such adj
vantage how fairy-like the foot that press
ed the clumsy stirrup; how slender the
fingers that grasped the rein! She had
discarded the riding-hat and senseless
bonnet, those graceless inventions ofsome
cunning milliner, and had adopted a head
dress not unusual in the country in which
she then was. This was a beret or fiat
cap, woven of snOw-white wool, and sur
mounted by crimson tassel spread out
over the top. From behind this elegant
couture her dark eyes flashed and spark
led, whilst her luxuriant chestnut curls
fell down on her neck, the alabaster fair
ness of which made her white head-dress
look almost tawny. Either because the
air although we were still in the month
of September) was fresh upon the noun
tains or else because she was pretty and a
woman, and therefore not sorry to show
herself to the best advantage, she had
twisted around her waist very long cash
mere scarf, previously passing it over one
shoulder in the manner Of sword-belt,
the ends hanging down nearly to the stir
rup; and this gave something peculiarly
picturesque, almost fantastical, to her
whole appearance
Upon the second day of my arrival at
the baths of st. Sauveur, IN the Pyrenees,
had fallen in with my old friend and
college chum, Jack M'Dermot, who was
taking his sister the round of the French
watering places. Dora's health had been
delicate, the faculty had recommended the
excursion, and Jack, who dotted upon his
only sister, had dragged her away from
the gayeties Of London and brought her
off to the Pyrenees. M'Dermot was an
excellent fellow, neither wit nor Solo
mon; but a good.hearted dog who had
been much liked at Trinity College, Dub.
lin, where he had thought very little of his
studies, and a good deal of his horses and
dogs. An Irishman, to be sure, occasion.
ally slight touch Of the brogue was per.
ceptible in his talk; but from this his sis.
ter, who had been brought up in England
was entirely free. Jack had snug estate
Of 5000 year; Miss Dora had 100000
from her mother. She had passed two
seasons in London and if she was not
already married, it was because not on col
the fifty aspirants to her hand had found
favor in her bright eyes. Lively and high.
spirited, with slight turn for the satiri
cal, she loved her independence, and was
difficult to please.
had been absent from England for
nearly two years, on Continental tour;
and although had heard much Of Miss
M'Dermot, had never seen her till her
brother introduced me to her at st. Sau
yeur. had not known her an hour before
found myself in fair way to add another
TO the list of the poor moths who had
slnged their wings in the perilous light OF
her beauty. When misunderstanding
that like themselves, was on desultory