Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-07-03
Miscellany.
THE SMUGGLER'S LEAP.

"OHi there's not in this wide world"
exclaimed, quite unintentionally quoting
Tom Moore; "therc never has been nor
can ever be again, so charming Il creature
No nymph, or sylph, or winged ariel, or
syren with song and mirror, was ever so
fascinating-no daughter Of Eve 50 pretty
and provokingn'
This apostrophe, which certainly ap-
pears, now that in cooler moments | recall
it, rather rhapsodical, was not uttered U5co
r0ce, nor even S0tt0 r0ce, seeing that its OBJ
iect, 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 perfectionS of the atOrc-
said Dora, who was assuredly the most
charming girl | had ever beheld. But for
the Pyrenean scenery around us, and the
rough, l-conditioned mule Oh which she
was mounted instead Of the Spanish ien-
net OF wcll-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
SCott'S somewhat etfeminate hero How
beautifully moulded was the form which
her dark, green habit set off to such adj
vantage how tairy-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 of some
cunning milliner, and had adopted head
dress not unusual N the country in which
she then was. This was a beret or flat
cap, woven of snow-whte wool, and sur
mounted by crimson taSsel spread out
over The top. From behind this elegant
coiffure her dark eyes flashed and spark
led, whilst her luXuriart 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
talns 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 a sword-bel
the ends hanging down nearly to the stir
rup; and thus gave something peculiarly
picturesque, almost iantastical, 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 rDermot, 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 tn the Pyrenees. M'Dermot was an
excellent fellow, neither a wit nor a Solo
mon; but 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
ceptble 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 e20,000
from her mother. She had passed two
seasons in London and if she was not
ai'ady married, it was because not one of
,Iie nifty aSpirants to her hand had found
ia.of IN her bright eyes. Lively and high
SP,Iiled, with slight turn for the satiri-
,., 5a,, she loved her independence, and was
uiIhcn}t to please.
had been absent from England for
"'%'Iy two years, on Continental tour;
M 3iI although | had heard much of Miss
Defmot, | had never seen her till her
.",Atf introduced me to her at St Sau-
''uI' | had not known her an hour before