Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-30
THE SPECTRAL RIDER.

the spOrtsweu were standing IN groups.
Among these were two officers of the
army.
DO you really intend to let DEVILS
Daughter take part, Poseneck:" asked
@Undoubtedly; she has the best
chance"
But who viii you get to ride the mare:''
Il shall find some one; if not shall ride
hcr myself'
Iii your cousin ArRO would ride her
there might be a chance Of winning; but
as he is engaged to be married his af-
iauced probably will not allow it; and she
cannot be blamed for doing so, for on that
horse one risks breaking his neck
The steepiechase rider spoken OF, ArnO
son Hohenstein- was present, and there
fore Kurt Won POseneck hoped to gain his
aid. for be knew how passlonately fond
his cousin was Of this sport.
He found him, accompanied by his in
tended and his future father-in-laW.
II suppose it erieyes YOU not to take
part to-day" said POseueck, and. turning
t9 the young lady. he added: You may
feel BATTERED that he intends to give il up
for your sake
II suppose we now viii try to get seats,
Tor soon all viii Toe taken,' SAID ArnO,
with a sigh.
While he led the way Poseneck whis-
fCred to the young lady:
slave YOU not word of comfort for
me- EictOriueE'
Unseen by others She slipped n little
note into KuTts hands. He escaped as
soon MS possible to read it undisturbed.
It contained the following words:
Forgive me; I was forced TO comply
Hith the wish of my parents; my entTea-
ties tears. circumstances were in vain:
therefore l am the affianced of ArnO Won
HOhenstein. / am lost TO you forever, but
shall never forget yOu.'
POseueck's lowering glance rested upon
the woman he loved, the attianced of an
other. There she stood, a stately figure,
with clear dark complexion and lustre
black eyes. beside the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ing blonde, her future husband. At that
moment POseneck vowed that it should
not be.
Shortly before the steeplechase began
lie appeared i'm the paddock, accompanied
by ATnO. Notwithstanding the opposition
if VictOrine's father he had succeeded in
persuading him TO ride the mare. Vic
torine had greatly influenced his de-
cisiOn, for when POseneck whispered TO
her TO assist him she without hesitation
did so.
Il was a beautiful sight when the
eleven horsemen who were to take part
i'm the races took their positions. Devils
AFttl 7LltN4 iUh NAAlAs ucA h-UA wv IL AlOA-
oughbred mare, under HOhenstein's gui-
dance, attracted all attention. The more
restless she was the more composed and
lmm0Vable sat her rider. As NictOrine
heard the admirins Explanations she felt
for che first time a certain interest in her
future husband.
She was reused from her thoughts by
POeenccE's voice saying rather irOnical
ly.
You are looking at your intended with
great interest" and as she looked up he
continued, lowering his voice: you shall
he mine,' and to himself he murmured,
This decides his fate"
y.ctorine cast a frightened glance ut
the tall, commanding figure of POseneck,
- he slowly moved on. What could he
meant Death and destruction to the un-
fortunate HOhenstein? She knew that
TWO years before POseneCk had killed in a
duel the Count of PruckwitZ, a sutton of
hers, who was favored by her relatives.
When he returned from the fortress, where
he had been confined for several months,
he found her still true to him. But her
passionate love was now mingled with ad-
miriHg awe. His demOniacal and authOrI-
tatiye manner, instead of repelling her, at
lvacted her and ruled her entirely.
Kurt Won POseneck combined an ImpOs-
ing and distinguished appearance with
the most agreeable social qualities. He
also had won the reputation OF being
reckless and daring on the battlefield. All
this made aim a general faYOrite with the
ladies'.
lie had easily won VictOrine's love. But
her parents wished another husband for
their daughter; for they thought the
dashing young officer was not the man to
make her happy. So Poseneck's offer was
declined. But being assured of NictOrine's
affection, he did not give up his hopes.
He succeeded in Keeping up a secret cor
Fespondence with Ter, which was only dis
continued when VictOrine, forced bY her
parents, was betrOthed to ArnO Won HO-
henstein. POseneck's iage and grief at
this was extreme; but with the self-cOm-
mand peculiar to him, he controlled his
feelings.
Under these circumstances Yictorine
also suffered ineXpressible anguish. The
1iHanced of one whom she did not love.
cherishlng love for another, wavering be-
tween duty and affection, carried away
by her passiOns-she wrote that note
which she nad given POseneck.
The race began, and all but HOhen-
stein dashed on; he purpOsely kept back
only 10 give the mare the rein afterwards.
First they went over the water iump.
Then came stone wall, one of the most
dangerous obstacles. At this place Pose
neck had taken position to
await Devils Daughter The mare
came on. ArnO was already
prepared for the leap when POseneck ut
tered peculiar hOarse cry. The noble
animal, startled stopped, and the rider
was thrown forward. his head striking
against the wall.
The next moment POseneck knelt be-
side corpse. As he saw the fixed.
CLASSY look Of the dead mans eve he
shiyered with horror. The violence OF
his passion for NictOrine had led him to
commit deed which resembled a cow
ardiy assassination. That moment was
impressed on his memory never to be for
gotten
The accident had been seen from the
stand, and the spectators hurriedly ap-
preached. POseneck went to break the
news TO NictOrine and her father. But
ne only said that he was seriously hurt;
that BE was dead he did not dare to tell
them.
The POOR, dear boy"' exclaimed the
9ic Gentleman. when l saw him thrown
I immediately thought something ser Gus /
Aad happened. l must see him. Count /
son foseneck, please conduct my daught- /
or 60 her carriage"
ao buried away and left the two
alone. " It'll lndiscribable anguish Vie (
lorine read the terrible ruth in his pale
face.
Nc - ucaus Sne gaSped, and as his .
looks affirmed it, she continued: - am
10 blame-I persuaded him to take part"
1t was who caused his death. / did il
nut Of love for you. L have not only loved
YOU more than my life, but more than my
honor, my conscience. The price paid to
vi ; on was fearful; but mine you shall
be-
Did Aict0rine surmise the truth? She
seemed as il petrifed; she dared not
think. Her love Outweighed her loath-
iHg.
You dare not reject me- he con-
snEed, passi0nately. You are mine,
body and soul. l would be driven to de-
SPAR If 1 did not possess your IOve-the
only ray OF light in the darkness that sur
rounds me-"
" no could describe Victorine's feel
.ngss Could she overcome her horror or
I'd this terrible proof of his passion kin
lie her love:
Two years have passed since Arno Won
lo1enstein has been numbered with the
lead. rev remembered him. His parents
be had lost when boy. The comrades