Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-16
A WoNAN's WILD RIDE.
Fantastic Story of New York
Tribune Correspondent.
L. A

Frons the A'g maui.
public interest has lately been oentered
m that particular portion of the Austro-
russian frontier which will constitute
,bo basis of operations in war between
tbese two great empires. The boundary
lines in question are closely guarded oy
innumerable patrols of semi-savage Cos
cocks on the Russian side, and by squad
ans of lancers on that of Austria. The
snrroupding country is wild and sparsely
nonulated, and the life OF the officer des-
iRTnated for frontier duty is not without
certaiu amount of piquancy and adven-
mre. In August, 49,, my husbands
rogiment. the - Lancers, was ordered to
lave It's pleasant quarters at Vienna in
nrder TO perform it's term OF frontier duty.
only two of the married ladies, Princess
-. wife of the senior Major, and my
so1f were adventurous enough to &C
comDany the regiment; the remainder
nreferring life of ease in the capital to
he hardships ofmilitary life In miserable
POLISH villages. Our friends took leave of
ms as if we were marching off to the field
ofbattle, and after gracious farewell
audience of the Empress, who was 10th
n senarate herself for so long from one
NJ her fayOrite ladies in waiting, we lett
Vienna and few days later reached our
station on the borders of the steppe near
wbara a river ran. The country is fiat
and melancholy, with here and there
clnster OF stunted willow or birch trees,
and MANY stream OF running water
bnbbles through the tall grasses of the
niain. In winter the desOlatlon of the
Mace ia heartrendlng, and to remain for
eight months in the snow, badly protected
rom the elements as we were, was far
from being a chez. ing prospect. The
nearest RI tway station was nineteen
hours distant, and the only diversions we
had were hunting, IRVING aud riding.
When 1 arrived at my rev destination
Loo led rather disconsolately at the bare,
damu walls of the three peasant huts
which were allotted to me, and asked
myself how l could ever succeed in max
ipg such primitive place comfortable.
IncklIv had brought with me an ample
snnply OF Turkish rugs and draperIes,
and after having the bare eartn floors
covered with thick layer Of dry straw.
stretched the carpets over it. The
walls completely concealed with ORR
entail draperies and my pretty Viennese
furniture | arranged as best l could,
throwing piles of cushions on the ground,
and hanging curtains and pieces of tap
estry everywhere to keep out the draughts
which have but too fair play In these
wretched wooden constructions. My
drawing and dining rooms were in the
first hut, my bed rooms and dressing
room in the second, and the kitchen and
servants lodgings in the third. My
horses had to be quartered In the regi-
| mental stables.
During the whole of September and
October we hunted three times a week,
and was very proud OF being always he
| first in at the death and Of thus obtaining
. the foot or the brush.
One fine October day rode off alone on
. nv English mare, Wafer Nymph, intend
. Ing to have a gallop before dinner. Some
| how lost my way and gallOped unaware
over the Russian frontier-a thing that
bad been strictly forbidden to any of US.
was vending my way through the deep
grasses. lost in the enjoyment ofthe crisp.
bright air of the steppe and quite uucOn-
scious that l was miles from home and
on foreign ground, when suddenly /
heard the patteriDg of horses hOofs ana
toe biood-curdling whoop ofthe Cossacks.
| Turning in my saddle, | espIed about
fifty of these terrible Russian frontier
guards gailoping toward me, with their
lances glitteTing in the sun and their
horses names futterInR wildly in the
wind. In moment had set spurs to
my thoroughbred, and was speeding at
breakneck pace through the meadows,
pursued holly by the Cossacks. 1t would
have been no joke for me to be caught by
them, as, apart from being detained in
their camp till matters were explained
and could identify myself. the Cossacks
are savage race. capable of any misbe-
havior in a case like this one. All these
thoughts Mashed through my mind as
| flew along, urging my mare forward
with zest that the noble animal hardly
needed, for she seemed to understand the
TACT that for once she was being chased
instead of chasing, and covered the
ground with the swiltness of hunted
deer. Turning my head once more. L saw
that one of the Cossacks was getting close
10 me; In another moment his hand was
On my bride rein, and Water Nymph,
Standing on her hind legs, was making
frantic efforts to shake him off. L did
not hesitate, but gathering all my
strength l gave him one blow across the
eyes with the handle of my heavy hunt
ing whip, and, Keeling in his saddle, he
lell to the ground. sped along with the
now inturiated men at my heels, and just
as was going to be caught a second
llme | saw the river glittering like
SILVER band before my eyes. l knew then
mat was saved; my English mare, ex-
cited as she was by this mad race, would,
ielt nearly certain, clear at bound the
twenty feet OF shining water which sepa-
lateo me from AustrIa-a feat which the
Cossack horses, active but not trained,
could never accomplish. gathered my
hunter together, and as she rose In the
Ir shut my eyes, expecting to be
plunged with her into the torrents; but
no my noble horse landed me safely and
IKE bird on the other BANK, and heard
le sappointed yell Of my pursuers. l
turned IN my saddle and laughed at their
mscomnture, as they stood on the oppo-
slle side OF the water.
lew days aiterward we were invited
alne with Count P, one OF the richest
looles OF Poland. The Captain of the
ossack detachment stationed In the
eignoorhood was among the guests of
ue count, and In the midst of dinner he
peatoned my adventure, not dreaming
vat was the heroine. "Yes," said be,
my men were fairly staggered when
uey saw that pretty she-devll fly across
We river as IL endowed with wings; and
tnelr wounded c0mrade had not been
VI them proof OF her tangibillty, they
ould believe to their dying day that
ICY mad pursued a spirit. | myself
ould give much 10 know who this little
mp OF Satan was"
was the imp, Captain, ''saId I,quietly.
stared helplessly at me, as probably
young face, small figure, ana white,
sarl'em broidered gauze dress were not
udt ne had linked in his mind with his
va OF a daring Amazon, gallGping
one IN forbidden ground, and telling
ossacks to the earth with blow from her