Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-07-27

pointed out his shot-''two hundred and 6fty
yards is long rifle distance"
"Now, Mr.. Bruce" cried the Doctor, ''it is
your turn"
without taking any apparent aim, and sent the
bullet straight into the targets centre.
Bravo" cried Mr.. Howard. REALLY that
Is the best shot L ever witnessed -
DIR. Bell looked conf0unded then, as much
to conceal his astonishment as to prove by
closer inspection his rivals success. he started
on brisk walk for the target. A little ex-
cited, and still more vexed at having himself
outdone in the presence of the woman be loved
by the man he had intended to embarrass, DR..
Bell forgot to pick his way and suddenly
found himself in the bottom of a ditch, the
thick and shiny water of which penetrating
ms thin clothes and causing them to adhere to
him, rendered him, as he regained dry land
an object of mirth as we'll as pity Over
whelned with confusion, he neither heard the
expressions Of sympathy lavished upon him,
nor saw the polite effort to restrain the smiles
his appearance excited. Catching his hat from
the grass he beat precipitate retreat; cursing
inwardly the nature of the ground which of,
fered no friendly mound or kindly hollow to
conceal his ridiculous plight.
The accident put an end to the target-sboot-
ing, and the party strolled homeward DR.
Bell, In fresh attire, was the first to meet them,
and with assumed good humor led the laugh
at his first experience in ditching. Under
meath his light railery lay the bitterest resent
ment toward the innocent cause of his mishap,
and he determined, by series of petty annoy
ances, to have revenge.
Mr.. Ross, meanwhile, determined to have
his fate decided at once. He felt sangune; for
he was rich, dressed always in the height of
fashion, and could lisp soft nonsense in Iady's
ear by the hour. These were enough, he i'm
agined, to win any woman's heart
The evening was warm and rainy The
showers came down in that soft, hushing way,
which, In dreamy summer evenings seem like
lullaby sung by the clouds to hush the earth
to repose. The shrubbery was dripping, the
lawn was soaked, and Kate sat by the sitting
room window looking out into the darkness and
listening to the rain. She was reused from her
reyerie by the entrance of Mr.. Ross, who, after
a few preliminary remarks, informed Miss
Howard he was about going away. If he ex-
pected to see the young lady give the most ap-
proved start, and anxiOusly demand when and
why, he was sorely disappointed; for with the
most Indifferent expression of countenance,
she turned her face from the window and asked
quietly, In this rain?"
For moment Mr.. Ross was confused, but
only for moment. With the readiness of
shallow minds his at once regained its compo-
sure, and be formally proposed for her hand.
"You honor me too much, Mr.. Ross" was
the cool reply. 81 have looked upon you as
my fathers guest-as my lover, neyer!'
am astonished to hear you say So cried
the excited young gentleman. "Whst, then,
am l to understand by all those acts of kind
ness with which you have encouraged my suit,
Miss!'
"Simply that you are one of those young
men, sir, who contriye to turn the slightest act
Of courtesy or hospitality, on the part of a
woman, into a decided acknowled gment of
love. never gave you tho most distant en-
couragement; for, let me assure you, you are
one OF those friends young lady could not feel
pleased ever to remember as rejected lover"
MI Ross considered for q moment on this
rather equiyocsl remark, then exclaimed
Your manner has changed, Miss Howard,
since the arrival of this young jackanapes of a
lawyer. l see how it is. For my part, shall
remain no longer to be played off against such
foot / feel hurt-insulted. would like to
warn my friend, DR.. Bell, of his danger /; but
let him look out for himself. l bid you sdieu,
Miss. Maybe you will regret this hour yet
maybe"
Mr.. Ross seemed at a loss how to express him
self further. In spite of Kate's request for him
to remain until the rain was over, he seized hi.
hat declaring he would never exist FIVE min
utes under the roof with a woman who had
Tilted him; and bowling himself out backwards,
with an lronical air of politeness, he suddenly
found himself on the edge of the piazza-too
late to heed Kate's hurried warming, too late
to recover himself, and over he went, back
wards, falling distance of seven feet plump
into the loose soil of the flower beds below.
Kate rushed to the steps anxiously demand
ing if he was hurt. A strange vision Of man
of mud rose one instant to her view, answering
never word, and the next moment was lost to
sight. dilapidated beaver, and the impress
of mans figure in the soft soil, showed in the
morning, where he had been but he was seen
no more, and to Mr.. Howard alone was his
sudden disappearance satisfactorily explained
through Kate.
The next afternoon Kate's horse was brought
around for her usual ride, and turning TO Mr..
Bruce, she remarked, that if he would like to
accompany her, her fathers horse was at his
service. Mr.. Bruce stammered, hesitated-
then catching a malicious glance from Dr.
Bells eye, expressed his pleasure, and at once
went out with her, and mounting, they rode
slowly away.
TO BE CONTINUED.