Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-11-30

imported bow little taller than herself.
magnificent tning made of some pol
Sneu an half transparent materi u, and
boxes Of bowstrings from linda in rolls
and coils. and arrows Of all devices
knowni and she had become a line
ma'kswoman. and her example b .I b ,,n
followed I'LL archery pai ties were all the
fashion about Us.
hhph had been detained. and had not
arrived when il was time for the archery
that afternoon. .anI Stuart had been busy.
ing himself with the bows for one and
anoiher; and having given Anslico hers.
he ran down 10 make sure that the target
on The fence that bounded the grounds
there on the edge of the hill was all right.
10 that moment he NEST have seen who
was coming; for, as he ran back, he cried
out' "Cl lick. Miss Anstice They wait for
you to lead of QIlck I" and Anstice.
standing in position. drew her bowstring.
ana lust as was feably crying out from
the window, where could see il all, the
arrow was Wing, and Ralph's head was
appearing above the fence at the target
-kalph unaware that the archery had
begun. and saving time as usual. by
bounding over hedge in his agile way.
ihal instant she saw what she was doing.
too late TO help it. The arrow had left
The string. But probably that desperation
IN which she uuconsciously tossed her
bow upward detected from its course, for
though ii flew, it flew far on one side.
and struck Stuart, and he fell at the same
moment that Anstice threw herself on the
ground. hiding her lace. Halt OF the
throng in the garden. in less time than
you could teR it. were clustering round
Anstice, and hall of them round Stuart.
and Ralph had dropped instantaneously
from his dangerous perch, and was dash,
ing round the long way to the gate. But
III breath Anslice was on her feet again.
and running toward the other group She
never thought of Stuart Maynardier; her
mind was full OF the horrid thought that
she had killed Rllph, and she burst
through the people, seeing only form.
lace down, upon the ground; for DR..
Sterling and another person were bending
in such a manner that they rather hid the
head, and she had dung herself beside il,
calling ut "OA my darling, my darling!
Have | killed you? Oh, speak to me
speak to your own Anstice - And as she
spoke. Ralph was hurryinS down the
path. and saw and heard it all, and
stopped, slupetied. unable TO believe his
ears. and yet healing her address. these
words to Stuart Maynardier, seeing her
bend above him. and fall seuseless in
long. still swoon-a swoon that rapt her
in the great revulsion she had experienced
when she saw that it was Stuart whom
she had thus adured before the multi
tude.
Stuart had only been partially stunned
by the stroke of the arrow. not seriously.
and was already regaining his senses as
they lifted Anstice. He had heard her;
and | suppose the possibilities of the case
dashed upon him before be fairly opened
his eyes, for he sat up at once. rubbing
his head and smiling languidly. and then
drinking both of the water aud the wine
that were brought him; and almost
directly he was on his feet again stagger.
ing little. but Fastening 10 Anstice.
whom they were trying to recover with.
out taking her into the house And of
course they made way for him after what
they had heard, and he was kneeling be-
side her with her hand in his-for
mamma was in the marquee, and the two
girls and Aunt Maria were thunderstruck
and Notwithstanding over her as he
had never dared to bend, as he had never
had the chance TO approach her before,
and gently drawing of unseen the ring
she always wore-a curious ring of three
diamonds set so as to be strung like
beads on three wires, and make any de.
sign into which she chose TO move them, a
ring concerning which Anstice had once
said 10 Ralph. as she aiterward told me.
at was worn by my grandmother for
wedding.ring, and l shall give it to my
lover on the day he acknowledged me be.
fore the world"
1t was in less than FIVE minutes; and
Ralph would have been person OF super
human self control and discrimination If.
at all he saw and heard, he had not been
in a transport OF anger. He had stood
still in amazement. in spite of Anstice's
falling, for he WIS too far of to reach
her and now at the sight of Stuart bend
ing beside her he strobe toward mamma,
coming from the marquee.
"Wil you tell me what this means p
he cried hosrsely.
But mamma pushed past him without
hearing, and Anstice vas carried into the
house, and the pretty garden party broke
up in confusion.
And it was just under my window that
Ralph met Stuart, and repeated his de-
mand this time with an uplifted hand.
"Will you tell me what this means :"
Il should think it is very evident what
r. means - said Stuart. with a cool sneer.