Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-05-02

attuned by invisible hands for this meet
ing and this love. But for me, who have
CROPPED in earth's dryness and business,
l did not expect sudden publication for
the reception of the glorious guest.
had been at the isolated farm house
fortnight, and had seen very little of
Miss Clare. In the meantime, when |
sat at my reading or writing | OCCASION
ally heard the report of Il pistol from
somewhere back of the house. For
long time wondered what boy or young
man WAS practicinG shooting, or what
pigeons and Quails were suffering from
his expertness. At last, one morning,
as an inccssant "crack, crack" came UP
against my window, took my little re-
volvcr from its case and went out in
search of the marksman. The air was
cool and frosty and came against my
face with the very essence of winter III
it. Hurrying on to keep warm, came
upon Miss Clare, who was standing;
about dozen PAGES from target board
nailed upon a tree. When l came VI
she was standing with her face turned
from me, loading her pistol. She wore
short, loose, double breasted fur jacket
and fur cap. The cap did not become
her; her face was too proudly. coldly cut
for such half jaunty thing. took
out my own pistol and examined it,
while she asked me if was a good shot
Ordinary" answered.
"Well, let me Sec" she SAID, and stood
aside for me to take her place and shoot.
l did SO, and was sufficiently mortified
at seeing that my shot went so wide of
the mark as to emphasize MY remark
that was ordinarily skilled. However,
knew could do better and fired two
more charges, both of which went full
upon the eye Of the target.
THAT is a great deal better than
can do" remarked Miss Clare, stepping
up and firing with SO lutte appear
ance of taking aim that wondered her
bullet came SO near-within n quarter
Of an inch Of the mark. We practiced
for half an hour, and proved myself
more clever at the art than Miss Clare
[wished to offer myself as instructor and
companion, but the fear Of being re-
pulsed prevented me. might have dis.
pensed with that ,!i.iidence, for, when
We were returning To the house. she
asked:
"Initiate me into the mysteries, will
your"
"Of Eleusis?" inquired l, laughing and
wondering what she meant.
She replied with ready tongue:
mo; l have the insufficient key Of
Eschylus for that. mean want Mr..
Perrom to teach me to shoot"
you can shoot now"
You require explicitness, l see. I
want you to teach me how to hit the
mark when do shoot. Will your"
believe I concealed the exultation
which those words gave ME. only an
swcrcd:
with pleasure"
when shall We commence" she
asked.
Tomorrow" said
All day had tomorrow to which to
look forward. Iconfess to the childish
ness of thinking as often as once every
quarter hour that the next day was to
practice shooting with Miss Clare.
believe should not have had occasion
to accuse myself Of this had been any
where else than in this solitary place
where there were but few outside in.
fluences to intrude themselves upon me.
had seen but two carriages upon
the roao since my arrival there, and
after my morning gallop over long
stretches of brown field, had nothing
to do but read, write and think. Twas
often in the mood at that period of my
life, when, if I was idle for any length OF
time, my thoughts became as Grant AZ
ny material nature was slothful; they
would persist in wandering to that which
they liked best Now my emotions OF
my loused interest were the waymarks
all pointing to the path my thought.
should take-everything made me think
almost with n painful exclusivencss, Of
Miss Clare. had nearly reached my
thirtieth year, and could not lay to ex
treme youth concentration Of thought
which l had never before experienced in
regard to q woman.
A leaden flow of the blood through my
veins, hcavyathudding Of my temples
when l went to bed that night, gave
promise Of something beside an accurate
eye and true aim for the morning. Thu
next days sunlight, when it came In OF
my face through the window, fell will
cruel brightness upon eyes which hat
not slept through the night. felt tina
was either very i'll or was getting ready
to be so. was determined to rise ant
60 down stairs, however, and after re
peated failures at length succeeded il
dressing, and when had rested awhile
started for the stairway. How l eve
got down those stairs l never knew, bu
| tainted dead away at the bottom.
remember. when the first sensation O
faintness came upon me, that my min(
framed u curse that my mans strength
should have left me- Before l coult
shape my lips to utter tho imprccatiol
they were powerless =, do so. A sprink
ling Of water on my face and wet hant
on my forehead were the first sensation
Of returning consciousness. Before hat
power to open my eyes hoped the hant
was Miss Clare's. had dim idea tina
it was soft. and. consequently. must b
hers.
I opened my eyes, and In the dusky
light Of the passagcway I saw that Mis-
Clare was beside me.
1--WE shall not shoot this morning
shall we, Mr.. Perrom. since you are &
provoking as to be ill?' was tho first re
mark sho made. softly bathing my fore
head In the meantime.
perhaps we SHALL" said, within:
from her hand. This accursed faint
ness may pass away in little while"
Iground my teeth in q rage at my in
capability.
1.-THE sickness will hardly go away to
day, I think. Can you riser she asked
II think co."
made q cumbersome movement K
stand up, but should have failed il. tn,
effort had not Miss Clare taken my
hands and assisted me. III and half con
fused a. was, wildly felt the firm
warm clasp Of her slender fingers. Il
was the first time our hands had met
Conscious Of the present wish that they
might never more DO strangers, I said
family and earnestly:
II really hope, Miss Clare, that yor
are As sorry as that I cannot accom-
pany you this morning-and that is hop
ing . great deal"
I leaned against the lower part Of the
balusters, and looked through the dir
light at my companion. It seemed te
me that her naughty mouth was soft
ened somewhat her eves were les