Connecticut western news., 1891-03-11
CUPID'S ARROWS.

She was good girl. but could not help knowing her power and using it. Her mamma was very anxious about her daughters future, as all good mammas should be.
 When a man is a commissioner and bachelor, and has the right of wearing open work jam tart jewels in gold and enamel on his clothes, and of going through door before every one except a member of council, lieutenant gov ernor or a viceroy, he is worth marry ing. At least that is what ladies say. There was a commissioner in Simla in those days who was and wore and did all l have said. He was plain man an ugly man-the ugGest man in Asia, with two exceptions. His was face to dream about, and try to carve on pipe head afterward. His name was Saggott gott-Anthony Barr-Saggott and six letters to follow. Department ally he was one of the best men the gov ernment of India owned; socially he was like blandishing gorilla.
 When he turned his attentions to Miss Beighton I believe that Mrs. Beighton wept with delight at the reward Provi- dence had sent her in her old age.
 MT. Beighton held his tongue. He was an easy going man.
 Now 8 commissioner is very rich. His pay is beyond the dreams of avarice-is so enormous that he can afford to save and scrape in way that would almost discredit member of council. Most commissioners are mean, but Barr-Sag- gott was an exception. He entertained royalty, he horsed himself well, he gave dances, he was power in the land, and he behaved as such.
 Consider that everything I am writ ing of took place in an almost pre-his- toric era in the history of British India. Some folk may remember the years be- fore lawn tennis was born, when we all played croquet. There were seasons be- fore that, if you will believe me, when even croquet had not been invented. and archery, which was revived in England in 1S44, was as great a pest as lawn ten his is now. People talked learnedly about '.holding" and ''loosing," ''steIes," ''refexed bows," "56-pound bows," backed" or "sef-yew bows" as we talk about rallies" ''volleys," ''smashes," returns" and "16-ounce rackets."
 Miss Beighton shot divinely over ladies' distance-sixty yards, that is and was acknowledged the best lady archer in Simla. Men called her s'Diana of Tara-Devi."
 Barr-Saggott paid her great attention; and, as I have said, the heart of her mother was upifted in consequence. Kitty Beighton took matters more calm ly. It was pleasant to be singled out by commissioner with letters after his name, and to fill the hearts of other girls with bad feelings. But there was no de- nying the fact that Barr-Saggott was phenomenally ugly, and all his attempts to adorn himself only made him more grotesque.
 He was not christened 1.-The Langur'' which means gray ape-for nothing It was pleasant. Kitty thought, to have him at her feet, but it was better to escape from him and ride with the graceless Cubbon-the man in a dragoon regiment at Umballa-the boy with a handsome face and no prospects. Kitty liked Cubbon more than little. He never pretended for moment that he was anything less than head over heels in love with her; for he was an honest boy. So Kitty fled now and again from the stately wooings of Barr-Saggott to the company of young Cubbon, and was scolded by her mamma in consequence But, mother" she said, MT. Saggoti is such-such ais so fearfully ugly, you now!"
 "My dear," said Mrs. Beighton pious ly, ''we cannot be other than an al r,,1iv Drou,Ionoo hoe sides, you will take precedence oi your own mother, you know. Think ot that and be reasonable"
 Then Kitty put up her little chin, anG said irreverent things about precedence and commissioners and matrimony. MT Beighton rubbed the top of his head, fol he was an easy going man.
 Late in the season, when he judged that tho time was ripe, Barr-Saggott de veloped plan which did great credit t, his administrative powers. He arranged an archery tournament for ladies, with most sumptuous diamond studded brace let as prize. He drew up his terms skill fully, and every one saw that the brace let was gift to Miss Beighton. the ac ceptance carrying with it the hand ant the heart of Commissioner Barr-Saggott The terms were St. Leonard's round thirty-six shots at sixty yards unde the rules of the Simla Toxophllte society
 All Simla was invited. There wer beautifully arranged tea tables unde the deodars at Annandale, where tn grand stand is now; and alone in it glory, winking in the sun. sat the dia mond bracelet in blue velvet case Miss Beighton was anHous-almost to anxious to compete. On the appointe afternoon all Simla: rode down to Ar mandate to wIr.i~ss Lac 1.,.o.IoAL Q Paris turned upside down. Kitty rod with young Cubbon. and it was easy t see that the boy was troubled in hi r1ind. He must be held innocent of ey erything that followed. Kitty was pal and nervous. and looked long at th bracelet Barr-Saggott was gorgeousl dressed, even more nervous than Kilt, and more hideous than ever.
 Mrs Beighton smiled condescendingl, as befitted the mother of 8 potenti, commissioners, and the shooting b gan, all the world standing semicirc @ the ladies came out one after u