The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-16

pretended for a moment that he vas any,
thing less than head over heels in love
With her. for he was an honest boy. So
Kitty fled now and again from the state
ly wooings Of Barr-Sagsott TO the COM
pany of young Cubbon and was scolded
by her mamma in consequence
But, mother" she SAID. MIR Saggott
is such-such ais so fearfully ugly, you
know"
My dear" said Mrs. Beishton, piously
I'VE cannot be other than an all-ruling
Providence has made you. Besides, you
Will take precedence Of your own mother
you know. Think Of that and be rea-
sonabe"
Then Kitty put up her little chin and
said irTeyerent things about precedence
and commissioners and matrimony. Mr.
BeightOn rubbed the top Of his head for
he was an easy-soing man.
Late In the season, when he judged that
the time was ripe. Barr-SaeeOtt deVel-
oped plan which did great credit 10 his
administrative powers. lie arranged an
archery tournament for ladies. with a
most sumptuous diamond brace
let as prize. lie drew up his terms skill
fully and every one saw that the brace
let was a gift 10 Miss leighton, the ac-
ceptance carrying with it the hand and
the heart Of the commissioner
al Dllii4d Ndn INV llrQ. ! itit were
beautifully arranged tea tables under the
deOdaTs az Annandale. where the grand
stand IS now: and alone in its glory, wink
ing IN the sun, sat the diamond bracelet
in a blue velvet case. Miss leighton was
anX'ous-almost too anxious "a compete.
On the appointed afternoon all Smla rode
down TO Annandale 10 witness the iudg-
! ment or Paris turned upside down. Kitty
rode with young Cubhon and il was easy
| 10 see that the boy was troubled in his
! mind. He must be held innocent of every
| thing that followed. Kitty was pale and
nervous and looked long at the bracelet.
Barr-Saggott was gorgeously dressed and
more hideous than ever.
Mrs. Beiehton smiled condescendingly,
as befitted the mother Of a potential com
! missioneress, and the shooting began, all
the world standing in a semcircle as the
lades came out one after the other
Nothing is 50 tedious as an archery
competition. They shot and they shot.
and they kept on shooting till the sun left
| the valley. and little breezes got up in the
| deodars, and people waited for Miss
| leighton 10 shoot and win. Cubbon was
at one horn Of the semi-circle round the
| shooters. and Barr-Saggott at the other.
Miss leighton was last on the list. The
/ scoring had been weak. and the bracelet,
| lus Commissioner Barr-Sag5Ott, was hers
| 10 a certainty.
The commissioner strung her how with
| his own sacred hands. She stepped for
| ward. looked at the bracelet, and her first
! arrow went true 10 hair-full mo Inc
| heart Of the "gold"-counting nine points.
! Young Cubbon on the left turned white,
! and his devil prompted Barr-saggott to
smile Now, horses used 10 shy when
| Barr -Saggott smiled. Kitty saw that
! smile She looked 10 her left front. gave
| an almost imperceptible nod to CubbJn,
I and went on shooting.
| wish I could describe the scene that
| followed 1t was out Of the ordinary and
! most improper. Miss Kitty fted her ar
| rows with immense deliberation, so that
every one MIGHT see what she was doing.
| She was a perfect shot, and her 1"rty -slN
| nornd bow suited her TO a nicely. She
| mined the wooden top of the target once,
! and all the ladies' looked al each other.
! Thsn she began some fancy shooting al
I the white. which if you hit, IL counts eX-
! actly one point. She puI five arrows INTO
| the white.
| II was wonderful archery; but seeing
that her business was 10 make gods
and win the bracelet, Barr-Sagsott turned
a delicate green like young Water-erasS'
! Nevt she shot over the target twice, then
! ai6a 10 tho left twice-alWays with the
| same deliberation-~while chilly hush
fell over the company. and Mrs. Belghton
| ,oox ont her handkerchief. Then hltty
shot al the ground in front Of the tarse'
and split several arrows. Then she maze
a red-or even points-just 10 show Whal
she could do if she liked and she hhlsheu
up her amazing performance with Sum
more fancy shooting at the TARGET sup
ports. Here is Miss Beighton score a.
| il was pricked on: lii.
! Gold. !: red /; blue. 0; black, u "hlte
s; total hits. T. Total score. q.
Parr-saggott looked as II the iast 's"
arrow-heads had been driven mo hi'
legs. instead Of the targets, and the deel
stiffness was broken by little snupoy
mottled. half-grown girl saying IN shIll
voice OF triumph:
"Then, I've won!"
Mrs Beighton did her best 10 bear up
but she wept IN the presence or the peo
pie. No training could help her throuk'
such a disappointment. Kitty unstruns
her bow with a vicious jerk, ana wen
back 10 her place, while Barr-Sassol
was trying TO pretend that he enJoye'
swapping the bracelet on the snubby glrl'
raw. red wrist. IL was an awkward scene
most awkward. Every one tried 10 ne
part in a body and leave Kitty TO th'
mercy Of her mamma.
But Cubbon took her away insteau
and-the rest is not worth printing.
xVo,..., I'm Tina of Waf