Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-01-09
CUPID'S ARROWS.


very pretty girl, the daughter of a
poor but honest district and sessions
judge. 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 man.
mas should be.
When man is commissioner and q
bachelor and has the right Of wearing
openwork jam tart jewels i'll gold and
enamel on his clothes, and of going
through door before every one except a
member of council, lieutenant govern
or, or viceroy, he is worth marrying.
At least, that is what ladies say. There
was commissioner in Simla in those
days who was, and wore, and did all l
have said.
He was plain man-an ugly man
the ugli6st man in Asia, with two ex-
ceptions. His was face to dream about
aud try to carve on pipe head after
ward. His name was Saggott-Barr-
Saggott-Anthony Barr-Saggott and six
letters to follow. Departmentally, he
was one of the best the government of
India owned. Social he was like blan-
dishing gorilla.
When he turned his attentions to
Miss Beighton, / believe that Mrs. Beigh-
ton wept with delight at the reward
Providence had sent her in her old age.
Mr.. Beighton held his tongue. He
was an easy going man.
Now, 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 q member of council.
Most commissioners are mean, but Barr
Saggott was an exception. He enter
tanned royalty. He horsed himself well,
he gave dances, he was power in the
land, and he behaved as such.
Consider that everything am writ
ing of took place in an almost prehistor-
ic era i'll 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 pest as lawn
tennis is now, People talked learnedly
about holding" and "loosing,"
"steles, Z" "refiexed bows" "56 pound
bows" backed or "self yew bows" !"
as we talk about "rallies, " "volleys," )"
''smashes, " returns" and "l6 ounce
rackets."
Miss Beighton shot divinely over la
dies distance-G0 yards, that is-and
was acknowledged the best lady archer
in Simla. Men call her ''Diana of Tara
Devi."
Barr -Saggott paid her great attention,
and, as have said, the heart of her
mother was uplifted in consequence.
Kitty Beighton took matters more calm
ly. 1t 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 denying the fact
that Barr-Saggott was phenomenally
ugly, and all his attempts to adorn him
self only made him more grotesque. He
was not christened "The Langur"-
which means gray ape-for nothing. 1t
was pleasant, Kitty thought, to have
him at her feet, but it was better to es-
cape from him and ride with the grace
less Cubbon-the man in a dragoon regi-
ment at Umballa--the boy with hand
some face and no prospects.
Kitty liked Cubbon more than lit
tie. 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 Cub
bon and was scoRled by her mamma in
consequence. "But mother, she said,
"Mr. Saggott is such-such ais SO
fearfully ugly, you know!
"My DEAR" said Mrs. Beighton pious-
ly, 1--WE cannot be other than an all rul-
ing Providence has made us. Besides,
you will take precedence of your own
mother, you know. Think Of that and
be reasonable. -
Then Kitty put up her little chin and
said irreverent things about precedence
and commissioners and matrimony. Mr..
Beighton rubbed the top Of his head,
for he was IN easy going man.
Late in the season, when he judged
that the time was ripe, Barr -Saggott de-
veloped plan which did great credit to
his administrative powers. He arranged
an archery tournament for ladies. with a
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 and
the heart of Commissioner Barr-Sag-
gott. The terms were st. Leonard q
round--36 shots at so yards-under the