The Somerset reporter., 1896-01-02
CUPID'S ARROWS.

j
not help knowing her power and using
it. Her mamma was very anxious about
her daughters future, as all good mann
mas should be.
When man is a commissioner and
bachelor and has the right of wearing
openwork jam tart jewels IN gold and
enamel on his clothes, and of going
through door before every one except
member of council, lieutenant govern
or, or viceroy, he is worth marrying.
At least, that is what ladies say. There
was a commissioner in Simla i'll those
days who was, and wore, and did all
have said.
He was plain man-an ugly man
the ugliest man in Asia, with two ex-
ceptiOns. His was a face to dream about
and 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 cid age.
Mr.. Beighton held his tongue He
was an easy going man.
Now, IA commissioner is very rich.
His pay is beyond the dreams Of avarice
is 50 enormous that he can afford to
save and Scrape III a way that would
almost diScredit member Of council.
Most commissioners are mean, but Barr
Saegott was an exception He enter
tanned royalty. He horsed himself we'll,
he gavo dances, he was a power in the
land, and he behaved as such.
Consider that everything | am W.. t.
ing of took place in an almost prchistor-
ic 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 We're seasons be
fore that, if you will believe me, when
even croquet had not been invented and
arehery-which was revived i'll Eng land
in 1S44-Was as great pest as lawn
tennis is now. People talked learnedly
about holding and "loosing, "
"steles, " "rehexed bows, - 90 pound
bows, " backed or self yew bows, -
as we talk about rallies, a" "yolleys, p"
"smashes, - returns" and "16 ounce
rackcts.
Miss Beighton shot divinely over la
dies distance-60 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 consequences
Kitty Beiphtun 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 rr-SaggOtt was phenomenally
ugly, and all his attempts to adorn him
self only made him more grotesque He
was not chrlstened 1.-The Lanpurn =
which means gray ape--for nothing. Ii
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 dragoon rcgi-
ment at Umhalla-the boy with hand
some face and no prospects
Kitty liked CubbOn more than lit
tie He never pretended for a 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 scolded by her mamma in
consequence But mother, " she said,
"Mr. Saggott is snch-such ais so
fearfully ugly, you know
My dear, " said Mrs Beighton pious-
ly, I'VE 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 irreyerent things about precedence
and commissioners and matrlmony. Mr.
Beighton rubbed the top Of his head,
Tor he was an easy going man.
Late III 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 IA
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 We're st Leonard :
round-36 shots at 60 yards-under the
rules of the Simla Toxophilto society
All Simla was invited. There were
beautifully arranged tea tables under
the deodars at Annandale, where the
grand stand is now, and, alone in It's
glory, winklng in the sun, sat the dia-
mond bracelet in a blue velvet case
Miss Beighton was anxious-almost too
anXlous--to compete
On the appointed afternoon all Simla
rode down to Annandale to witness the
Judgment of Paris turned upside down
Kitty rode with young Cubbon, and it
was easy to see that the boy was trou-
bled in his mind. He must be held in
nocent of everything that followed Kit
ty was pale and nervous and looked long
at the bracelet. Barr Saggott was COR
geously dressed, even more nervous than
Kitty and more hideona than ever