The Monitor-register., 1897-03-19
SHOOTING FOR A HUSBAND

iooAinS Blrl as tney met IN a pleasant
field one bright morning.
mo-" said Minnie, 81 only returned
home last evening""
"Then l will tell you all about it. You
know what a queer old man Mr.. Compton
is, but of all bis strange acts nothing is
80 strange as the present. He says, as we
are all fond of archery. he is going to
have a prize at an archery Meeting"
Minnie remarked it was, indeed, news
and would be quite an event 10 their quiet
little village.
"Ah," said Clara, 'but you have not
heard half yet. Mr.. Compton, of course,
must do everything differently from other
people, SO his prize is to be a shell-only
a SHE'LL"
"Well," said Minnie, 81 should like
one of his beautiful little pearIy shells
much. better than the finest gold arrow
which could be made; indeed, who could
prefer the work of man to the work of
God ?"
|, Il think you are almost as odd as Mr..
Compton himself" said Clara. but
mean to try for the shell just for the fur
OF it-won't you ?"
"Oh, yes" said Minnie, 81 will try, but
neither you nor l will get it; you know
what a good shot Flora Carter is. You
know sc none of us stand any chance
with her."
"That reminds me of the rest of my
wonderful story, which is that Mr..
Compton has declared his nephew,
Clifford Bradley, shall marry the winner
of his beautiful she'll"
Clara tried to see the face of her com
panion as she said this, but Minnie had
stopped to gather a bit of forget. me. not.
She then listened for the sound of her
voice, expecting Co heal a few trembling
words. il not to see a shower of tears, as
it was we'll known that though Clifford
would shoot with Flora and sing with
Clara, it was Minnie only that he truly
cared for; but to her surprise, she merely
said:
That is a strange determination"
So Clara said:
"Well, dear, now l have told you the
news, l must get my bow and arrows and
practice. for though a little she'll is moth
ing, Clifford Bradley, with his handsome
face and his nncle's broad acres, would
be a prize worth having"
Minnie, instead of entering on the path
which led to the village, retraced her
steps. that she might think over Clara's
story. She did not doubt the truth of it,
for she knew Mr.. Compton wished his
nephew to marry the wealthy Flora
Carter. She also knew that Flora was
by far the test shot at their archery
meetings; indeed, so much 80, that their
only aim was to come in second best.
Minnie therefore knew it was as much as
it Mr.. Compton bad plainly said his
nephew should marry Flora. But Minnie
also knew that Clifford cared for her
more than Flora, though he had ne yer
told her so; how then would it be? So
deep was she in thought that she did not
hear footsteps behind her until some one
said "Minnie," and she looked around
and saw Clifford Bradley. He asked her
if she had heard the gossip of the village.
Minnie said Clara had just told of the
archery meeting about to take place.
GA nd do pon b,Ou - ,o;J CJ;n..l
''the prize offered on that occasion ?"
Minnie answered;
"Yes, a beautiful little she'll"
And Is that all you have hoard 9o.
said Clifford.
Minnie, without raising her eyes, said:
You know what a lively girl Clara is,
and how fond of making ont a funny
story; she told me a great deal, but all
may not be true"
Clifford took Minnie's hand, and draw
ing it through his arm said;
You know, Minnie; you must know,
how | Il have loved you; the recollections of
childhood, the afternoons of youth, and
the love of manhood, have all been with
you. Never having had the happiness of
knowing my parents, and without brother
or sister, what should | have done with
out you? You have been the bright star
to lead me on, to comfort me in trouble,
to teach me higher and holier things than
school or college would have done. You.
daar Mionta houa led mr. (roVo ooxkH -
heaven. | never asked you to be my
wife, because | knew my poor old uncle
had set his heart on my marrying that
wealthy but heartless Flora Carter, and
have lived in hope either that my uncle
would come to see the superiority of my
poor Minnie to the rich Flora, or that she
might find someone willing to put up
with heartlessness for the sake Of her
Golfers, but now all hope is over. l have
told my uncle that l will never marry
her, ard that if bis conditions are to
depend on a bow and arrow, she may
have his money, and l will leave him
forever. And now, Minnie" continued
Clifford, twill you share my exile, my
poverty ?"
Minnie answered:
mo, Clifford, not at the expense of
your forfeiting the esteem Of your uncle,
who has been to you in the place of
parents. What would have become of
you had it not been for him =? Has there
been a wish ungratified that he could
grant you ? See your college education,
your liberal allowance, your present
position, your future prospect. Ga, no!
never would | be the means of your dis
obliging him to whom you owe SO much"
But" said Clifford. sis it no. too
much for him to expect me now to give
up all my hopes of happiness for the rest
of my life for a freak such as thisa Tell
me, Minnie dear, what l ought to do, and
if Lean | will try and do it,"
"Theu, dear Clifford" said Minnie,
looking at him with a sweet smile, 81
say, trust in God, be patient, do your
duty, and still hope"
"But do you advise me to marry one
woman and love another ?" said Clifford,
with some bitterness in bis tone.
"No, %rever," returned Minnie; "but
better remain as you are than leave your
uncle in anger. See hin, dear Clifford,
and learn from his lips the truth, for it
may not be az report states"
Clifford looked down, and seeing the
little spray of forget me-nots in Minnie's
hand, he took it, and dividing it, gave
her one piece, and kept the other himself,
saying:
81 will do as you wish, but l cannot
give you up" They parted.