The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-26

field one bright morning.
NO." said Minnie, 81 only returned
home last evening"
"Then / will tell you all about 1t. You
know what n queer old man, Mr.. Comp
ton Isl but of all his strange acts moth
ing Is so strange as the present. lie
says, as we are all fond of archery,
he Is going to give prize at an arch
cry meeting"
Minnie remarked it was, indeed, news
and would be quite an event in their
quiet little village.
"Ah," said Clara, "but you have not
heard half yet. Mr.. Compton, of course,
must do everything differently to other
people. so his prize is to be a shell
only she'll"
well" said Minnie. II should like
one of his beautiful little pearly 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?'
"I think you are almost as odd as Mr.
Compton himself" said Clara But I
mean to try for the shell just for the
fun of it--wont you?"
"Oh, yes" said Minnie, II will try;
but neither you nor l will get it, re-
member what a good shot Flora Carter
IS. You know we 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, Cliff
ford Bradley, shall marry the winner
of this beautiful she'll"
Clara tried to see the face of her
companion 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 to hear a few
trembling words, IL not to see a show
er of tears, as it was well known that
though Clifford would shoot with Flora,
and sing with Clara, it was Minnie only
that he truly cared for; but, to her sur
prise, Minnie, in low but clear voice,
merely said:
THAT is a strange determination"
So Clara said:
well, dear, now I have told you
the news, ! must get my bow and ar
rows and practice, for though a little
shell is nothing, Clifford Bradley, with
his handsome face and his uncle's broad
acres, would be a prize worth having"
Minnie, instead Of entering on the
path which led to the village, retraced
pVA obSpSJ thaI SuO hlbhl ONSl
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 best shot
at their archery meetings; indeed, so
much so, that their only aim was to
come in second best. Minnie, therefore,
knew it was as much as If Mr.. Comp
ton had plainly said his nephew should
marry Flora. But Minnie also knew
that Clifford cared for her more than
for Flora, though he had never told her
so; how, then, would It be? So deer
was she in thought that she did not
hear footsteps behind her until someone
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
her Of the archery meeting about to
take place.
And do you know said Clifford
"the prize offered on that occasion?"
Minnie answered.:
Yes; a beautiful little she'll"
And is that all you have heard?"
said Clifford.
Minnie, without raising her eyes,
said: "You know what a lively girl
Clara is, and how fond of making out
funny story; she told me a great
deal, but all may not be true"
Clifford took Minnie's hand, and,
drawing through his arm, said:
You know, Minnie; you must know
how / loved you; the recollections of
childhood the affections of youth and
the love of manhood, have all been
with you. Never having had the happi-
ness Of knowing my parents, and with
out brother or sister, what shou'1 |
have done without you? You ..,r
been the bright star to lead me on, tu
comfort me in trouble, to teach me
higher and holier things than school or
college could have done. You, dear
Minnie, have led me from earth to
Heaven. 1 never asked you to be my
wife. because knew my poor old un-
Gle had set his heart on my marrying
that wealthy, but heartless, Flora Car
ter, and ! have lived In hope either
that my uncle would come to see the
superiority of my poor Minnie to the
rloh ticfa, or that she might find
someone willing to put up with her
heartlessness for the sake of her coff-
ers; but now all hope is over. have
told my uncle that will never marry
her, and that If his conditions are to
depend on bow and arrow, she NAV
have his money, and 1 will leave him
forever And now, Minnie" continued
clifford, will you share my exile, my
poverty?'
Minnie answered:
mo. Clifford, not at the expense OF
your rorfeiting the esteem of your un-
Gle, who has been to you in the place
OF narpntG What
OF you had it not been for him? Has
there been a wish ungratifed that he
could grant you? See your college
education, your liberal allowance,
your present position, your future pros
poets. oh, no! never would | be the
means of your disobliging him to whom
You owe so much"
But" said Clifford, 'is it not foo
much for him to expect me now ia
give UP all my life for a freak such as
this? Tell me, Minnie. dear. what
ought to do, and If / can l will try
and do it,"
Then, dear Clifford" said Minnie
looking at him with a sweet smile
Il 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 Cliff
ford with some bitterness in his tone.
mo, never" returned Minnie; "but
better remain as you are than leave
your uncle in anger. See him, dear
Clifford, and learn from his own lips
the truth, for it may not be as report
states"
Clifford looked down, and seeing the
htue spray OF forget-me- in Min
MES hand, he took it. and divided it,
gave her one piece and kent the other