Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-09-03
Who Shot
The Arrow?
II Offered a Poor Boy an
Education Anonymously
8, MARY A. BOWERS
1910. by American Press
Association.

humphrey MltlcT WIS llllS vi tut
grass one July afternoon in the center
Of the square about which clustered
the village OF Atherton Humphrey
was typical case Of boy born to
the pillow who yearned for something
better. at least more intellectual. lie
wished TO 20 10 college and study n
profession. He was ready to work his
way while studying. but just as he
was about to matriculate his father
died. the farm was sold out under n
mortgage. and the boys mother and
sister were thrown upon him for sup
port. 10 bear this burden and his own
as student appeared to him matter
of sheer impossibility lie must forego
his projects. accept a situation offered
him In country store and go TO work.
He was about to arise and walk TO
corner of the square where the store In
question was located TO announce that
he would begin his duties the next
morning when he heard whiZZing
sound and saw o short distance from
him an arrow standing with its point
cred end hung biz Of paper. which.
now that The arrow was nj rest. 6oated
idly In the wind. Humphrey arose,
went to the arrow. broke the string
that held the paper and found the fol.
lowing words written In pencil:
Go TO college. Your mother and sister
will be provided FOR.
nh s.Wat Ntrtf IA lie a
square and the houses that lined 1t.
The former was empty; the latter
showed no sign OF the person who had
shot the arrow. They were mostly
dwellings. and Humphrey knew nearly
all of the people who lived In them.
lie began NJ once to con over those
among whom the mysterious archer
might be found. There was Peter
Owens. a friend of his father. who was
well to do but Mr.. Owens was not
man 10 hide a charity under bushel
There was Harvey Dixon. his mothers
cousin but Dixon had all he could do
to provide for his own family. There
was his intimate friend. Bob Clark.
who had been left a legacy by his
grandmother Humphrey knew that
Bob when he was younger had been
fond OF archery. Besides. Bob's sister
Luciua had shown by her actions that
she admired Humphrey. Had not Lu-
Gina something To do with the matter?
Humphrey thought all the rest of the
day about the proposed benefaction
and In the evening went to see Rose
Wyman. giri In whose judgment he
had great ,1nddence. intending 10 ask
her to find out for him who had shot
the arrow Rose did not live on the
square and. having no means. could
not possibly have had anything 10 d.
with the message. He told her of the
circumstance and that he could not nc.
cept the favor without knowing the
donor and agreeing 20 repay in tine
the amount expended upon him. Would
she help him?
Rose always took time TO consider
before reaching her decisions. Finally
she said.
III the person who shot the arrow
wished 10 be known he or she would
not have tnken that means OF commu
nicatlng. 10 endeavor TO discover the
donor would be ungrateful IN you. My
advice to you Is to accept the gift as II
is offered
You've got n lot OF horse sense in
that head OF yours. Rose" was the re-
ply "l'll take your advice"
Humphrey left her. wondering how
a girl no older than himself could have
so much foresight Relying upon her
Judgment. he acted on her advice
went TO college that autumn. rang the
college bell for his tuition. did all sorts
OF odd jobs and In his third and fourth
year taught school. BESIDES this. he
read the first books used by students
OF law
The promise of his unknown friend
60 prov ide for his mother aud sister
was kept. but the amounts provided
were small aud at times irregularly
paid. Humphrey. remembering Roses
words that II would be ungrateful for
him to endeavOr TO discover who was
the donor. told his mother not TO look
into any checks she might receive and
"a
not 10 tell him The remitfances were
all made by check. signed by the cash
Ter OF the Atherton bauk. But. obeying
her sons Instructions. Mrs Miller new
err inquired nj the bank from whom the
money came. though It was not proba'
BILE II she had done so she would have
received any satisfaction.
But the one clew Humphrey pos
sessed as 90 the Identity OF the un.
known donor-the fact that Bob Clark
had been fond Of archery when boy
took possession Of the students mind
and kept It's place there all through his
college course. Attached 20 the clew
was feeling which kept him In n
state OF constant pcrplcxity, What II
I.uclna Clark had persuaded her father
10 advance the means sent his motherf
That Lucina had shown n predisposl-
ton for him was evident Al the end
OF his studies II was to be- expected
that the secret would come out. IL Lu-
Gina had been Instrumental In the mat
TOR II yyoui1 lac incumbent unOn him TO