BEAUX AND ARROWS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2385, 22 October 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

BEAUX AND ARROWS.

Tiiv.kk was no end of flirting at the archery meeting, where ev-rv Me- hid gathered that b-iutiful afternoon. Kate Wild.-, the village belle, was eh arming in le r tjew dress, but ,a little afraid that Cecil M iv, who bid eu--d. vn trim the city, would carry oil the honors. Cecil May was a bom flirt, and glori**! in the reput iti m. and sbe k»*pt bdf a de/s-u young men channel by h--r sallie. of wit all through the game Her cun*in hr.r-i:'- Lind, had fallen in love with her the lirst day he in-t her, and it angered him to her s • attentive to Fnnk Wilde, who wa- mrli pl-4-ed wi’h b-r b-tuty. Lawrence finally became very attento K it--Wilde iu or i-r to bring his fair con-in to term-, and le- had the plea-ure of -eeing her face cloui over when he gave the archery pri/r to th- village beauty. But he went home in a disc in'>l at.- mood, however, and C -il wish n > h-s. heavy heart- They were wounding each cth.-i'a feelings through mdiff.-n me, yet neither would give in. Li'ann-e had to go M town the next morning early, »o he left a note with his little sister, I* it, explaining to his con-in til it lie had made a mistake and begging In-r forgivne". Dot forgot all about the b tier and irauipisl otf to s'-hool, and I V eil was left iu ignorance of the note and its contents. She was feeding .a little penitent her-elf, and wa- anxious to be forgiven. It was not until the next day that Lawrence put in an appearance. He looked at her quite indifferently, pulled hi- moustache, wished her “ good morning." and then resumed his cigar, coftdy watching the smoke curl upward. CVil pni-ed, but only for an instant. Wliat did it mean r Hr pride wa- up iu arms. What had she d ine to deserve this treatment ' Tlc-rc w.is but one explanation. He was inf at a tied with Kate, '[e wi-h-J to in-ult her. Nodding carelessly, therefore, she pa-sel on. “ Heartless flirtmuttered Lawrence, on his part, watching her go. “I >1 ~-s not even thank me for the bouquet. Been flirting with that idiot, Wilde, I've no doubt: Meantime, (Veil, hunting with indignation, pretended to amuse her-elf with the flowers. That day, and the following pa-sed: her enn-in was always cruelly polite, but that was all. The next afttrnoni but one. however, Lawrence was sitting in his room when Hot '-no bed timidly at the door. “ Come iu." be said. | “ and toil what you have been doing.' > And taking her on his knee he smoothed her hoig, silken emls.

“ Well." said Out, “ I lielpel aunty, fed my chicks, and did lots of things. 15 it j-i't now I'se came from Cecil's room. And what do you think ? Cecil was crying. Yes, crying, and she kissed me, and said she was going home. And I "spect." continued the child, thoughtfully, “ I'm- liccii a very’ naughty girl, for t'other day. when you gave me the note and posies to give Cecil, do yon know, I didn't give them to her at all :" “ What, not give them to her cried Liwrence, eagerly. “ How was that ?” “ I was going to,” answered little Dot, “When I thought of Mr Wilde, poor fellow, and said to myself. ‘ I don’t s'pose he ever gels any letters, and Laurence won't care if I give him this one ; and besides. I thought you could tell Cecil just as well what you wanted, even if she didn't get tile letter.' So, when I started for school, 1 took the letter, and was walking along thinking awful hard almut something or other—my lessons. I giu-ss —and before I knmved it I bad lost it. 15-.it the posies I didn't loose, and meeting Mr Wilde I gave them to him, and he put them iu his button bole. Lawrence sat like one stupefied. Suddenly, as be looked out of the window, he saw Cecil, in her walking dress, pass out in the direction of the orchaid, as if going 1 1 <he words beyond. She looked tired, and pile and worn. It was only the work of an instant to carry Dot downstairs. pi ice her in Aunt Dorothy's charg- and hurry aft-r Cecil, whom he overtook j Ist as she had entered the wood She looked around, coldly ami haughtily, but with the traces ( ,f fears in h-r eyes, and this give iiiai courage to pro ;* .-*l, in spite of the coldness and haughtiness.

II- le ;oiin!- d. hurri-diy. how lit- hail gven It it tic; notisking tor .1 mc.-ting 1 eirly the foil swing morning, at the stile, which they were even now approaching, anil helming .-he wouhl wear the bud if ' 'he eared for him in’tiic least. He told how lie had heeii delayed at the country ; town ; hid !o*t the train ; had galloped ! home >o as to he in time for the meeting : in the neinrne ; hoi-.- he had gone to the ! stile, and waited, and waited in vain ; : how then he remembered ciicountcri in" Frank on his way to the train, and ] seeing in his h-atloa-hole a hjo-plet which i lie would have thought ills own but for i the tinpo.'sjlnlity of it: how he had come ' hack to breakfast at last, angry with • Cecil because now satisli <1 she iei-l given ! his hj i-i.jit-t to rival: ho™ he had : spoken to her, with halt con-cak-d couj tempt, as she came down stairs: and ■ liow " “Well, in shoit." he said, “how I • have nude a desperate fool of myself, aud can only throw myself on your mercy, ■ and beg yon to forgive me, dearest." She did forgive him, with happy tears, ; for, as ,-h-- told herself, his jealously .and ; anger had con.e from excess of love lor her.