If she went to that picnic without making a full and free confession she knew she would feel as mean and miserable as she was feeling now.

And if she did confess, why then-- Her meditations were interrupted in a startling manner.

She was midway of the field, upon the other side of which was a tumbledown stone wall, and a cluster of wild cherry trees and bayberry bushes marking the boundary of the Bacheldor land.

From behind the wall and bushes sounded the loud report of a gun; then the tramp of running feet and an excited shouting: "You missed him," screamed a voice.

"You never hit him at all.