The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-10-17

"But, Ursula
The creaking sound Of an opening door
beyond suddenly dissolved the tete-a-tete.
Ursula almost pushed Harry Clifford out
of the kitchen.
you'll be on tho piazza tonight when
they have all gone to the concerto" he
persisted in asking through tho crack in
the door.
"Yes, yes, anything--cvcrythng; only
CO."
And Harry went, beginning to realize
that lovemaking and preserving do not
assimilate.
"Your pearl brooch, my dear? Oh; l
remember now. l gave it to Harry more
than week ago to have it mended l
dare say it's done by this time ?" and DR..
Darling turned expectantly to our hero.
lin very sorry began Harry
but the brooch disappeared in the most
unaccountable manner from my vest
pocket. 1 know put it there
Yes dryly interrupted the elder gcn-
tleman, i remember seeing you put it
there, and you assured me at the time
that you never lost anything. So the
brooch is gone, eh ?
Yes, Sir, it is gone. But Mrs. Dar-
ling may rest assured Harry added, with
a glance toward that lady, that will
replace it at the very earliest opportun-
ity.'
oh, it is of no consequence at all =
said Mrs. Darling, with countenance
that said plainly: 1t is ofthe very great
est consequence. Perhaps we shall find
it somewhere about the house.
But the days slipped by, one by ono,
and the doom Of the pearl brooch remain.
ed involved in the deepest mystery.
Harry Clifford bought another one and
presented it to Mrs. Darling, with a
little complimentary speech. Mrs. Dar-
ling laughed, and pinned it into the folds
of the thread lace barb she wore at her
throat.
But it's so strange what can have be.
come of the other = said Mrs. Darling.
1t was in the golden month of Septem.
Der that the old doctor and Mrs. Darling
made up their minds to invite Miss Brad.
bury to tea.
'We'll have pound-cake and preserved
blackberries,' said Mrs. Darling, who
always looked at tho material side of
things.
And if Harry don't come to terms
now, he never will, added her husband,
who didn't.
Get out the best china and the chased
silver tea.service, Ursula, said Mrs
Darling
And wear your pink French calico,
child; it's the most becoming dress you
have, said her uncle, with loving glance
at the bright little brunette.
And Ursula Percy obeyed both Of their
mandates.
Miss Bradbury came-a handsome
snowy young lady, with smooth society
manner that made Ursula feel herself
very countrifed and common indeed.
Delicious preserves these " said Miss
Bradbury
They are of Ursula's making, sale
Mrs. Darling. And Harry Clifford pass
ed his plate for second supply.
4 remember the day they were brew
ed, or baked, or whatever it is you cal
it, said he, with an arch glance at Ursu
la.
Suddenly old DR.. Darling grew purple
in the face, and began to cough violently
Every one started up.
Hes swallowed the spoon = cried Mis-
Bradbury.
'Oh, oh! he's got the apoplexy
screamed Mrs. Darling, hiyterically.
Uncle dearest uncle" piped up poo
Ursula, vaguely catching at glass o
water.
But DR.. Darling recovered withou
any moro disastrous symptoms
1T isn't the spoon, and l don't com
of an apoplectc family said he. Blu
upon my word, this is about the bigges
blackberry ever came perilously nea
t swallowing" And he held out his wife
pearl brooch, boiled up in the black
berries
n There was momentary silence aroun
!. tho table; and then it was broken b
g Mrs. Darling-one of those blessed oil
e ladies who never see an inch beyond thei
own specialized noses.
= My goodness gracious said Mr.
$ Darling; how could it ever have com
into the preserved blackberries l.
;, don't-see-'
9 But do " said DR.. Darling, lookin
provokingly knowing. Yes see goo
: many things now that didn't see before
: And Harry, glancing across the tabl
at Ursula, was somewhat consoled to pre-
: ceive that her cheeks was shade NOR
n scarlet, if that were possible than h
own.
II He followed the old doctor into h
Office when the evening meal was conclut
ed-Ursula did not know how she eve
would have lived through it, were it nc
d for Mrs. Darling's delightful obtusenes
/. and Sophy Bradb 'ry's surface-charm {
n manner-and plunged boldly into tn
II matter.
Doctor he began valiantly; br
= the old gentleman interrupted him.
II There is no need of any explanation
my boy he said. Il know now why 20
Il didn't want to marry Miss Bradbur,
And don't say that blame you much
only came very near choking to deaf
|, with Ursula's blackberry jam =
d And DR.. Darling laughed again, unit
e had his spouse been present, she woul
surely have thought second attack (
apoplexy among the inevitables.
is Little Ursula = he added. Who woul
N have thought of it? Well, you shall ha,
my blessing
IN The pearls were all dscolored, and Il
,r gold of the old-iashioned brooch tarnishe
y with the alchemy Of cooking but Ursu
i keeps that old ornament yet, more tende
ly treasured than all the modern knicl
knacks with which her young husbau
loada her toilet. .tahle And every yea