The Republican journal., 1871-10-05
Exchanging Rings.

Exchanging Kings.
| Prudence Holmes sat in the wide shady
kitchen, busily engaged in picking over"
wortlcbcrries. Without, the golden sun
shine of an August afternoon bathci the
green fields and the dusty road that
wound away to the village, and touched
with richer color the nasturiums, sweet
peas, geranilnms. and zinnias in the little
garden, and the heavy Virginia creeper
that climbed and blossomcd above the
door. Prudence made pretty picture as
She sat on n low cricket, with big calico
apron spread over her blue spriegel mus
lin dress Ia defend it from the stains that
had soiled her little brown hands. She
was a petite. daintily rounded maiden of
eighteeen, with great dark eyes, and
glossy curls shading Il fair brow, and
cheeks that had a touch of wild-rose bloom
| upon them. The kitchen, too, made a
| prettier picture, with its we'll secured floor
and dresser, its asparagus topped clock,
its shining stove, with lunches Of herbs
hanging behind it, and the great bouquet
oil vivid cardinal flowers set on the snowy
table
The kitchen was perfectly quiet, save
the buzz of flies and the tick of the clock,
anu tulNItiC lllt tllthttS tlltl INC IDclStS
alone disturbed the silence. Prudence
believed that every one in the house was
asleep hut herself, and yawnel somewhat
YEARLY as she tossed over the berries,
finishing the yawn with a bit of sollioony
uttered half aloud
''Oh dear this having summer board
ers isn't very nicc.'
Miss Prudence" SAID a voice in the
| doorway, so suddenly that Prudence near
ly upset her berries in her surprise
''Oh, Mr.. Wentworth, is ii YOU ?' she
said, bashlully, bending down to pick up
a few berries that mad rolled from her
apron.
''lll pick 'em up.n exclaimed the new
comer-a tall and rather aristocratic look
ing youth Of twenty-one, with merry blue
eyes, and short auburn hair, curling close
ly under a straw hat-diving for the miss
ing berries with un9racelul dexterftv
'9eS. it is |, of course. Have You for
gotten your promise to so after lilies with
me this afternoon ?"
"Oh, but ! didn't say this afternoon,
YOU know; only some afternoon this
week" responded Prudence, demurelv.
"Well, we'll call it this afternoon won't
wc." was the persuasive rejoinder, as the
straw hat was tossed upon a chair.
Il can't; Pve got these berries to pick
over"
In help you. Lend me half that
apron, and We'll have them done in
trice."
- But | shall have supper to get.
Mothers away, and there are biscuits to
make" insisted Prudence, turning her
face away to hide a smile that would curve
her lips
" Never mind that" responded Mr.
Abbott Wentworth, bringing a chair to
her side. Teas at six, isn't it? and its
only half past two. Wen be back by
five. without fail, and have time 10 get
halt the lilies in the river" and he began
to assert handful of berries with much
earnestness.
"W-c-ll." asscnted Prudence, after a
pause for consideration, and a glance at
the clock-''l can 60 for a little while per-
haps. Oh, don't stain your coat, MI
| Wentworth"
But Mr.. Wentworth was sublimely in
| different to his coat, and worked with
such good will that the berries were soon
picked over, and Prudence and himself on
their way to the river. Five minutes later,
Prudence, with her draperes dainty be-
slowed about hel', was seated in the stern
OF 4 little boat, which, propelled by Mr..
Wentworth's practiced hands, shot swiftly
| down stream
| Although Mr. Wentworth said to Pru-
dence five times within one hour that it
WAS Il lovely day, and although Prudence
assentcd every time, | hardly think they
appreciated the beauty around them, for
Prudence was quite absorbed with the
| lilies and the reflections in the water, and
| Mr.. Wentworth looked more at his COM
panion than ut the aspects of nature. They
had gathered enough lilies to satisfy them,
and Prudence was leaning backward and
idly trailing one hand in the water, when
she suddenly uttered Il little scream, and
sat erect, with white cheeks, from which
the color had been frightened
"Oh, | almost lost it! How careless
ann she exclaimed, replacing an old
fashioned ring, set with a tiny circle of
rubies, on her finger
"Did the water sweep it off from your
hand"
II suppose so. It's too large for me.
I'm always losing it and finding it again.
! wouldn't lose ii entirely Cor the world,
because it used to be grandmother's She
gave it to me-"
"What curious old ring it 81" said
Mr.. Wentworth, with interest. "May l
look ut it? Don't trouble yourself to take
it off" he added, drawing in his oars and
leaning toward his companion.
Prudence allowed her tiny brown hand
to lie in his aristocratic white one for a
moment, and then coquettishly withdrew
it.
isn't it pretty ?" she inquired archly.
Very pretty. Shall tell you how to
guard against losing it in future ?"
"Oh yes, if you please"
''Wear this little ring of mine to guard
it; or, better yet, exchange with me. Give
me yours and take this instead" said the
young man, daringly.
Provoking Prudence looked at the
heavily chased gold ring he held out to
her, and then looked back at the water
with an innocent
81 don't think it would fit"
"Try it, suggested her companion soft
ly.
Prudence shook her head, but finally
agreed, blushingly, that ''it would do no
harm to try" and slipped the ring on her
forefinger.
'It's a perfect fit !" cried Mr. Went
| worth doll iuhfadlv '.NOthinu rould ha