Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-02
Pearls and Blackberries.

- he enunCiated the words with impressive dis
uHctness he looked at Harry Clifford.
lie might have found a worse looking individ-
nal to hX his regards upon than this young VI,
ID, who had taken his first lessons in bones,
utcs belonging thereto, in the little Office across
the hali, and was just preparing TO hang up
single OF his own; for Harry Clifford was tall
and shapely, with red-brown hair and a huge
auburn mOustache. and merry eyes that laug
like springs OF water in the sunshine.
Dr. Darling took of his spectacles, folded them
an their case, and without taking his eyes from
has neOphyte. Harry Clifford smiled; but he
looked a little embarrassed notwithstanding
She would have you in a minute, If you
would only propose" pursued DIR. Darling drop
ping great red-hOt splashes OF sealing-wsx over
sheet OF blotting paper and stamping them
with monogram seal in an aimless sort of way
Yes, but tell you, sir, don't want to pro-
pose" said Harry, staring at the intertwined ID.
e. as II they were the most interesting things
You don't want pretty girl for a wife ?'
9 Not that pretty girl in particular, doctor"
Nor nifty thousand dollars ?" added the doc
tor, pronouncing the three words in a manner
that sounded very weighty indeed.
81 would not object to the fifty thousand dol
i h,f IN itself, sir; but as mere appendage to
81 believe the boy is crazy, calculated DIR.
a[R Hff Ws we'll the Sc Scotch P row sb has
interfere no further. BY the way, Harry"
:" You are going TO the city this afternoon ~
That is my present intention, SIR"
Stop at Depierre's, will you, and leave Mrs.
Darling's pearl brooch to be mended. 1 ought
to have done it a week aga; but a man can't
think OF everything"
Certainly, doctor" and Harry Clifford de-
POSTED the PeraI brOoch-an old-fashioned orua-
ment OF gold, set with tiny seed-pearls-in his
wastcOat pocket .s
Rather a careless way to carry jewelry,
young man" said DIR. Darling, elcvating his eye
"Oh, never loose anything" asserted Harry,
in an off-handed sort of way.
The ming sun was casting bright hickering
threads OF gold across the Kitchen floor; tie
morning glOries and Mederia vines, trained
across the easement stirred softly in the mid
Jaly air; and Ursula Percy, Mrs. Darling's
orphan niece, was busy ''doing up' black
Fresh as rose. with hazel ewes. sortened to
intense blackness at times by the shadow OF their
long lashes. and smiling scarlet lips, and stood
there-her calico dress concealed by the house
Wiiely apron OF white dimity that was tied
around her waist and her black curls tucked re-
morselessly behind her esrs-looking demurely
into the bubblfng depths OF the preserving
kettle. like beautiful parody in one OF the
witches in Macbeth" while on the whitley
secured pine table beyond a glittering tin vessel
was upheaped with beautiful jet black fruit.
each flashing like the eye OF an oriental belle.
dropping her skinner into the preserving kettle.
How you startled me, Harry 20
Harry advanced into the kitchen, with an sd-
miring look at the bright little blush and good
deal OF stove heat. - -- .
You are always At work, Ursula"
"a have got to work Harry, to earn my own
living" Ursula Perry answered !" ith a slight mp
lifting of her exquisite black brows = am not
an beITess like Miss Bradbury.
ConfOund Miss Bradbury :" exclaimed our
hero. % hear nothing but Miss Bradbury the
whole time
- She very sweet young lady, Harry"
SAID TsUla, IN mildly reprOying accents
% dare say; but what a lot OF blac kberries Won
have here, to be sure Ursula p
e. Forty quarts" said Ursula, demurely.
Aunt Darling always enjoys them so much in
winter"
Harry put ahOney-sweet glObulbe of fruit into
% BIaekberries are a beautiful rruit, Ursula?"
very; and Miss Perry skinned diligently
away at the bubhling csuldron.
=. Especially when you doing them up"
aided the young NJ d., with rather a clumsy
effort at compliment.
TSula did not answer. Harry walked up to
the range and took both her han a. in his.
Harry, dOn'tI The berries will burn,
4" Let them burn then; who cares?''
" But what do you WANT" she asked, struy-
Cling impOtently to escape, and laughing in
SPITE OF the grave look she fain would have as
sumed. =
ITO see your eyes, Ursula" -
She lifted the soft hazel Orbs to his face; then
Withdrew them with sudden shyness
DO Won know what answer j read in those
eyes, dearest?" he whispered after a moment or
two of silence. broken only by the Kissing and
simmering Of the boiling blackberries.
al read yes-'
ooh, Harry, 1 dare not. Uncle and Aunt are
20 determined you shall marry Miss Bradbury"
And L am 30 determined not to marry her.
is man 10 be given away a. il he were house
and lot, or bundle Of old clothes, should like
Harry, they are burning, am sure of it,
can smell them. Do let go of my hands 20
Harry Clifford deity seized a big iron spoon,
and stirred the boiling depths vigorously.
- It's all your imagination, Ursula -
- No. its not; and if they are the least bit
The creaking sound of an opening door beyond
most pushed Harry Clifford out Of the kitchen
you'll be on the piazza tonight when they
have all gone TO the concerto" he persisted in
asking through the crack in the door"
81. Yes: yes, snything-everything: only CO."
And Harry went be ginning to realize that love-
making and preserving did not assmlate
ssYour pearl brooch. my dear? Oh, re-
member now. gave il TO Harry more than
done by this time time ?" and Der. Darling turned
lin very sorry" began Harry; ''but the
brooch disappeared in the most unaccountabe
manner from my pocket. / know 1 put it
EYES" dTyly interrupted the elder gentle
man, 81 remember seeing you put it there,
and you assured me at the time that you never
lost anything. So the brooch is gone, Ell? '
"Yes, sir, II is gone. But Mrs. Darling may
rest assured" Harry added, with a glance
toward that lady, that will replace it at the
''Oh, il Is Of no consequence at all ?'' said
Mrs. Darling. with eountsnanee that SAID
PLAINLY ~ Is OF the very greatest consequence,
PERHAPS We shall ind II somewhere about the
house"
But the DAYS slipped by, one by one, and the
COON Of the pearl brooch remained involved in
the deepest mystery. Harry Clifford bought
another one and presented it TO Mrs. Darling
with complimentary speech. Mrs. Darling
laughed, and pinned II into the thread lace bar6
she wore at her throat.
.sBut 10 is 20 strange what can have become OF
the otheri" said Mrs. Darling. t 80
1t was in the golden month or September that
the old Doctor and Mrs. Darling made up their
minds to invite Mis- Bradbury TO tea. =.
We u have pound cake and preserved black
berries said Mrs Darling, who always looked
Al the material side Of things.
"And II Harry don't come to terms now he
never viii !" added her husband who didn't
=" Get out the best china, and the chased silver
tea service, ursula, I" said Mrs. Darling.
% And wear your pink French calico, child;
as the most becoming dress you have )" said her
brunette. "a. : Il-.r F.sr -. = Ii. E. 80
Aud Ursula Obeyed both their mandates.
Miss Bradbury eame-a handsome, snowy
y SSsi LADY, with smooth society" manner