Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1871-08-31
PEARLS AND BLACKBERRIES.

[ can't believe the evidence of my own
senses!" And as he enunciated the words
with impressive dlstinctness he looked
solemnly at Harry Clifford.
He might have found a worse looking
individual to fix his regards upon than
this young MD, who had taken his first
lessons in bones, muscles, and human
anatomy, with the therapeutics belonging
thereto, in the little Office across the hall
and was just preparing to hang up q
shingle of his own; for Harry Clifford
was tall and shapely, with red-brOwn hail
and huge auburn mustache, and merry
eyes that laughed like springs Of water in
the sunshine.
DR.. Darling took off his spectacles
folded them, aud deliberately placed them
in their case, still without taking his eyer
from his neophyte. Harry Clifford smiled
but he looked a little embarrassed, not
withstanding.
"She would have you in minute, if yor
we're to PROPOSE" pursued DR.. Darling
dropping great red hot splashes Of sealing
wax over sheet of blotting- paper, anc
stamping them with his monogram seal il
all allnlcss sort Of way.
Yes; but I tell you, sir, don't wan
" propose" said Harry, staring at the in
tert"incd D.J.D.'s as if they were tht
most interesting things in the world.
You don't want pretty girl for 8
wife?"
Not that pretty girl in particular
doctor"
Nor fifty thousand dollarss" added the
doctor, pronouncing the three molnentou'
words in manner that made them sounC
very weighty indeed.
II would not object to the fifty thou
sand dollars in itself, sir; but, as u mere
appendage to Miss Bradbury"
Il believe the boy is crazy!" calculated
Dr. Darling. "Well, we'll, as the Scotch
proverb has it, "a willfu' man maun hat
his way and l shall interfere no farther
Blythe way, Harry"
"Yes, sir? :"
"You are going to the city this after
noon?"
"That is my present intention, sir"
Stop at Depierres, will you, and leave
Mrs. Darlings pearl brooch to be mended
ought to have done it a week ago; but 6
man can't think of everything"
Certainly, doctor;" and Harry Clifford
deposited the pearl brooch-an old fash
iOned ornament of massive gold, set witt
tiny seed pearls his waistcoat pocket
Rather careless way to carry jewelry
young mani" said DR.. Darling, elevatinf
| his eyebrows.
"Oh, l never lose anthing!" asserted
Harry, in all of:hand sort of way.
The morning sun was casting bright
Pickering threads of gold across tn
kitchen floor; the morning-glories ane
ment, stirred softly in the mid.July air
nd T Dt,rov Mrs. nor1inr'c hnr
niece, was busy "doing up" blackberries
Fresh as rose, with hazel eyes, soften
ed to intense blackness at times by tn,
shadow of their long lashes, and smiling
scarlet lips, che stood there-her calico
dress concealed by the housewifely apron
Of white dimity that was tied around hel
waist, and her black curls tucked remorse
lessly back Of her ears-looking demurely
into the buobling depths of the preserv
ing kettle, like beautiful parody on one
of the witches in macbeth while or
the whitley secured pine table, beyond 6
glittering n-vessel was upheaped with the
beautiful jet black fruit, each separate berry
FISHING like the eye of an Oriental belle
'Ursula!"
The pretty young girl started, very
nearly dropping her skinner into the pre-
serving kettle.
allow you startled me, Harry"
barry advanced into the kitchen, with
an admiring look at the bright face, flushed
with little blush and good deal Ol
stove heat.
"You are always at work, Ursula"
II have got to work, Harry, to earn my
own living" Ursula Percy answered, with
slight uplifting Of her exquisite black
DrOWS: am not an heiresa like Mias
Bradbury"
"Contound Miss Bradbury" exclaimed
our hero. i" hear nothing but Miss Brad
bury the whole time.'
"She is a very sweet young lady
Harry said Ursula, in mildly reprovine
accents.
1 dare say; but-what lot of black
berries you have here, to be sure, Ursula p
Forty quarts" said Ursula, demurely
Aunt Darling always enjoys them sc
much in the winter"
Harry put honey-sweet globule of fruit
! into his mouth.
Blackberries are a beautiful fruit
Ursula"
"Very;' and Miss Percy skinned dill
gently away at the bubbling caldron.
Especially when you are doing them
up added the young NJ. D., with rather q
clumsy effort at compliment.
Ursula did not answer. Harry walked
up to the range and took both her hands
in his
"Harry, doa,tl The berries will burn
Let EN- burn, then; who cares?'
But what do you want?' she asked
struggling inpotentiy to escape, aud laugh
ing in spite Of the grave look she fain
would have assumed.
To see your eyes, Ursula
She lifted her soft, hazel orbs to his face
then withd cew them with sudden shyness
"Do you know what answer read in
those eyes, dearests' he whispered, after q
moment or two of silence, broken only by
the Kissing and simmering OF the boiling
blackberries.
"No."
II read yes!"
ooh, Harry, I dare not. Uncle and
aunt are SO determined you shall marry
Miss Bradbury"
And am 80 determined not to marry
her. Is a man to be given away as if he
were a house and lot, or q bundle of
Old clothes, should like to know
Ursula
Harry, they are burning! I am sure
Of it. l can smell them. Oh, do let go
my hands!''
Harry Clifford deftly seized up the big
iron spoon, and stirred the boiling depths
vigorously.
It's all your imagination, Ursula!'
No, it's not; and if they are the least
bit scorched they will be spoiled for Aunt
Darling"
"But, Ursula"
The creakng 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 the piazza to. night when
they have all gone to the concertY" he
persisted in asking through the crack in
the door.
Yes, yes, any thing-every thing; only
go"
And Harry went, beginning to realize
that love-making and preserving do not
assimilate.
"Your pearl brooch, my dear? Oh,
remember now. gave it to Harry more
than week ago to have mended. l dare
say it's done by this timer" and DR.. Oar.
ling turned expec1antly to our hero.
"I-Im very sorry," began Harry" but
The brooch disappeared in the most unac
countablc manner from my vest pocket.
| know put it there"
"Ycs," dryly interrupted the elder gen.
tieman, "I remember seeing you put it
there, and you assured me al the time that
you never lost anything. So the brooch
is gone, ehy"
ayes, sir, it is gone But Mrs. Darling
may rest assured" Harry added, with q
glance toward that lady, THAT | will re.