The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-08-21

bNb'NNNN VI WV VI NllGllitT blDhtll DlllN
by the Kissing and simmering of the boiling
blackberrics.
"NO.n
Z" read yes ~
"0h, Harry, dare not, Unclean aunt
are so determined you shall marry Miss
Bradbury"
"And am so determined mol to marry
her. Is n man to be given away as If he
were house and lot, or bundle of old
clothes, | should like to know1 USula-r
Harry, they are burning! am sure
Of It can smell them, Oh, do let 50
my handsp
Harry Clifford deity seized up the big
iron spoon, and stirred the boiling depths
vigorously.
"It's all your Imagination, Ursulam
"No, it's not and If they arc the least
bit scorchcd they will spoiled for Aunt
Darling.n
But, Ursula-n
The crtaking sound Of an opening door
beyond suddenly dissolved the Fte.d-tie.
Ursula almost pushed Harry Clifford out
of the kitchen.
"You'll be on the piazza tonight when
they have all gone to the concert2" he
persisted in asking through the crack in
the door.
"Ycs, yes, any thing--eyery thingi only
go~
And Harry went, beginning to realize
that loye-masing and preserving do not
assimiate.
"Your pearl brooch. my dcar7 Oh,
remember now gave it to Harry more
than week ago to have mcnded. I dare
say it's done by this time7" and DR.. Darl-
ing turned cXpcctantly to our hero,
"I-Em very sorry" began Harry ;
"but the brooch disappeared in the most
unHcountable manner from my vest pocket,
| know ] put it there
ayes" dryly interrupted the elder gen.
tlcman, al remember seeing you put 1t
there, and you assured me at the time that
you never lost any thing. So the brooch
is gone, ch Z"
"Yes, Sir, it is gone. But Mrs. Darling
may rest aSsurcd,n Harry added, with n
glanco toward that lady, "that | will re-
place it at the very earliest opportunity
"Oh, It is of no consequence at al p
said Mrs. Darling, with a countenance that
said plainly. 1t is Of the very greatest
consequence perhaps we shall find It
somewhere about the houSe.n
But the days slipped by ono by one, and
the doom Of the pearl brooch remained
involved in the deepest mystery. Harry
Clifford bought another one and presented
it to Mrs. Darling, with little compli-
mentary speech. Mrs. Darling 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 otherm said Mrs. Darling.
It was in the golden month Of September
that the old doctor and Mrs. Darling made
up their minds to invite Miss Bradbury to
tea.
Gwen have pound.cake and preserved
backbcrrics," said Mrs. Darling who al.
ways looked at the material side OF things.
"And Il 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.servicc, Ursula" said Mrs. Darl-
ing.
"And wear your pink French calico,
child; it's the most becoming dress you
havo,n said her uncle, with loving glance
at the bright little brunette.
And Ursula Percy obeyed both of their
mandates.
Miss Bradbury camc-a handsome, snowy
young lady, with smooth society" man
ner that made Ursula feel herself very
cOuntriIlcd and common indeed.
Delicious preserves these ~ said Miss
Bradbury.
"Thcy arc Of Ursula's making" said
Mrs. Darling. And Harry Clifford passed
his plate Tor second supply.
81 remember the day they were brewed,
or baked, or whatever it is you call it,"
said he, with an arch glance at Ursula.
Suddenly old DR.. Darling grew purple
in TIE face, and began to cough violently.
Every one started up,
"IIcs swallowed the spoonm cried Miss
Bradbury.
"oh, ohm he's got the appplexy p
screamed Mrs. Darling, hysterically.
"Uncle! dearest unclc!n piped up poor
little Ursull, vaguely catching at a glass
Of water.
But DR.. Darling recovered without any
more disastrous symptoms.
at isn't the spoon, and don't come Of
nm apoplectic family" said he. "But upon
my word, this is about the biggest black
berry ever came perilously near swallow.
ingm And he held out his wife'S pearl
brooch, boiled up in the blackberries
There was momentary silence around
the table; and then it was broken by
Mis-. Darlng-one Of those blessed old
laGies who never see an inch beyond their
own spectacled noses.
"My goodness gracious p said Mrs. Darl.
ing; show could It ever have come into
the preserved backberries I l-lon't-scc-"
"But l dO!n said Dr. Darling, looking
provokingly knowing. "Yes; sec good
many things now that didn't sec before
And Harry, glanCing across the table at
Ursula, was somewhat consoled to perceive
that her cheek was shade more scarlet, Il
that were possible than his own.
He followed the old doctor into his office
when the evening meal was concluded
Ursula did not know how she ever would
have lived through it, were it not for Mrs.
DNring's delightful obtuseness, and Sophy
Bradbury's surface.clIarm Of manner-anl
plunged boldly into the matter.
"Doctor-" he began, yaliantly; but
the old gentleman interrupted him.
"There's no need Of any explanation,
my boy" he said. "I.know now why you
didn't want to marry Miss Bradbury.
And don't say that | blame you much F;
only came very near choking to death
with UBula's blackberry Jam p
And Doctor Darling laughed again until,