The Lincoln County herald., 1871-10-05
PEARLS AND BLACKBERRIES.


words with impressive distinctuess he
looked solemnly at Harry Clifford
l.e might have found a worse looking
individual to fI his regards upon than
this young NJ d, Who had taken his 6rst
lessons in bones, muscles and human snat.
omy, with tho therapeutics belonging
thereto, in the little Office across tho hall,
aud was just preparing to hang up .
shingle of his own; for Harry Clifford
was tall and shapely, with red brown
hair and huge auburn mustache, and
merry eyes that laughed like springs Of
water in the sunshine.
Dr. Darling took off his spectaclcs, and
folded them, and deliberately placed
them 10 their case, still without taking
his eyes from Sis neophyte. Harry
Clifford smiled; but he looked q little
embarrassed, notwithstanding.
"'ho would have you in minute, If
you were to propose" pursued DIR Oar
ling, dropping great red hot splashes Of
sealing wax over q sheet Of blotting-
paper, and stamping them with his mon.
ogram seal in an aimless sort of way
"Ycs; but | tell you, Sir, | don't
want to propose" said Harry, staring at
the intertwincd ID. j. DIS as if they were
the most interesting things in the world.
"You don't want a pretty girl for
wife? p
".Sot that pretty girl iu PARTICULAR
DOCTOR"
Nor fifty thousand dollars ?" added
the doctor, pronouncing the three mo
mentous words in q manner that made
them sound very wcighty indeed
IL would not object to the fifty thou
sand dollars in itself, Sir; but as mere
|appendaee to Miss Bradbury"
Il believe the boy is carzy!" ejacu
lated DR. Darling. "Well, we'll, as the
Scotch proverb has it, "a wilfu' man
maun hae his way, and I shall interfere
no farther. BY the way, Harry"
"Ye., Sir"
"You are going to tho city this after
noon p
THAT is my present intention, Sir"
Stop at Pepierre's, will you, and
leave Mrs. Darhngs pearl brooch to get
nended. ought to have done it week
v
thing
* ertainly, doctor; and Harry Cliff
ford deposited the pearl brooch -an old
ia. hioned ornament of massive gold, set
with tiny seed pearls-iu bis waistcoat
pocket.
Rather careless way to carry jewelry,
young man |" said Dr.. Darling, elevating
his eyebrows.
II never loco any y.hios" asserted
Harry, in an off hand sort Of way.
The morning sun was casting bright,
Pickering threads Of gold across the
kitchen floor the morning glories and
Madeira vines, trained across the case
ment, stirred softly in the mid July air ;
and Ursula Percy, Mrs. Darlings orr han
neice, was busy dong up" blackberrics
Fresh as rose, with hazel eyes soft
encd to intense blackness at times by the
shadow Of her long lashes, and smiling
scarlet lips, she stood there her calico
dress concealed by the house wifely
apron of white dimity that was tied round
her waist, and her black curls tucked
remorselessly back Of her ears looking
demurely into the bubbling depths of the
preserving kettle, like beautiful parody
on one Of the witches 10 Macbeth )"
while on the Whitley secured pine table
beyond, aglittering tin vessel was up
heapcd with the be .u,iful jet black fruit,
each separate berry flashing like the eye
of an oriental belle.
Ursula II
The pretty young girl started, very
nearly dropping her skinner into the
preserving kettle.
"How you startle me, Harryl"
Harry advanced into the kitchen with
an admiruig look at the bright face,
flushed with little blush and good
deal of stove heat.
"You are always at work, Ursula"
"l have got to work, Harry. to earn
my own living" Ursula Percy answered,
with slight uplifting of her exquisite
black brow; 81 am not an heiress, like
Miss Bradbury"
"Confound Miss Bradbury" exclaimed
our hero. ~ hear nothing but Miss
Bradbury the whole time"
"She is a very sweet youns lady,
Harry" said Ursula, in mildly rsprovipg
accents.
~ dare say; but what lot Of black
berries you have here, to be sure,
Ursula |"
"Forty quarts" said Ursula, demurely
"Aunt Darling always enjoys them SO
much in the winter"
Harry put honey .globule of fruit
into his mouth.
"Blackberries are Q beautiful fruit,
Ursula"
Avery" end Miss Percy skinned
diligently away at the boiling caldron.
Especially when you arc doing them
up" added the young M D., with rather
clumsy effort at compliment.
Ursula did not answer. Harry walked
up to the sango aud took both her hands
in his. .....- F... g