Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-08-17
PEARLS AND BLACKBERRIES.


I can't believe the evidence of my own
scnscsw And as he enuncated the words
with impressive distinctness he looked SOL
emily at Harry Clifford.
He might have found a worse looking
individual to fix his regards upon than this
young NJ. D., who had taken his first les
sons in bones, muscles, and human anato-
my, with the therapeutics belonging there
to, in the little Office across the hall, and
was Just preparing to hang up single of
his own; for Harry Clifford was tall and
shapely, with rcd-brown hair and huge
auburn mustache, and merry eyes that
laughed like springs of water in the sun
shine.
Dr. Darling took off his spcctacles, folded
them, and deliberately placed them in their
case, still without taking his eyes from his
neophyte. Harry Clifford smiled but he
looked little embarrassed, notwithstand-
ing.
"She would have you in minute, if
you were to PROPOSE" pursued DR.. Darling,
dropping great red-hot splashcs of sealing
wax over a sheet of blotting- paper, and
stamping them with his monogram seal in
an aimless sort Of way.
eyes; but | tell you, Sir, I don't want
to propose" said Harry, staring at the in
terwined D. j. DPS as if they were the
most interesting things in the world.
"1ou don't want a pretty girl for a
wife 2"
"Not that pretty girl in particular, doc
tor"
"Nor fifty thousand dollars ?" added the
doctor, pronouncing the three momentous
words in manner that made them sound
very welghty indeed.
81 would not object to the fifty thousand
dollars in itself, Sir but, as mere appen-
dage to Miss Bradbury"
Il believe the boy is crazy" calculated
Dr. Darling. "Well, well, as the Scotch
proverb has it, "a wilfu' man malm hae
his way and | shall interfere no farther.
By-the-way, Harry"
eyes, Sir?"
"You are going to the city this after
noon ~
"That is my present intention, Sir"
"Stop at DepiGrre's will you, and leave
Mrs. Darling's pearl brooch to be mendcd.
ought to have done it week ago; but a
man can't think Of every thing"
certainly, doctors" and Harry Clifford
deposited the pearl brooch-an old-fash-
Toned ornament of massive gold, set with
tiny ed-pearls-in his waistcoat pocket.
"Rather a careless way to carry iewelry,
young man !" said DR.. Darling, elevating
his eyebrows.
"Oh, | never lose any thingw asserted
Harry, in an otl-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 easement, stirred
softly in the mid-July air; and Ursula
Percy, Mrs. Dunning's orphan ncicc, was
busy doing up" blackberries
Fresh as a rose, with hazel eyes, softened
to intense blackncss at times by the shadow
of their long lashes, and smiling scarlet
lips she stood thcre-her calico dress con-
cealcd by the house -wifely apron of white
diminity that was tied round her waist,
and her black curls tucked rcmorsely back
of her ears--looking dcmurely into the
bubbling depths of the prescrving-kettle,
like beautiful parody on one of the witches
in "Macbeth )" while on the whitley
secured pine table beyond glittering tin
vessel was upheaped with the beautiful Jet
black fruit, each separate berry flashing
like the eye Of an Oriental belle.
Ursula ~
The pretty young girl started, very near
ly dropping her skinner into the prcserv-
ing-kettc
How you startled me, Harry m
Harry advanced into the kitchen, with
an admiring look at the bright face, flushed
with little blush and good deal of stove
heat.
You are always at work, Ursula"
81 have got to work, Harry, to earn my
own living" Ursula Perry answered, with
slight uplifting of her exquisite black
brows: 81 am not an heiress, like Miss
Bradbury"
"ConfOund Miss Bradbury ~ exclaimed
our hero. 81 hear nothing but Miss Brad
bury the whole time"
"Shc slavery sweet young lady, Harry"
said Ursula, in mildly reproving accents.
dare say; but-what lot of black
berries you have here, to be sure Ursula ~
Forty quarts" said Ursula, dcmurely.
Aunt Darling always enjoys them SO
much in the winter
Harry put honey-sweet globule offruit
into his mouth.
BlackbeTies are a beautiful fruit, Ur-
sula."
"Very;" and Miss Percy SKINNED dill
gently away at the bubbIing caldron.
Especially when you are doing them
up" added the young NJ. D., with rather
clumsy effort at compliment.
Ursula did not answer. Harry walked
up to the range and took both her hands
in his.
Harry, DON'T! The berries will burn"
Let 'em burn, then who cares 2"
"But what do you want? ?" she asked,
struggling impotently to escape, and laugh
ing in spite of the grave look she fain
would have assumed.
"To see your eyes, Ursula"
She lifted the soft hazel orbs to her face:
then withdrew them with sudden shyness.
"Do you know what answer ] read in
those eyes, dearest % he whispered, after
moment OF two of silence, broken only
by the Kissing and simmering of the boiling
blackberries.
"No."
81 read yeS !"
"Oh, Harry, dare not. Uncleand aunt
are so determined you shall marry Miss
Bradbury"
"And am so determined mol to marry
her. Is a man to be given away as if he
were a house and lot, or bundle of old
clothes, | should like to know? Ursula
Harry, they are burning! | am sure