The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-02-23
uYes.n drYlY interrnnted the elder gen

a
tleman, " remember seeing you put it
there, and you assured me at the time that
you never lost anything. So the brooch is
gone, eh ?n
"Yes, sir, it is gone. But Mrs. Darling
may rest assured" Harry added, with
glance toward that lady, 'that | will re-
place it at the earliest opportunity"
sob, it is of no consequence at allW
said Mrs. Darling, with countenance that
said plainly, it is Of the very greatest con-
sequence, "perhaps we shall lind It some
where about the house."
But the days slipped by, one by one, and
the doom of the pearl brooch remained in
volved in the deepest mystery. Harry
Clifford bought another one and presented
it to Mrs. Darling, with a complimentary
speech. Mrs. Darling laughed, and pinned
it into the thread lace barb she wore at her
throat.
"But it is so strange what can have be-
come of the othern' said Mrs. Darling.
1t was in the golden month of Septem-
Der that the old Doctor and Mrs. Darling
made up their minds to invite Miss Brad
bury to tea.
"We'll have pound-cake and preserved
blackberries," said Mrs. Darling, who al
ways looked at the material side of things.
'And if 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 service, Ursula" said Mrs. Dar-
ling.
"And wear your pink French calico,
child; it's the most becoming dress you
have" said her uncle, with loving glance
at the bright little brunette.
And Ursula obeyed both their man
dates.
Miss Bradbury came-a handsome,
snowy young lady, with a smooth, $50
ciety" manner that made Ursula feel her.
self very countriied and common, indeed.
"Delicious preserves, these" said Miss
Bradbury.
"They are of Ursula's making," said
Mrs. Darling. And Harry Clifford passed
his plate for second supply.
81 remember the day they were brewed,
or baked, or whatever you call it." said he,
with an arch glance at Ursula.
Suddenly old DR.. Darling grew purple
in the face, and began to cough violently.
Every one started up.
''He's swallowed the spoon ~ cried
Miss Bradbury.
"Oh, oh, he's got the apoplexy ="
screamed Mrs. Darling.
''Uncle dearest uncle ~ piped up poor
little Ursula, vaguely catching at glass of
water.
But DR.. Darling recovered without any
more disastrous symptoms.
ut isn't the spoon, and | don't come of
an apoplectic family" said he. "But
upon my word, this is about the biggest
blackberry | ever came perilously near
swallowing And he held out his wife's
pearl brooch, boiled up in the blackberries.
There was molnentary silence around
the table and then it was broken by Mrs.
Darling-one of those blessed old ladies
who never see an inch beyond their own
specialized noses.
"My goodness gracious !" said Mrs.
Darling, Show could it ever have come
into the preserved blackberries? don't
500"
"But dol" said DIR. Darling, provok-
ingly knowing. .'Yes, | see a good many
things now | didn't see before ~
And Harry, glancing across the table at
Ursula, was somewhat consoled to per-
ceive that her cheeks were shade more
scarlet, if 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.
Darling's obtuseness, and Sophy Brad
bury's surface charm of manner-and
plunged boldly into the matter.
Doctor" he began, valantly but the
old gentleman interrupted him.
There's no need of any explanation,
my boy" he said. s. know why you
didn't want to marry Miss Bradbury. l
don't say that ! blame you much only |
came very near choking to death with Ur.
sula's blackberry JAM"
And DR.. Darling laughed again until, had
his spouse been present, she would surely
have thought a second attack of apopleXy
among the inevitables.
Little Ursula!" he added. " Who
would have thought of it? Well, you
shall have my blessing"
The pearls were all discolored, and the
gold of the old-fashioned brooch furnished
with the alchemy of cooking but Ursula
keeps the old ornament yet, more tenderly
treasured than all the modern knick-knacks
with which her young husband loads her
toilet-table. And every year, when she
preserves blackberries, DR.. Darling comes
to tea, and makes ponderous witticisms;
and pretends to search in the crystal pre-
serve dish for "boiled brooch J"
But then, jolly gentlemen will have their
jokes.