Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-06-20

, W IHNILc MISS DFduOuTy LO Tea.
"We'll have pound cake and per
served blackberries,' said Mrs. Oar
ling who always looked at the ma
} terial side of things.
"And if Harry don't come tC
terms now, he never WILL" added
her husband, who didn't.
"Get out the best china and the
chased silver tea service, Ursula, >
said Mrs. Darling.
"And wear your pink French
calico, child ; it's the most becom'
ing dress you have,' said her uncle
with a loving glance at the bright
little brunette.
And Ursula Percy obeyed both
their mandates.
Miss Bradbury came-a hand.
some, snowy young lady, with a
smooth "society" manner that made
Ursula feel herself very countrifed
and common indeed.
"Delicious preserves thesew " said
Miss Bradbury.
'They are of Ursula's making"
said Mrs. Darling. And Harry Cliff
ford passed his plate for a second
supply.
III 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 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 Historically.
"Uncle! dearest uncle wpiped up
poor little Ursula, vaguely catching
at glass of water.
But DR.. Darling recovered with
out any more disastrous symptoms.
'It isn't the spoon, and | don't
come of an apOplectic family" said
he. ''But, upon my word, this is
about the biggest blackberry l ever
came perilously near swallowing!'
And he held out his wife's pearl
brooch, boiled up in the blackber-
ries.
There was momentary 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 spec
tacled noses.
my goodness gracious!" said
Mrs. Darling; Chow could it ever
have come into the preserved black.
berriesi I-dOn't-see-"
"But l do" said DR.. Darling
looking provokingly knowing. "Yes
l see good many things now that
/ didn't see before"
And Harry glancing across the
table, at Ursula, was somewhat con.
soled to perceive that her check
was a shade more scarlet, if that
were possible, than his own.
He followed the old doctor into
his Office when the evening meal
was concluded-UrsuIa did not
know how she ever would have
lived through it, were it not for Mrs.
Darling's delightful obtuseness, and
Sophy Bradbury's surface charm of
manner-and plunged boldly into
the matter.
"Doctor-" he began, valiantly
but the old gentleman interrupted
him.
"There's no need of any explana.
ton, my boy" he said. ~ know
now why you didn't want to marry
Miss Bradbury. And l don't say
that blame you much +; only came
near choking to death with Ursula's
blackberry JAM"
And DR.. Darling laughed again
until, had his spouse been present,
she would have surely thought a
second attack of apoplexy among
the inevitables.
"Little Ursula ~ he added. "Who
would have thought of its 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 that
old ornament yet, more tenderly |
treasured than all the modern knick-
knacks with which her young hus-
band loads her tOilet-table. And
every year, when she preserves her
blackberries, DR.. Darling comes to
tea, and makes ponderous witticisms,