The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-09-11

| but 16 is so strange what can hav
become of the other r. said Mrs. Darl
ing.
It was in the month of Septembe
that the old doctor and Mrs. Darliu
made mp their minds to invite Mis-
Bradbury to tea.
We will have pound cake and pre-
served blackberries, said Mrs. Darling
who always looked at the material sid
of things.
ssAnd if Harry don't come to term
now, he never will, +" added her husband
who didn't.
Sect out the best china, and tn,
| chased silver tea service, Ursula" saiC
Mrs. Darling.
4" And wear your pink French calico
child; it's the most becoming dress yol
have" said her uncle, with lovin,
glance at the bright little brunette.
And Ursula Percy obeyed both thei
mandates.
Miss Bradbury came-a handsome
showy lady, with a smooth "society'
manner that made Ursula feel hersel
very countrifed and common indeed.
Delicious preserves these p sale
Miss Bradbury.
"They are of Ursula's Making" sale
Mrs. Darling. And Harry Clifford
passed his plate for second supply.
"I remember the day they were
brewed, or baked, or whatever it is yoU
call it, said he, with an arch glance al
Ursula.
Suddenly Old Mr.. Darling grew pur.
pie in the face, and began to cough VIC
lently. Every one started up.
He's swallowed the spoon - cried
Miss Bradbury.
go! o. he got the apoplexy I!
screamed Mrs. Darling, hysterically.
"Uncle ! dearest uncle I" piped up
poor little Ursula, vaguely catching at
glass of water,
But DIR. Darling recovered without
any more disastrous symptoms.
1T isn't the spoon, and l don't come
of an apoplectic family" said he.
"But, upon my word, this is about the
biggest blackberry ever came peril
ously near swallowing" And he held
cut his wife's pearl brooch boiled up In
the blackberries.
There was a momentary silence
around the table; and then it was bro
ken by Mrs. Darling-one of those
blessed old ladies who never see an
inch beyond their noses.
"My goo lness gracious !" said Mrs.
Darling show could it ever have come
into the preserved blackberries L
don't-see-"
"But I do - said DIR. Darling, look
ing provokingly knowing. eyes, I see
a good many things now that I didn't
see before"
And Harry, glancing across the table
at Ursula, was somewhat consoled to
perceive that her cheek was shade
more scarlet, if that were possible, than
his own.
He followed the doctor into his office
when the evening meal was concluded.
Ursula did not know how she ever would
have lived through it we're it not for
Mrs. Darling's delightful obtuseness,
and Sophy Bradbury's surface view of
the matter.
doctor" he began valiantly; but
the old gentleman interrupted him.
"There's no need of any explanation,
my boy." said he. ST know now why
you didn't want to marry Miss Brad
bury. And I don't say that blame you
much only / came near choking to
death with Ursula's blackberry jam. y
And DIR. Darling laughed again until,
had his spouse been present, she would
have thought second attack of apo
plexy among the inevitables.
Little Ursulal I" he added, "who
would have thought it? Well, you shall
have my blessing"
The pearls we're all discolored, and
the gold of the old-fashioned brooch
tarnished with the alchemy of cooking
but Ursula keeps that old ornament
yet, more tenderly treasured than all
the modern knick- -knaeks with which her
young husband loads her toilet-table.
And every year, when she preserves her
DIR. Darling comes to tea
and makes ponderous witticisms, pre-
lending to search in the crystal preserve
lish for '' boiled brooch ]"
But then jolly old gentlemen will
have their jokes.