Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-10-03

made up their minds to invite Miss
Bradbury to tea.
eve will have a pound cake and
preserved blackberries, said Mrs. Dar-
ling, who always 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 -,.f. '... .....,. '.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 becoming 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 handsome,
showy lady, with smooth society
manner that made Ursula feel herself
very countrifed 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.
4" 1 remember the day they were
brewed, or baked, or whatever it is you
call it, said he, with ain arch glance at
Ursula. ...-
Suddenly old Dr.. Darling grew pur-
pie in the face, and began to cough vio-
lently. Every one started up.
"He's swallowad a spoonw cried
Miss Bradbury.
60! o! he's got the apoplexyr'
screamed Mrs. Darling, Historically.
" Uncle! dearest uncle!" piped up
poor little Ursula, vaguely catching at
glass of water.
But DR.. Darling recovered without
any more disastrous symptoms.
"It isn't the spoon, and I don't come
of an apoleptic family" said he.
"But, upon my word, this is about the
biggest blackberry ever came peril
ously near swallowingY And he held
out his wife's pearl brooch boiled up in
the >blackberries.
There was ,nomentary 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 noses.
"My goodness graciousw said Mrs.
Darling; How could it ever have
come into the preserved blackberries
I--don't-see-"
"But dol" said DR.. Darling, look
ing provokingly knowing. eyes,
see good many things now that I did
not see before"
And Harry, glancing across tho table
at Ursula, was somewhat consoled to
perceive that her cheek was q 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 were it not
for Mrs. Darling's delightful obtuse-
ness, 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. "I know now why
you didn't want to marry Miss Brad
bury. And I don't say that I blame
you much; only I came near choking
to death with Ursula's blackberry jam. "
And DR.. Darling laughed again until,
had his spouse been present, she would
have thought second attack of apo
plexy among the inevitables.
"Little Ursular he added, "who
would have thought it? Well, you
shall have my blessing"
The pearls were 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-knacks with which her
young husband loads her toilet table.
And every year, when she preserves her
blackberries, DR.. Darling comes to tea
and makes. ponderous witticisms, pre-
tending to search in the crystal pre-
serve dish for "boiled broochw
But then jolly old gentlemen will
have their jokes. ~.
~A Delaware girl puts on great
airs because she has been the cause ol
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