The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-12-29
THE LUCK OF TIE LAST BISCUIT.

wide, shady kitchen, busily engaged
in picking over whortleberries.-
Without, the golden sunshine of an
August afternoon bathed the green
fields and dusty road that wound
away to the village, and touched with
richer color the nasturtiums, sweet
peas, geraniums and zinnias in the
tiny garden, and the heavy Virginia
creeper that climbed and blossomed
above the door.
Prudence made pretty picture as
she sat on low cricket, with a big
calico apron spread over her blue
sprigged muslin dress to defend it
from the stains that had soiled her
little brown hands. She was pc
tite, daintily-ronnded maiden ofeigh-
teen, with great dark eyes and glossy
curls shading q fair brow and cheeks
that had, q touch of wild rosc bloom
upon them.
The kitchen, too; such pretty
picture, with its well secured floor
and dresser, its asparagus-topped
clock, its shining stove with punches
of herbs hung behind, and the great
bouquet of vivid cardinal flowers set
on the snowy table. The kitchen
was perfectly still save the buzz of
the flies and the click of the clock;
and outside the cricket and the To-
Gusts alone disturbed the peace
Prudence believed that every one in
the house was asleep but herself, and
yawned somewhat YEARLY asshe toss
ed over the berries, finishing the
yawn with a bit Of a soliloquy utter
ed half aloud:
."oh, dear! this. having summer
boarders isn't very nicev'
"AIiss Prudence" said a voice in
the doorway so suddenly that Pru-
dence nearly upset her berries in her
surprise.
ooh, Mr.. entworth, is it you?"
she said hashfully, bending down to
pick up q few berries that had rolled
from her apron.
'I'll pick 'em up!'' exclaimed the
new comer--a tall and rather aristo-
cratic looking youth of twenty-one,
with merry blue eye, short auburn
hair curling closely under q straw
hat-diving for the missing berries
with ungraceful dexterity. eyes, it
is !, of course. Have you forgotten
your promise to go after liIies?"
"Oh, but l didn't say this after
noon, you know; only some afternoon
this week." responded Prudence, de-
mureiy.
"Well, We will call it this after
noon, won't we2'' was the persuasive
rejoinder, as the straw hat was toss
ed on a chair.
81 can't; I've got these berries to
pick over"
"I'll help you. Lend me half that
apron and we'll have them done in a
trice.'' :
"But / shall have supper to get
Mothers away, and there are bis
cults to make" insisted Prudence,
turning her face away to hide smile
that would curve her lips.
"Never mind that responded Mr.
Abbott Wentworth, bringing chair
to her side. "Tea's at 6, isn't 1T
and it's only half past 2. Well be
back by 5, without fail, and have
time to get half the lilies in the riv
er,g and he began to assert q hand
full of berries with much earnest
ness.
"W-e-l-l," assentcd Prudence, afte,
pause for consideration and .
glance at the clock, II can go for {
little while, perhaps. Oh, don
stain your coat, Mr.. Wentworth
But Mr.. Wentworth was sublimel,
Indifferent to his coat, and Worket
; with such good will that the Der
rics were soon picked over, and Pru
dence and himself on their way t.
the river. Five minutes later, Pru
dence, with her draperies daintil.
bestowed around her, was seated il
the stern of little boat, which, pro
PEELED by Mr.. Wentworth's practice
/, hand, shot swiftly down stream. Al
though Mr.. Wentworth said to Prr
| dence five times within an hour tina
: it was lovely day, and althoug
a Prudence assented every time,
| hardly think they appreciated tn
t beauty around them, for Prudenc
e was quite absorbed with the lille
and the reflections in the water, an
t Mr.. Wentworth looked more at hi