, 1876-03-10
The Last Biscuit.

The Last Biscuit.
Prudence Holmes sat alone in the wide,
shady kitchen, busily engaged in picking
over whorteberries. 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,
peraniums, and zinnias in the tiny gar
den, and the heavy Virginia creeper that
climbed and blOssOmed above the door.
Prudence made a pretty picture as she sat
spread over her blue-sprigged muslin
dress to defend it from the stains that had
soiled her little brown hands. She was
a petite, daintily-rounded maiden of
eighteen, with great dark eyes and glossy
curls shading a fair brow and cheeks that
had touch of wild-rose bloom upon
them The kitchen, too; such a pretty
picture, with its well-scoured 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
locusts alone disturbed the peace. Pru-
dence believed that every one in the house
was asleep but herself, and yawned some
what YEARLY as she tossed over the ber-
ries, finishing the yawn with bit Of So
liloquy uttered half aloud:
a0h, dear! this having summer board
ers isn't very nice!"
Prudence" said voice in the
doorway so suddenly that Prudence nearly
upset her berries in her surprise.
"0h, Mr.. Wentworth, is it you2" she
said, bashfully, bending down to pick up
few berries that had rolled from her
apron.
am pick 'em upp' exclaimed the new
comer,-a tall and rather aristocratic-
looking youth of twenty-one, with merry
blue eyes, short auburn hair, curling
closely under a straw hat,-diving fol
the missing berries with ungraceful dex-
terity. ayes, it is 1, of course. Have
you forgotten your promise to go after
lilies with me this afternoonl'
"Oh, but 1 didn't say this afternoon,
you know, only some afternoon this week, y
responded Prudence, demurely.
"Well, we will call it this afternoon, y
won't wet" was the persuasive rejoinder,
as the straw hat was tossed on chair.
81 can't; I've got these berries to pick
over"
an help you. Lend me half that
apron, and we'll have them done in q
trice.n
"But 1 shall have supper to GET
Mothers away, and there are biscuit tn
make" insisted Prudence, turning he,
face away to hide a smile that would
curve her lips.
"Neyer mind that, responded Mr.. All.
bot Wentworth, bringing a chair to heT
ade. "Tea'sat six, isn't it9 and it's only
half-past two. Well be back by five,
without fail, and have time to get half the
lilies in the river" and he began to assoTt
handful of berries with much earnest
ness.
"W-e-l-ln assented Prudence, after q
pause for consideration and a glance al
the clock, 81 can go for a little willis
PeFhaps-Oh! don't stain your coat, Mr.
Wentworth
But Mr.. Wentworth was sublimely in.
different to his coat, and worked with such
agood will that the berries were soor
picked over, and Prudence and himself
on their way to the river. Five minute:
later, Prudence, with her draperies dain
nly bestowed around her, was seated in
the stern of little boat, which, propelled
by Mr.. Wentworth's practiced hand, shoi
81 T.
WentworthN said to Prudence five timei
within an hour that it was a lovely day
and although Prudence assented every
time, hardly think they appreciated thl
beauty around them, for Prudence wa
quite absorbed with the lilies and the re
nectiols in the water, and Mr.. Wentworth
looked more at his companion than at tn
aspect of Nature. They had gathereC
enough lilies to satisfy them, and Pru
denee was leaning backward and idl,
trailing one hand in the water, when shl
suddenly uttered little scream, and sa
erect, with white cheeks, from which tn
color had been frightened.
"Oh, l almost lost it'll How careles
am y she exclaimed, replacing an old
laSnioned ring, set with a tiny circle 0
iuoles, on ner finger.
Dld the water sweep it off your handi
suppose so. It's too large for me
I m always losing it and finding it again
wouldn't lose it entirely for the world
because 1t used to be grandmother's. Sh
gave it to me-"
What curious old ring it isr' sal,
mr.; wentworth, with interest. "May
took at ~ Don't trouble yourself t
axe 1t on, he added, drawing his oar
Sno leaning toward his companion. Pru
uence allowed her tiny brown hand t
~ ne IN his aristocratic white one moment
'ue1 eoquettshly withdrew it.
isn't 1t pretty2" she inquired, archly