Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-04-14
THE LAST BISCUIT.

shady kitchen Justly engaged picking over
whortle- berries. Without the golden sun
shine Of an August afternoon bathed the
green fields and dusty road that wound
away to the village, and touched with rich
er color the nasturtiums, sweet peas, gera-
NUNS and ZainiaS in the tiny garden, and
the heavy Virginia creeper that climbed
and blossomed above the door. Prudence
made a pretty picture as she sat on a low
cricket, with big calico apron spread over
the blue-sprigged muslin dress to defend it
from the stains that had soiled her little
brown hands. Sh , was a pretty daintily-
rounded maiden of eighteen, with great
dark eyes and glossy curls shading fair
brow land cheeks that had touch Of Wild
rose bloom upon them.-The kitchen, too,
such pretty picture, with it's well-seoured
floor and dresser, its asparagus-t 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 had disturbed the peace. Pru-
denee 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 solil-
oquy uttered half aloud.
ooh, dear this having summer board
ers isn't very nice.''
miss Prudence" said voice in the
doorway so suddenly that Prudence near
ly upset her berries In her surprise.
sob, Mr.. Wentworth, is it you ?" she
said, bashfully, bending down to pick up
few berries that had rolled down from
her apron.
s'I'll pick 'em up!' exclaimed the new
conner, a tall and rather arstocratic look
ing youth of-twenty-one, with merry blue
eyes, short auburn hair, curling closely
under straw hat--diving for tie missing
berries with ungraceful dexterity.-"Yes,
1t is I, of course. Have you forgotten
your promise to go after lilies with me this
afternoon"
"Oh, but I didn't say this afternoon,
you know; only some afternoon this week -
responded Prudence demurely.
"W ell, we will call it this afternoon,
won't we?" was the persuasive rejoinder,
as the straw hat was tossed on a chair.
81 can't; I've got these berries to pick
over"
"I'll help you. Lend me half that apron,
and you will have them done in a trice. u
"But | shall have supper to get
Mothers away, and there are biscuits to
Make" insisted Prudence, turning her
face away to hide smile that would curve
her lips.
'Never mind that, responded Mr.. Alb.
bott Wentworth, bringing a chair to her
side. ''Tea's at 6, isn't it? and it's only
2:30. Well be back by 5, without fail
and have time to get half the lilies in the
river" and he began to assert a handful OF
berries with much earneGtness.
SWELL" assented Prudence, after a
pause for consideration and glance at the
clock, III can go for little while, perhaps
Oh, don't stain your coat, Mr.. Went
worth"
But Mr.. Wentworth was sublimely in
different to his coat, and worked with such
good will that the berries were soon
picked over, and Prudence and himself
were on the way to the river. Five min
| utes later Prudence, wirh her draperies
dainty bestowed around her, was seated
| in the stern Of a little boat, which pro-
PEELED by Mr.. Wentworth's practice hand
shot swiftly down stream, Although Mr.
Wentworth said to Prudence five times
within an hour that it was fine day, and
although Prudence assented every time
I hardly think they appreciated the beau
| ty around them, for Prudence was quite
absorbed in the lilies and the reflection in
the water, and Mr.. Wentworth looked
more at his companion than TO tine aspect
of nature. They had gathered enough Ii
lies to satisfy them, and Prudence was
leaning backward and idly trailing one
hand in the water, when she suddenly ut
tered little scream, and sat erect, with
white cheeks, from which the color ha6
been frightened.
| I'll, dlllOSt lOSt Ill HOW careless
am !" she exclaimed, replacing an old
fashioned ring, set with very tiny circle
of rubies, on her finger.
''Did the water sweep it off your hand p
II suppose 50. It's too large for me. I'm
always losing it and finding it again,
wouldn't lose it entirely for the world. be
cause it used to be grandmother's. Sht
gave it to me.''
"What a curious old ring it u.s." sale
IMr. Wentworth, with interest. 'sMay ]