Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-09-18
The La st Biscuit.


Prudence Holmes sat alone in the
wide, shady kitchen, busily engaged IN
picking over whortleberries. Without
the sunshine of an August afternoon
bathed the green fields and dusty road
that wound away to the village, and
touched with rich color the nasturtiums,
sweet peas, geraniums and Zinnias in
the tiny garden, and the heavy Virgil
MIA creeper that climbed and blossomed
above the door. Prudence made
pretty picture as she sat on low cricket
with big calico apron spread over her
blGe-sprigged muslin dress, to defend
il 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 fair brow. and cheeks with
touch of wild-rose bloom upon them.
The kitchen, too, such pretty picture,
with its well-scoured floor and dresser,
it, asparagus-topped clock, its shining
stove, with punches of herbs hung be-
hind, and a great bouquet of vivid ear
dinal 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.
Prudence believed that everybody in
the house was asleep but herself, and
hot u,
over the berries, finishing the yawn
with bit of solilloquy uttered aloud:
''Oh dear this having summer board
ers isn't very nice"'
Miss Prudence" said a voice in the
doorway so suddenly that Prudence
nearly upset her berries in her surprise.
"Oh. Mr.. Wentworth, is it you - she
said bashfully, bending down to pick
up a few berries that had rolled from
her apron.
'''ll pick 'em up" exclaimed a new
conner, a tall and rather aristocratic-
looking youth of 81, with merry blue
eyes, short auburn hair curling closely
under straw hat-diving for the mis-
sing berries with ungraceful dexterity.
Yes, it is |, of course. Have you for
gotten your promise to go after lilies
with me, this afternoon?
''Oh, but | didn't say this afternoon,
You know; only some afternoon this
week." responded Prudence demurely.
"Well Wen call it this afternoon.
won't we?" was the persuasive rejoin-
der as the straw hat was tossed on the
chair.
Il cannot; I've got these berries to
pick over"
.'I'll help you. Lend me half that
apron and well have them done IN a
trice.'
''But l shall have supper to set.
Mothers away, and there are biscuit TO
make,' insisted Prudence, turning her
face away to hide smile that would
curve her lips.
"Never mind that responded Mr..
Abbott Wentworth, bringing a chair to
her side. Teas at 6. isn't is? and it's
only 2.30. Wen be back at . without
fail. and have time to get half the lilies
in the river" and he began to assort
a handful of berries with much earnest
ness.
sW-e-e-l." assented Prudence, after
pause for consideration and glance
at the clock, ~ can go for little while,
perhaps. Oh, don't stain your coat,
Mr.. Wentworth"
But Mr.. Wentworth was sublimely |
Indifferent to his coat, and worked with |
such good will that the berries were |
soon picked over, and Prudence and
himself on their way TO the river. Five
minutes later Prudence, with her
draperies daintily bestowed around her,
was seated in the stern of a little boat,
which propelled by Mr.. Wentworth's
practiced hand shot swiftly.down stream
Although Mr.. Wentworth said to Pru-
dence five times within an hour that 1t
was a lovely day, and although Pru-
dcnce assented every time, L hardly |
think they appreciated the beauty |
around them, for Prudence was quite |
absorbed In the lilies and the reflections
in the water, and Mr.. Wentworth look |
ed more at his companion than at the
aspect of nature. They had gathered
enough lilies to satisfy them, and Pru-
dence was leaning backward and idly |
trailing one hand in the water, when
she suddenly uttered a little scream,
and sat erect with white cheeks. from |
which the color had been frightened.
"Oh, | almost lost it, How careless
am" she exclaimed, replacing an old
fashioned ring set with tiny circle OF
rubies on her finger.
did the water sweep it off your
hand?''
81 suppose so. It's too large for me.
I'm always losing it and finding it again.
L wouldn't lose it entirely for the world
because it used to be grandmother's.
She gave it to me-"
"What glorious old ng it is!"'