The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-12-17
THE LAST BISCUIT.

THE LAST BISCUIT.
Bessie Lynn sat alone in the wide,
shady kitchen, busily engaged>in pick
ing over wortlebeiries. Without, the
sunshine of an August afternoon bathed
the green fields and dusty road that
wound to the village, and touched with
richer hue the nasturtiums and gera-
NUNS in the tiny garden, and the Vir-
ginia creeper that climbed and
blossomed above the door. Bessie made
O pretty picture as she sat on low
cricket with 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, and daintily-rounded maiden oi
about eighteen, with great dark eyes
and glossy curls, shading fair brow
and cheeks that had touch Of wild rose
bloom upon them.
The kitchen, too, was such 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 sat 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 insects alone disturbed the
peace. Bessie believed that every one
in the house was asleep but herself, and
yawned somewhat YEARLY as she tossed
over the berries, finishing the yawn
with bit of soliloquy uttered about
half aloud. "Oh, dear; this having
summer boarders isn't very pleasant"
Miss Bessie" said q voice in the
doorway so suddenly that Bessie nearly
upset her berries in her great surprise.
"Ohl Mr.. Vane, is it you?" she said,
bashfully, bending down to pick up q
few berries that had rolled from her
apron.
"I'll pick 'em up" exclaimed the new.
conner, tall and handsome-looking
youth of about twenty-one, with merry
blue eyes, short auburn hair curled
closely under straw hat, diving for the
missing berries with ungraceful dex.
terity. "Yes, it is 1, of course. Have
you forgotten your promise to go for
lilies with me this afternoon ?"
"Oh! but didn't say this afternoon,
you know; only some afternoon this
week" responded Bessie, demurely.
"Well, we'll call it this afternoon,
won't we?" was the persuasive rejoinder
as the straw hat was tossed on the chair.
"Tll help you. Lend me half that apron
and we will have them picked over in q
trice." "But 1 shall have supper to get.
Mothers away and there will be biscuits
to be made" insisted Bessie, turning
her face away to hide smile that would
curve her lips "Ncver mind that" re-
sponded Maurice Vane, bringing chair
to her side. "Tea's at six, isn't it and
its now only half-past two. Well be
back at FIVE, without fail, and have time
to get half the lilies. in the river" and he
began to assort q handful of berries with
much earnestness.
"W-e-ll," assented Bessie, after O
pause for consideration and q glance at
the clock, "I can go for a little while,
perhaps. Oh! don't stain your coat, Mr..
Vane." But Mr.. Vane was sublimely in.
different to his coat and worked with
such goodwill that the berries were
soon picked over, and Bessie and him.
self on their way to the river.
Five minutes later, Bessie with her
draperies dainty bestowed around her,
was seated in the stern of the boat
which, propelled by Maurice Vane's
practical hand, shot swiftly down the
stream. Although Mr.. Vane said to
Bessie five times within an hour that it
was lovely day, and although Bessie
assented every time, hardly think they
appreciated the beauty around them, for
Bessie was quite absorbed in the lilies
and the reflection in the water, and Mr..
Vane looked more at his companion
than at the aspect Of nature. They had
enough lilies to satisfy them and Bessie
was leaning backward and idly trailing
one hand in the water, when she sud-
denly uttered little scream and sat
erect with white cheeks, from which the
color had been frightened.
"Oh! almost lost it. How careless
1 ami" 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.
Pm always losingit and finding it again.
I wouldn't lose it..entirely for the world,
because it used to be grandmother's.
She gave it to me-"
"What curious old ring it isl" said
Mr.. Vane, without interest. "May
look at it? Don't trouble yourself to
take it off," he asked, drawing his oarf
and leaning toward his companion.
Bessie allowed her tiny brown hand to
lie in his aristocratic white one q
moment, then coquettishly withdrew it.
"Isnt it pretty?' she inquired, archly.
"Very pretty. Shall tell you how
10 guard against losing it in the futureY'
"Oh you, if you please"
"Well, wear this little ring Of mine
10 guard it, or better yet, exchange with
me- Give me yours and take this in
stead" said the young man. daringly.
Bessie looked at the heavy chased
gold ring he held out to her. then
looked back at the water with an inno-
cent "Oh, don't think it would ftl"
"Try it," suggested her companion,
softly.
Bessie shook her head but finally
agreed, blushingly, that it would be no
harm to try, and slipped the ring on
her forefnger.
"It'sa perfect fit. "cried Mr.. vane, de-
ightedly, "nothing can be better.
Why, Miss Bessie, you surely don't
mean to give it backYs
"Of course i do" was the saucy re-
ioinder. "Why notY'
"Because," said Mr.. Vane, speaking
EARNESTLY and disreoardino bis faars