The Press., 1884-07-03
SILVER HAIR AND GOLD.

eryth1ng seemed to De ecnO1ng the auda- ciOus query.
 ella had loved him ever since she used to sit on his knee and listen to fairy stories when she was a child, and he was study ing law with her father, who was now dead. And her childish love had gained color and fragrance, and had fastened it's root deep ill her being, as she grew to lovely young womanhood
 But John had little silver in his hair, : and Priscilla had nothing but gold ill hers. He felt like grave antediluvian among her gay young friends, and never imagined it possible that she could be the mistress of any house of hls more substantial than than an aerial castle i'll the rosy world of day dreams And so, ostrich like, he hid the avowal of his love, and never dreamed that its fact was plainly apparent to the hazel eyes of Priscilla Ballard.
 | How she longed for the courage of the Puritan Priscilla, to enable her to say, "Why don't you speak fory yourself, John ?" as he paused in his intercession for Will, to note the effect of his pleading.
 It was small wonder that Will Thorn dyke couldn't take No" for all answer, even after Priscilla had given it to him a dozen times, but last resort had i'm plored John Pardee's mediation aad inhu- ence. #s~ t4e4 ...
 John-modest, true-hearted fellow thought there was no reason why another should not have what he had no hope of winning, and promised to advocate Wills cause.
 But John's heart and tongue were at war, and his eloquence was not forcible enough to convince Priscilla ''I really cannot answer for the conse- quences, Priscilla" said he, ''if you give ! Will no encouragement. l came upon him standing on the cliff by Silver Falls, last Sunday, and he said that he had great mind to end his troubles, then and there, by tiinging himself over." 1 ''l wish he would," said Priscilla, sauci- Iy. "Or, at least, she added, hastily, q wish he would fall in love with Kitty Med ford. Why doesn't he? She can sing better than I, and her nose is straight, while mine is tip tilted like the petal of f1ower,' tapping her pretty retrousse nose and signing ruefully.
 kitty Medford ?, exclaimed John, with 1 infinite disdain. ''What is her summer day beauty compared to the fascination of Q girl like you, whose infinite variety Is her infinite charm ? If Will is in love. he isn't blind, by any means" And Johns expressive eyes looked at Priscilla with all admiration not strictly impersonal.
 eff you think I'm so charming, why don't you speak for yourself, John ?'
 That was what Priscilla said mentally, and longed to say audibly.
 "Why can't Priscilla Ballard be as brave as Priscilla Mullins ?" she thought. ''She can She will P
 al, al, T. T 1 in the violet folds of her dress, she began 'Why don't you" then stopped, while her hands, neck, face, and even her little ears, were turned to pink coral by the great, rosy wave of shame that came surging from her heart
 Suppose, after all, that she had been mistaken in thinking that John loved her, and he should answer her daring question by Because don't care to, Priscilla ?"
 Why don't I stop bothering you about Will? Well, Pm afraid Pve tired you out, Prissy, and I'll stop for tonight and say good-by," said John
 And his heart gave great throb of relief as he reflected that Priscilla had shown no signs of relenting toward Will.
 She found scrap of paper on the floor where John had been sitting. It was an acrostic on her name.
 ''He does care for mel" she decided, as she read the somewhat imping lines that were transfgured by mighty love.
 A few days later, little Bonny Ballard found her sister busily at work, painting. She climbed into chair, and, for moment, he1 mouth became scarlet ''O'' of admiration as she gazed, as if fascinated at the picture of a girl in old-time costume, with @ sweet, daring face and plentiful waving hair, crowned by a would-be demure little cap.
 ''Isn't she cute ?" said Bonny, at length. "What's her name ?"
 "Priscilla,'' answered her sister, deepening the rose-tinge on the dimpled cheek of the audacious little Puritan.
 ''Why, that's your name!'' exclaimed Bon. ny. 'Is her other name Ballard, too?" 7 ''No; Mullins"
 ''How ugly!'' exclaimed the fastidious Bon ny, shrugging her little shoulders in disgust ''She ought to get married and change it."
 ''She did she changed it to Alden"
 ''Was she nice ?" pursued Bonny.
 ''She believed in woman's rights" said Priscilla, with her pretty, dimpling smile.
 "Bonny shuddered. Her sisters words brought up bitter memories of Aunt Betsey and confscated peanuts, Aunt Betsey and in terdicted pickles.
 Aunt Betsey, who believed in woman's rights was ''not nice , consequently, ac cording to Bonny's logic Priscilla Mullins who held the same opinions, could not have | been ''n1ce" either.
 "But her picture is nice, if she wasn't. May have it p pleaded Bonny, wisely dis tinguishing the substance from the shadow.
 ''No, dear; it is for MT. Pardee," returned her sister.
 ''Does he like girls who believe in woman's rights ?"
 'sI hope sol" exclaimed Priscilla, fervent- ly. Otherwise, he won't like mel" she ad- ded, under her breath as she put the finish ing touches to the rosy trail of arbutus- blos- soms that encircled and blushed over the question, ''Why don't you speak for yourself, John !'
 * . The door-bell assaulted the ears of the Bal lard family with the noisiest Ting -aling- g-lang, cling -aling- -clang" to which it had ever given utterance, on the morning of the fourteenth of February.
 Whoever in the world can it be ?" exclaim- ed Mrs. Ballard, peeping between the parlor curtains. "Oh, its John Pardee land if John ever drank drop in his life, should say that he was drunk His hat is on one of his ears, and his overcoat is wrong-side out. Something terrible must have happened :! Run and see what he wants in such hurry, Prissy."
 Priscilla went, very slowly, and opened the door to John Pardee
 Priscilla, my darling, can it be true" began John.
 s'That this is St. Valentines day? Yes, I believe it is," said she, demurely, but with the least little wicked sparkle in her topaz