The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1886-10-28
NARCISSA'S MISTAKE.
Il was ublackherrH. am day.

tions
There was the gathering of the beauti-
full, sparkling, jct.black fruit, to begin
with, not always unaccompanied with
"reminiscences Of rustic swains, who car
ricd her baskets and found the incest
vines and bushes for her: the impromptu
: lunch eaten uader the shadow Of great,
moSsy rocks, with the mellow whistle Of
linnct and thrush overhead the draught,
in vine-leaf cups, pinned together by
tho-ns. from some deep-hearted wood
land spring; the homeward walk in the
lengthening afternoon shadows. And
then NarclsSa was born housewife.
Her jellies were always success, her
preserves were beyond criticism, and she
was innocsntly proud Of her prowess.
She was dark, brilliant little bru-
nc;te,, with large. liquid eyes, whose
curled lashes turned piquantly upward,
anil mouth as red and fresh as wild
roses
The prettiest girl in all the country"
as Walter Millinan said to himself, as he
leaned over the kitchen window sill, and
beheld her stirring the bubbl:ng mass of
sweets with an immense silver spoon,
which had come down, a sort of heir
loom, through half dozen generations
of Halls.
''Narcissaw he ventured to say, after
q second or two of respectful silence,
during which, although she must have
known perfectly we'll that he was there,
she never raised her eyes.
oh is it YOU. Walter2'
Don't let me interrupt you," said
Walter, little stitiiy. "Tve brought
you one of Dora's little white puppies
here in basket"
"A puppy cried Narcissa, contempt
poasly. Me puppy! hate. dogs"
Walters countenance fell perceptibly.
81 thought you said you would like
one of Dora s little ones" began he.
81 don't see what can possibly have
put any such nonsense into your headm
tartly rytorted Narcissa.
Then you don't want it,"
NO, / certainly don't want it,"
''But YOU took gray African parrot
from Mr.. Silbcr last week." obviously.
We'll, why shouldn'tI? l do so dote
on parrots-and this one says 'How dye
do!' already"
"Oh!" said Walter, bitterly, as he put
the little. downy, blue -ribboned puppy
back into its basket, aud addressed it
satirically. "Yes. go back, Dorettc;
you're not cack!ing. chattering parrot
Well have to find another home fer you,
Dorcttc"
Narcissa bit her lip.
Il dare say Alice Jeffreys would like
the dog" said she. "Alice is fond of
pets"
Il dare say so, too" Walter rejoincd,
dryly. "Good morning, Narcissa. Oh,
by-tAe-way-"
"Wcl7"
Narcissa waa stirring away more Wig
orously than ever now.
About the New Moon picnic. sup
pose you will be going with Silbcr:"
II shouldn't WONDER" said Narcissa,
colo!ing up.
Then needn't trouble about coming
for your.
"Ccrtainly you need not"
80 these silly young people parted.
Walter Milliman would have given his
life for Narcis>a Hall. Narcissa loved
the very sound of the young fellows
free. frank voice; and yet, nobody On
earth knew why, they had both contrivcd
to build up between themselves the
framework Of very pretty quarrel.
How ridiculous, One of Dora's pup
pies, indeed" said Narcis$a, tossing her
head.
That fat, old Silber" pondered Wal
ter "a man old enough to be her
father! And weighing two hundred
and fifty pounds at the very least! Is
the girl craZy2"
The jam was success. Of course it
would be, being Narcissa's work; ard
she was portioning it into gla,s jars with
dainty precision, when she heard a
heavy step among the williams and
Johnny iumpups that bordeIed the pa.h
outside
That sounds exactly like Mr. Slber,"
she said to herself "Horrid cid man.
what brings him here again? 1t was
only last week that he came with the
parrot: and father is with him. Well,
/ do hope father won't tel! HIM that !
sold the parrot to Billy johnson for five
dollars, bccaa he pulled the roses off
my best hat, ard killed the canary, and
kept us all awake ni"hts, shrieking
How d'y" do? how dye do""
And, this metlitat.ng, Narcissa shrank
behind the c'cmatis VINES, that made a
curtain Of natIrai green across the case
ment.
Hush those were surely the rumbiing,
sonorous tones of the Squire himself.
Il s'posc, Hail. said he, with a
chuckie, "you consider me too old ior
that sort O. thing"
well, don't know" the good
farmer replied, slowly. TASTES differ"
''But ef I've took fancy to the little
thing"
"Hum!" said Mr. Hall, doubt;ully.
And Iii give her real good home.
\ o. ,~ool .. ,l h,c Iaro