The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-11-10
NARCISSA'S MISTAKE.

1t was blackberry Jam day."
Every nation has its movable and i'm
movable feasts and festivities; every
household boasts its great anniversaries,
and to Narcissa Hall the blackberry-iam
season always brought pleasant associa-
tions.
There was the gathering of the beauti-
full, sparkling, et.black fruit, to begin
with, not always unaccompanied with
"reminiscences of rustic swains, who car
ried her baskets and found the incest
vines and bushes for her; the impromptu
lunch eaten under the shadow of great,
mossy rocks, with the mellow whistle of
linnet and thrush overhead the draught,
in vine-leaf cups pinned together by
thorns, from some deep hearved wood
land spring; the homeward walk in the
lengthening afternoon shadows. And
then Narcissa was born housewife.
Her jellies were always q success, her
preserves were beyond criticism, and she
was innocently proud of her prowess.
She was dark, brilliant little bru-
nette, with large, liquid eyes, whose
curled lashes turned piquantly upward,
and mouth as red and fresh as o wild
rose.
"The prettiest girl in all the country !"
rs Walter Milliman said to himself, as he
leaned over the kitchen window sill, and
beheld her stirring the bubbling mass of
sweets with an immense silver spoon,
which had come down, a sort of heir
loom, through half dozen generations
of Halls.
"Narcissa" he ventured to say, after
q second or two of respectful silence,
during which, although she must have
known perfectly well that he was there,
she never raised her eyes.
''Oh! is it you, Walter2'
"Don't let me interrupt you," said
Walter, little stitfly. 1--WE brought
you one of Dora's little white puppies
here in basket"
"a puppy" cried Narcissa, contempt
uously. 'Me puppy! hate dogs!"
Walters countenance fell perceptibly.
81 thought you said you would like
one of Doras little ones, began he.
81 don't see what can possibly have
put any such nonsense into your head !"
tartly retorted Narcissa.
"Then you don't want itl"
''No, certainly don't want it.
Dhb y NOh bOOh a kldy AAilOah PuIIOb
from Mr. Silber last week2" obviously.
"Well, why shouldn'tIl do so dote
on parrots-and this one says How dye
dor already"
"Ohp' said Walter, bitterly, as he put
the little downy, blue-ribboned puppy
back into its basket, and addressed it
satirically. Eyes, go back, Dorette ;
you're not a cackling, chattering parrot.
Wen have to find another home for you,
Dorette."
Narcissa bit her lip.
~ dare say Alice Jeffreys would like
the dog" said she. "Alice is fond of
pets"
Il dare say so, too, Walter rejoined,
dryly. "Good morning, Narcissal Oh,
by-the-way-"
"Well7"
Narcissa waa stirring away more Wig
orousy than ever now.
about the New Moon picnic. I sup
pose you will be going with Silber2"
81 shouldn't wonder" said Narcissa,
coloring up,
"Then needn't trouble about coming
for you2"
Certainly you need not "
So these silly young people parted.
Walter Milliman would have given his
| life for Narcissa Hall. Narcissa loved
the very sound of the young fellow
free, frank voice; and yet, nobody on
earth knew why, they had both contrived
to build up between themselves the
framework of a very pretty quarrel.
Chow ridiculous One of Dora's pup
! pies, indeed" said Narcissa, tossing her
head.
''That fat, old Silberw 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 crazy2n
The jam was success. Of course il
would be, being Narcissa's work; and
she was portioning it into glass jars with
dainty precision, when she heard q
heavy step among the sweet-williams and
I johnny-jumpups that bordered the patti
| outside.
THAT sounds exactly like Mr.. Silber,
she said to herself. "Horrid old man
what brings him here againl 1t was
only last week that he came with the
parrot; and father is with him. Well
/ do hope father won't tell HIM that
sold the parrot to Billy Johnson for fiv,
dollars, because he pulled the roses of
my best hat, and killed the canary, anC
kept us all awake nights, shriekinl
How dye doY how dye doP"