Pearls And Blackberries.

wax over a sheet of blotting-paper , and stamping them with his monogram seal in an aim ! ss sort of way . " Yee but I tell you , Sir , I don ' t want to propose , " and Harry stared at the intertwined D . J . D . 's , as if they were the most interesting things in tho world . "You don't want a pretty girl for a wife ?"

" Not that pretty girl in particular , doctor . " " Nor fifty thousand dollars , " added the doctor , pronouncing the three momentous words in a manner that made the sound very weighty indeed . " I would not object to the fifty thousand

dollars in itself , Sir ; but as a mere appendage to Miss Bradbury—" " I believe the boy is crazy , " ejaculated Mr . Darling . " Well , well , " as the Scotch proverb has it , " a wilftt' man maun hae his wayand I shall interfere no farther .

, By the way , Harry—" " Yes , Sir . " " You are going to the city this afternoon "

, " That is my present intention , Sir . " " Stop at Depierre ' s , will you , and leave Mrs . Darling ' s pearl brooch to be mended . I ought to have done it a week ago , but a man can't think of everything . " " Certain !;* , doctor ; " and Harry Clifford deposited the pearl broochan old fash

, ioned ornament of massive gold , set with tiny seed pearls , in his waistcoat pocket . "Rather a careless way to carry jewellery , young man T sajd Dr . Darling , elevating Ms eyebrows . " OhI never lose anything , " asserted

, Harry , in an off-hand manner . The morning sun was casting bright nickering threads of gold across the kitchen floor ; the morning-glories and Madeira vines , trained across the casement , stirred softly in the mid-July air ; and Ursula

Percy , Mrs . Darling ' s orphan niece , was busy " doing up " blackberries . Fresh as a rose , with hazel eyes , softened to intense blackness at times , by the shadow of their long lashes , and smiling scarlet lips , she stood there—her calico

dress concealed by the housewifely apron ° f white dimity that was tied around her waist , and her black curls tucked remorselessl y back off her ear—looking demurely utto the bubbling depths of the preserving kettle , like a beautiful parody on one of the

witches hi Macbeth ; while on the whitely scoured pine table beyond a glittering tin vessel was upheadod with the beautiful jet black fruit , each separate berry flashing like th ; eves of an eastern belle . " " Ursula !" The pretty young girl startedvery nearly

, dropping her skimmer into the preserving kettle . " How you startled me , Harry !'_' Harry advanced into the kitchen , with an admiring look at the bright face flushed with a litle blush and a good deal of stove

heat . " You are always at work , Ursula !" " I have got to work , Harry , to earn my own living , " Ursula Percy answered , with a slight uplifting of her exquisite black brows . " I am not an heiress , like Miss

Bradbury . " " Confound Miss Bradbury ! " exclaimed our hero . '' I hear nothing but Miss Bradbury the whole time . " " She is a very sweet young lady , Harry , " replied Ursula , in slightly reproving

accents . " I dare say ; but—what a lot of blackberries you have here , Ursula . " " Forty quarts , " said Ursula , demurely . " Aunt Darling always enjoys them so much in winter . " Harry put a honey-sweet globule of fruit in his mouth .

" Blackberries are a delicious fruit , Ursula . " " Very ; " and Ursula skimmed diligently at the bubbling cauldron . " Especially when you are doing them up , " added the young M . D ., with rather a clumsy effort at joinpliment .

Ursula did not answer . Harry walked up to the range and took hold of both her hands . " Harrv , don't ! The blackberries will burn . " " Let ' em burn , then ; who cares V

" But what do you want 1 " she asked , struggling imploringly to escape , and laughing iu spite of the grave look she would have assumed . " To see your eyes , Ursula . " She lifted those softhazel orbs to his

, face—then withdrew them with sudden shyness . " Do you know what answer I read in those eyes , dearest 1 " he whispered , after a moment or two of silence , broken onl y by T \ l