Pearls And Blackberries.

the hissing and simmering of the boiling blackberries . " No . " " I read yes ! " " Oh Harry , I dare not . Uncle and aunt are so determined you shall marry Miss

Bradbury . " " And I am so determined not to marry her . Is a man to be given away as if he were a house and lot , or a bundle of old clothes , I should like to know 1 Ursula—" " Harry , they are burning 1 I am sure

of it . I can smell them . Oh , do let go my hands . " Harry Clifford deftly seized up the bi g iron spoon , and stirred the boiling depths vigorously . " It ' s all imaginationUrsula . "

, " No , it ' s not ; and if they are the least bit scorched they will be spoiled for Aunt Darling . " "But Ursula—"

The creaking sound of an opening door beyond , suddenly dissolved the tete-a-tete . Ursula almost pushed Harry out of the kitchen . "You will be on the piazza to-night when they have all gone to the concert ?" persisted Harry , asking her through a

crack in the door . "Yes , yes ; anything—everything—onl y go !" And Harry went—beginning to realize that love-making and preserving do not assimilate .

" Your pearl brooch , my dear V Oh , I remember now . I gave it to Harry more than a week ago to have it mended . I dare say its done by this time ; " and Dr . Darling turned expectantly to our hero . " I—I ' m very sorry , " began Harry ; "but

the brooch disappeared in the most unaccountable manner from my vest pocket . I know I put it there—" " Yes , " dryly interrupted the elder gentleman , "I remember seeing you put it there , and you assured me at the time that

you never lost anything . So the brooch is gone , eli 1 " " Yes , sir , it ' s gone ; but Mrs . Darling may rest assured , " added Harry , with a glance at that lady , "that I will replace it at the very earliest opportunity . " " Oh , it is of no consequence at all , " said that lady , with a countenance that said

plainly , "it is of the greatest consequence . ' " Perhaps we shall find it somewhere about the house . " But the days slipped by one by one , and the doom of the pearl brooch remained involved in the deepest mystery . Harry bought another oneand presented it to

, Mrs . Darling with a complimentary speech . Mrs , Darling laughed and p inned it into the folds of tho thread lace garb she wore at her throat . " But it's so strange what can have become of the other , " said Mrs . Darling .

It was in the golden month of September that the old doctor and Mrs . Darling made up their minds to ask Miss Bradbury to tea . " Will have pound cake and preserved blackberries , " said Mrs . Darling , who

always looked at the practical side of things . " And if Harry don't come to terms now , he never will , " added her husband , who didn't . " Now get out the best china , and the chased silver tea set , Ursula , " said Mrs .

Darling . " And wear your pink French cilico , it ' s the most becoming dress you have , " said her uncle , with a loving glance at the bright little brunette . And Ursula Percy obeyed both of their mandates . Miss Bradbury came — a handsome ,

showy young lady , with a smooth , " society " manner that made Ursula feel very " counterfeited " and common indeed . " Delicious preserves , these , " said Miss Bradbury . "They are of Ursula ' s making , " said Mrs . Darling , and Harry passed his plate

for a second supply . " I remember the day they were boiled or baked , or whatever you call it , " said he , with an arch glance at Ursula . Suddenly old Dr . Darling grew purp le in the face , and began to cough violently .

Every one started up . " He ' s swallowed the spoon , " cried Miss Bradbury . " Oh ! oh ! he ' s got the apoplexy ! " cried Mrs . Darling hysterically . " Uncle ! dearest uncle ! " piped up poor little Ursula , vaguely catching at a g lass of water . But Dr . Darling recovered without any more disastrous symptoms .