The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-09-28
MATCH-MA KING.

MATCHMAKING.
81 WOULDN'T marry the best man
that ever livedH'
And she meant it, or, what answers
the same purpose, she thought she
meant it. After all, how few of lis
ever really know what we do mean?
81 engaged myself once when girl,
and the simpleton thought he owned me.
l soon took that conceit out of him,
and sent him about his business.
The voice was now trihe sharp.
What wonder, with so CALLING men,
DRY?
"No man shall ever tyrannize over
me-never! What the mischief do
you suppose is the matter with this
seWing-machine?
"Annoyed at your logic, most like
ly," said my friend. bright-eyed
young matron, as she threaded her
needle.
"My husband is not a tyrant, Miss
Kent"
81 am glad you are satisfied" was
the laconic answer.
1t was quite evident by the express
sion of the dress-maker's face that she
had formed her own opinion about my
friends husband, and was quite com
petent to form and express an opinion
on any subject.
Miss Kent was a little woman, as
fair as a girl and as plump as a robin.
| She wasn't ashamed to own that she
was forty years old and an old maid.
She had earned her own living most of
her life, and was proud of it. Lazi-
ness was the one sin Miss Kent could
not forgive. She was a good nurse, a
faithful friend, and a jolly companion ;
but stroke her the wrong way, and
you'd wish you hadn' in much shorter
time than it takes me to write it. Her
views on all subjects were strikingly
original, and not to be combated.
"What are you going to do when
you are old?" persisted the mistress of
the establishment.
"What other folks do, suppose. y
but you can't work forever.
"Can't say that l want to-
"NOw, Miss Kent, a husband with
means; kind, intelligent man
81 don't want don't want any
man. | tell you, Mrs. Carlisle, |
wouldn't marry the best man that ever
lived, if he was as rich as CrGsus, and
would die if | didn't have him. Now
if you have exhausted the marriage
question, l should like to try on your
dress"
That there was something behind all
this l knew well. My friends eyes
danced with fun; and as Miss Kent
fitted the waist, she threw me letter
from the bureau.
Read that" she said, with aknow-
ing look. cit may amuse YOU
This is what the letter said:
My DEAR JENNIE: l shall be delighted to
spend a month with you and your husband.
There must be, however, one stipulation
about my visit-you must promise to say no
more about marriage. | shall never be fool
ish again. Twenty-Five years ago today l
wrecked my whole life.
"Better embark in a new ship,
hadn't hep put in. Jennie, soto cOce.
So unsuitable was this marriage, so utter
ly and entirely wretched have been its con-
sequences, that am forced to believe the
marriage institution a mistake. So, for the
last time, let me assure you tibet wouldn't
marry the best woman that ever lived, if by
so doing l could save her life.
Your old cousin, MARK LANSING.
erich, isn't it?' said Jennie, and
then pointed to the chubby little
figure whose back happened to be
turned.
shook my head and laughed.
"You'll see," continued the in
corrigible.
"See what 2" inquired Miss Kent,
quite unaware of our pantomime.
"That particles which are chemi-
cally attracted will unite. OF course
an alkali and an acid-Don't you think
this sleeve is a little too long Miss
Kent ?"
"Not after the seam is off. But
what were you saying about alkalies
and acids, Mrs. Carlisle? The other
day at Professor Boynton's l saw some
wonderful experiments.
Ibid they succeed?" inquired
Jennie, demurely.
Beautifully"
$50 will mine. never botched a
job in my life
81 don't think 1 quite understand
you," said Miss Kent, perpleXed.
"No? 1 always grow scientific
when talking about marriage, my
DEAR
"Botherv' was all the little woman
said, but the tone was much better
natured than expected.
The next week Cousin Mark arrived,
and l liked him at once. An unhappy
marriage would have been the last
thing thought of in connection with
the gentleman. He had accepted the
situation like man, Jennie told me,
and for fifteen years carried load of
misery that few could have endured.
Death came to his relief at last, and
now the poor fellow honestly believed
himself an alien from domestic happi-
ness.
Singular as it may appear, Cousin
Mark was the embodiment of good
health and good nature; fifty. perhaps,
though he didn't look it, and as rotund