The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-11-23

uonuo, q hluu, lutclllSouG man
4 81 don't want. I don't want an,
man. ] tell you, Mrs. Carlisle, l Iwouldn'
marry the best man that ever lived, i
he was as rich as Crnsus, and woult
die If didn't have him. Now, if yo,
have exhausted the marriage question
should like to try en- your dress.''
That there was something behind al
| this I knew well My friends eye.
danced with fun; and as Miss Kent fittet
! the waist, she threw me q letter from
the bureau.
"Read that" she said, with know.
ing look. 1T may amuse ,you.''
This is what the letter said:
MY DEAR JENNIE: I shall be delighte;
to spend month with you and your hus
band. There must be, however, one stip
ulation about my yisit-you must promise
to say no more about marriage. / shall
never be SO foolish again. Twenty.dy,
years ago to-day | wrecked my whole life.
Better embark in new ship, hadn' Y
hep" put in Jennie, soto Uoce. .etI., at,
So unsuitable was this marriage, so utter.
ly and entirely wretched have been its con.
sequences, that / am forced to believe the
marriage institution mistake. So, for the
last time, let E1e assure you that wouldn't
marry the best woman that ever lived, il BY
so doing could save her life. ..e...l,.-t.,'
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.
Ishook my head and laughed.
"You'u see," continued the incor-
rigible. u . on a9ii'idlai j 9a5< =
See whatp" inquired Miss Kent,
quite unaware Of our pantomime.
"That particles which are chemically
attracted will unite. Of course an al
kali 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 I saw some won
derful experiments
"Did they succeed?" inquired Jen-
ME, demurely.
Beautifully"
"So will mine. I never botched a
job in my life.''
81 don't think I quite understand
you," said Miss Kent, perplexed.
"No? / always grow scientific when
talking about marriage, my dear"
"Bother!" was all the little woman
said, but the tone was much better ma
tured than I expected.
The next week Cousin Mark arrived.
and liked him at once. An unhappy
marriage would have been the last
thing thought of in connection with the
gentleman. He had accepted the stu
alton like a 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 happiness.
Singular as it may appear, Cousin
Mark was the embodiment of good
health, and good nature so, perhaps,
though he didn't look it, and as rotund
and fresh in his way as the little dress
maker was in hers. As I looked at him,
| defied any body to see one and not be
Immediately reminded of the other.
True, he had more Of the polish which
comes from travel and adaptation to
differeut classes and individuals, but he
was not whit more Intelligent by ma
ture than was the bright little woman
whom Jennie had determined he should
marry. boa asg Ia2a{.a$
81 was surprised you should think
necessary to caution me about that,
Cousin Mark" cooed the Potter, as
she stood by his side looking out of the
window. "The idea Of M being so
ridiculous!''sand in the 50 ne breath,
with a wink at me, econ 8, let us 90
10 my sitting-room. We are at work
there, but it won't make any difference
10 you, will it?'' ''z>i e''
OF course Cousin Mark answered
g No." promptly, as innocent as dove
about the trap being laid for him.
"This is my cousin-Mr.i Lansing,
Miss Kent" and Mr.. Lansing bowed
politely, and Miss Kent arose, dropped
her scissors, blushed, and sat down again.
Cousin Mark picked up the refractory
and then Mrs. Jennie pro-
,eeded, with rare caution and tact, to
ler labor of love. Cousin Mark, at her
'equest, read aloud an article from the
Popular Science Monthly, drawing Miss
Kent into the discussion as deftly as
vas ever fly drawn into the web of the
"Whc was that lady, Jennie P"
Cousin Mark inquired in the evening.
"Do you mean Miss Kent?'' said
Iennie,f looking up from her paper.
Oh, she is lady have known for
ong time. She is making some dresses
or me now. Why?"