The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-10-25


for me now. Whya"
"She seemed uncommonly well post
ed for woman"
Under other circumstances Mrs. Car
Isle would have resented this, but now
she only queried: "De you think so'"
and that ended it.
Two or three invitations to thesewing-
room were quite sufficient to make Cous
in Mark perfectly at home there; and
after a week he became as familiar as
this:
eff you are not too busy. should
like to read you this article;" and this
is what Miss Kent would say
"Oh, lam never too busy to be read
to. Sit down by the window in this
comfortable chair and let's hear it,
After a couple of weeks, when the
gentleman came in, hoarse with sud
den cold, Miss Kent hustled about, her
voice full of sympathy, and brewed him
a dose which he declared he should
never forget to his dying day; but one
dose cured him. After this, Miss Kent
was really wonderful woman.
Ay. Jennie was an arch plotter. She
let them skirmish about, but not once
did she give them chance to be alone
together-her plans were not to be de-
stroyed by premature confdences-untl
the very evening preceding Cousin
Marks departure for California. Then
Miss Kent was very demurely asked to
remain and keep an eye on Master
Carlisle, whom the fond mother did not
like to leave quite alone with his nurse.
"We are compelled to be gone
couple of hours; but Cousin Mark will
read to you, won't you, cousin ?"
Certainly, if Miss Kent would like
it, replied the gentleman.
The infant Carlisle, thanks to good
managemt Mt, was never awake in the
evening, so the victims of this matri-
monial speculation would have plenty Of
time. The back parlor was the room
most in use during the evening, and out
of this room was large closet with a
la ge blind ventilator, and out OF this
closet door leading to the back stoop
and garden. Imagine mysurprise when
I was informed that Mr.. Carlisle was 60
ing to lodge, and that we, after profuse
warnings about the baby, and promises
not to be gone too long, were to proceed
to this closet overlooking the back
parlor via back gate and garden. IT,
vain I protested.
"Why, you goose" laughed Jennie,
"there'll be fun enough to last life
time. John wanted to come awfully,
but l knew he'd make noise and spoil
everything, 80 T wouldn't let him." The
willy schemer had taken the precaution
to lock the closet door from the outside,
80 there was no fear of detection. On
high bench, as still as two mice, We
awaited results.
Cousin Mark (as if arousing from
protracted reverie). "Would you like
to have me read Z"
Miss Kent. "Oh, I'm not particu
lar"
Cousin Mark. "Here is an excellent
article on elective affinities; how would
you like that ?"
Jenuie's elbow in my side almost took
my breath away.
Miss Kent. "Who is it by2"
uGuulo lClcdT lutO LILY oal j. AunV .
to gain time; sec if it isn't
Cousin Mark. "It's by prominent
French writer, I believe"
Miss Kent. 81 don't think I care for
translation tonight.
Cousin Mark. "Nor +; nor reading
of any kind. This is my last evening in
New York, Miss Kent"
Miss Kent. 81 hope you've enjoyed
your visit2"
Jennie Gnto my very head this time).
"She's as shy as q three-year-old colt. "
Cousin Mark. 81 didn't think |
should feel so sorry about leaving"
Jennie. "He is the wreck, You re-
member"
Miss Kent. 81 think I hear the
baby.
Cousin Mark. "Oh, no. You are
fond of babies, aren't you, Miss Kent"
No answer from Miss Kent.
Cousin Mark. 81 have been a very
lonely man, Miss Kent, but never real
lied how lonely the rest of my life must
be until I came to this house."
Jennie. "Ob, how lonely"
Cousin Mark. "Now 1 must return
to my business and my boarding house.
Think of that, Miss Kent-boarding
house-boarding house, for man as
fond of domestic life as am, Miss
Kent"
Just then we very distinctly heard
little purr, which sounded very like a
note OF intense sympathy from Miss
Kent.
Cousin Mark. 81 have friends in San
Francisco, of course, but no fireside like
this, nobody to care for me if I am i'll,
nobody to feel very badly if I die.
Jennie. "That'll fetch her."
Miss Kent (voice little quivering).
"I wish l lived in San Francisco. You
could always call upon me if you needed
Jennie in convulsions.)
Cousin Mark (abruptly). elf you
will go to California with me, Miss
Kent, III wait another week"
Miss Kent. "Why, Mr.. Lansing,
what do you mean' What would folks
say?"
Cousin Mark. "We don't care for
folks, Miss Kent. If you'll 60, we will
have house as pleasant as money can
make it. You shall have birds, and
flowers, aud horses, and all the scien-
tific monthlies you want-deuced if ycu
shan't- you shall never sew silt
for anybody but me. Will you be my
wife9
just then Jennie and stepped mp an
other peg, and there was that little oil
maid, who wouldn't marry the best man
that ever lived, hugged close to the
mans breast who wouldn't marry the
best woman that ever lived, not even to
save her life. We came away then, but