The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1885-07-17
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.

wouldn't marry the best man that
ever hvedl" And she meant it, or,
what answers the same purpose, she
thought she meant it. After all, how
few of us ever really know what we
mean?
81 engaged myself once, when a girl,
and the simpleton thought he owned
me. Isoon took that conceit out Of
him, and sent him away about his
business" The voice was now a little
sharp. What wonder, with so CALLING
q memory? "Nomans shall ever tyran-
nize over me-never! What the mis-
chief do yousupposeis the matter with
this sewing machine?"
Annoyed at you logic, most like
ly," said my friend, a bright young
matron as she threaded her needle.
'rMy husband is not a tyrant, Miss
Kent"
1t was quite evident, by the express
sion of the dressmaker'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 lit
tie woman, fair as girl, and plump as
robin. She wasn't ashamed to own
that she was forty years old and an
old maid. She had earned her W
living most OF her life and was proud
of it. Laziness 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 youhadn't
in much shorter time than it takes
me to write it. Her views on all sub
jects were strikingly original, and not
to be combatted.
"What are you going to do when
you are oid?" persisted the mistress of
the establishment.
"What other folks do, ] suppose"
"But you can't work forever"
"Can't say that / want to-"
seNow, Miss Kent, a husband with
means, a kind, intelligent man
~ don't want any man. / tell you,
Miss Carlisle ! wouldn't marry the best
man that ever lived, if he was rich as
Crpsus, and would die if I'd have him.
Now, if you haze exhausted the a
riage question, | should like to try on
your dress"
There was something behind all this,
/ knew well. Ny friends eyes danced
with fun; and as Miss Kent fitted the
waist, she threw me a letter from the
bureau. Read that" she said, with
q knowinglook. "Itmay asnuseyou."
This is what the letter said:
Mx DEAR JESsIE.-I shall be delighted to
spend q month with you and your husband.
There must be, however. one stipulation
about my visit-you must say no more
about marriage ] shall never be foolish
again: Twonty years ago to-day ! wrecked
my whole life.
Bebter embark IN q new map hadn't
he7" put in Jennie, sotto voce.
30 unsuitable was this marriage. so utterly
and entirely wretched have been it's conse-
quences. that am forced to believe the
marriage institution a mistake. So, for
the last time. let me assure you that I
wouldn't marry the best woman that ever
lived, II by 80 doing / could save her life.
Your old cousin, MARK LANSING"
ssRich, isn't he?n said Jennie, and
then pointed to the chubby little figure
whose back happened to be turned.
Ishook my head and laughed.
you'll see,D said the incorrigible.
"Ses what" inquired Miss Kent,
quite unaware Of our pantomine.
HsThat the parties which are chem
ically attracted will unite. OF course
an alkali and an acid. Don't you
think this sleeve a little too long, Miss
Kent"
mot after the e is of. But what
were you saying, Mrs. Carlisle? The
other day at Professor Boynton's, /
raw some wonderful experiments"
"Did they succeed?" inquired Jennie,
demurely.
Beautifully
$50 win mine. I never botched q
job IN my life.
II don't think ] quite understand
you, = replied Miss Kent, perplexed.
mo? / always grow scientific when
talking about marriage, my dear
Bother" was all the little woman
ssaid, but the tone was much better
natured than / expected.
WIS Tho nowf u.nntr orr,uf~ Mo ~@.~~I
and 4 liked him at once. An unhappy
marriage would have been the last