Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-07-17
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.

Wouldn't marry the best man that
ever ived!" 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? 'rs.>-,' = - -
81 engaged myself once, when girl,
and the simpleton thought he owned
me. soon 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
a memory? "No man shall ever tyran-
nize over me-never What the mis-
chief do you supposeis the matter with
this sewing machine?"
"Annoyed at you logic, most like
Iy," said my friend, a bright young
matron as she threaded her needle.
my husband is not g. tyrant, Miss
Kent
It 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 lit
tie woman, fair as a girl, and 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, Laziness was the one sin Miss
Kent could not forgive. She was q
good nurse, faithfel friend, and
Jolly companions; but stroke her the
wrong way and you'd wish you hadn't
in much shorter time than it takes
me to write it. Her views on all sub
jects we're stril<ing1y original, and not
to be combattcd.
"What are you going to do when
you are old?" persisted the mistress Of
the establishment.
"What other folks do, I suppose"
"But you can work forever"
"Can t say that I want to-"
"Now, Miss Kent, husband with
means, a kind, intelligent man
Il don want any man. | tell you,
Miss Carlisle I wouldn' t marry the best
man that ever lived, if he was rich as
Crusus, and would die if I'd have him.
Now, if you have exhausted the mar
riage question, should like to try on
your DRESS
There was something behind all this,
I knew we'll. 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
a knowinglook. Itmay amuse you"
This is what the letter said:
My DEAR JENNIE.-I shall be delighted to
spend a month with you and your husband.
There must be, however: one stipuiat ton
about my visit-you must say no more
about marriage. l shall never be foolish
again. Twenty years ago to-day wrecked
my whole life.
s'Bettcr embark in a new ship, hadn't
hc?" put in Jennie, soto voce.
So unsuitable was this marriage, so utterly
and entirely wretched have been it's conse-
uuences, that am forced to believe the
marriage institution q mistake. So, for
the last time, let me assure you that |
wouldn't marry the best woman that ever
lived, if by SO doing could save her life.
Your old cousin, MARKLANsISG."
erich, isn't he?" said Jennie, and
then pointed to the chubby little figure
whose back happened to be turned.
shook my head and laughed.
you'll see," said the incorrigible.
"Sec what,' inquired Miss Kent,
quite unaware of our pantomine.
"That the parties which are chem
ically attracted will unite. OF course
an alkali and all acid. Don't you
think this sleeve little too long, Miss
Kent?"
"Not after theseam is off. But what
were you saying, Mrs. Carlisle? The
other day at Professor Boynton's,
saw some wonderful experiments.
"Did. theysucceed?' inquired Jennie,
demurely.
beautifully"
$50 will mine. I never botched a
Job in my life
~ don't think I quite understand
you" replied 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
natured than I expected.
The next week cousin Mark arrived.
and I liked him at once. An unhappy
marriage would have been the last
thing thought OF in connection with
chat gentleman. He had accepted the
situation like man, Jennie told me
and for fifteen years carried a load OF
1 misery that few could have endured
Death came to his relief at last, and
now the poor fellow actually believed
himself an alien from domestic happi
ness. "a = n,% W.. 1919.
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 ro
tund and freshin his way as the little
dressmaker was in hefs As looked
at him defed anybody to see one and
4 not be reminded OF the other. True
he had more OF the polish which comes
4 from travel and adaptation to differ.
snt classes and individuals, but he was
8 not a whit more intelligent by human
4 nature than the bright little woman
whom Jennie determined he should
8 marry. 53 . zss5
q. was surprised you should think ii
q necessary to caution me about that
4 Ousin Mark &, s. cooed the plotter, as
4 she stood by his side, looking out 81
the window. q be idea Of my beings
8 c,lous! Z and in the same breath
with a wink at me- Come let us 90 to
my sitting room. V'e are at work
there, but it won 4 make any differ
ence to you, wi it
Ofco urseC Cousin Mark answered No,