Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-10-17
promptly, as innocent as aove about tho

ulOn and tact to her labor of love. Cousin Mark, at her request, read aloud an a1,iclo from the Popular Science Monthly, drawing Miss Kent into the discussion as deftly as was ever fly drawn into tho web of spider. "Who was that lady. .Jenniea" Cousin Mark inquired in the evening.
 ''You mean Miss Kenta" said Jennie, look ing up from her paper. s'Oh, she is a lady nave known for a long time. She is nlals- ing some dresses for me now. Whys"
 'She seemed uncommonly we'll posted for a woman."
 Under any other circumstances Mrs Carlisle would have resented this, but now she only Queried: ''Do you think so?" and that ended it.
 Two or three invitations to the sewing room were quite sufficient to make Cousin Mark perfectly at home there, and after a week he became familiar enough to say:
 elf you are not too busy should like to read you this article''
 ''Oh, am never too busy to be read to,'' Miss Kent would say. ssSit down by tho window in this comfortable chair and let's hear it."
 After couple of weeks, when the gentle man came in hoarse with a sudden cold, Miss Kent hustled about, her voice full of sympathy, and brewed him dose which he declared he should never forget to his dying day; but one dose cured. After this occurrence Miss Kent was q really wonder full woman
 An! what an arch plotter! Jennie let them sklrmlsh about, but not once did she give them chance to be alone together. Her plans were not to be destroyed by prema- ture condolences, until the very evening preceding Cousin Marks departure for Cal ifornia. Then Miss Kent was very demure- ly asked to remain and keep an eye on Master Carlisle, whom the fond mother did not like to leave quite alone with his nurse.
 eve are compelled to be gone couple of hours," said she; ''but Cousin Mark will read to you-won't you, cousins'
 sCertainly, if Miss Kent would like it,'' replied the gentleman.
 The infant Carlisle, thanks to good man agement, was never awake in the evening, so the victims of this matrimonial specula- ton would have plenty of time. The back parlor was the room most in use during the evening, and out of this room was g large closet with a large blind ventilator, ard out of this closet a door leading to the back stoop and garden. Imagine my surprise when I was told that Mir. Carlisle was gc- ing to the lodge, and that we, after pre- fuse warnings about the baby, and prom ises not to be gone 500 long, were to pro- ceed to this closet overlooking the back parlor by tho way of the back gate and garden. In vain protested. "Why, you little goosie.' laughed Jennie, "there'll be fun enough to last lifetime John wanted to come a.vfully, but knew ned make an awful nose and spoil every | thing, so wouldn't let hlm.' ! The willy schemer took the precaution to | lock the closet door from the outside, so | there was no fear of detection. On high ! bench, still as two mlce, we awaited results. l Presently Cousin Mark, as if arousing i from a protracted revery, asked: ''Would ! you like to have me read:"
 "Oh, am not particular" replied Miss Kent.
 sHere is an excellent article on elective 1 affinities. How would you like that?'' Jennie's elbow in my side almost took away my breath.
 'Who is it by!" she inquired
 Jennie exclaimed (clear in my earl: "That's to gain time, see if it ain't."
 'Its by prominent French writer, be- 1 ieve," answered Cousin Mark. l ''I don t think l care for a translation to- night" said Miss Kent.
 "Nor I, nor reading of any kind," he con- tinued. "This IS my last evening in New York, Miss Kent"
 'I hope you've enjoyed your visit," she returned.
 Jennie Unto my very head this time): l s'She's as shy as a threc-year-old colt.''
 II didn't think I should feel so bad about leaving" Cousin Mark wenton.
 'He is the wreck, you remember" whis- pered Jennie.
 A long pause.
 ''I think hear the baby,a exclaimed Miss Kent.
 ssOh, no," said Cousin Mark sYou are fond of babies, are you not, Miss Kcnts" No answer from Miss Kent.
 sI have been a very lonely man, Miss Kent" Cousin Mark resumed, ssbut never realized how lonely the rest of my life must he until came to this f.)uSe''
 ''Oh, how lonely!" echoed Jennie. | stNoW must return to my business and my boarding g-house-boarding- house for 8 man so fond of domestic life as am, Miss Kent"
 Just then we very distinctly heard little kind of purr, which sounded very like a note of intense sympathy from Miss Kent
 ''I have friends Tn San Francisco, of course," said Cousin Mark. s'but firesde like this, no one to care for me if 1 am i'll, nobody to feel very badly if die.''
 ''That'u fetch her,'' said Jennie.
 q wish that I lived in. San Francisco" said Miss Kent, in a little quivering voice. ''You could call upon me at any time if you needed any thing.''
 Jennie in Convulsione.
 "Ify you will goto California with me- Miss Kent, I'll wait another week.
 "Why, Mr. Lansing, what do you meanl What would folks say?'' she said.
 "We don't care for fol1s,'' said Mark ''If you will go, we will have house pleasant as money can make it. You shall have birds and flowers and horses, and all the scientific monthlios that you want, deuced if you shan't, end you shall never sew another stitch for any body but me Will you be my wife!"
 Just then Jennie and stepped up another peg, and there was that little old maid, who would not marry the best man that ever lived, hugged closo to the mans breast whe wouldn't marry the best woman that ever lived, not even to save her life. We camo away then, butit's my opinion that they re- mained in just that position till we rang the bell half an hour later.
 "How did you know!" asked of Jennie.
 "My dear,'' she answered, ''my whole liance was upon human nature; and let mo tell you, dear goosie. whatever else may fail, that never does"
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