Milford chronicle., 1889-11-01
POSITIVE MISS KENT.

Il wouldn't marry the best man that ever
ivedw 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 meant II engaged myself once,
when n girl, aud the smpleton thought he
owned me. | soon took the conceit out Of
him, and sent him away about his business.
The voice was now a little sharp What
wonder, with so calling q memoryi mo
man shall ever tyrannize over me-neverl
What the mischief do you suppose is the mat
ter with this sewing machineP
Annoyed at your logic, most likely" said
my friend, a bright young matron, as shO
threaded her needle my husband Is not a
tyrant, Miss Kent"
81 am glad you are satisfied" +" was the la
comic reply
at was quite evident by the expression Of
the dressmaker's face that she had formed
her own opinion about my friends husband,
and was quite competent to form and express
an opinion on any subject. Miss Kent was a
little woman, fair as n girl and plump as a
robin. She wasn't ashamed to own that sho
was 40 years old and all old maid She had
earned her own living most Of her life and
was proud of it. She was a good nurse, a
faithful friend and n jolly companion, but
stroke her the wrong way and you'd wish
you hadn't in much shorter time than it takes
me 70 write it, Her views on all subjects
were strikingly original, and not to be com
bated
What are you going to do when you are
oldF' persisted the mistress of the establish
ment.
"What other folks do, | suppose"
"But you can't work forever"
"Can't say that l want to-"
Now, Miss Kent, a husband with means,
a kind, intelligent mani
Il don't want any man. tell you, Mrs
Carlisle, | wouldn't marry the best man liv-
ing, if he was rich as Croesus, and would die
If | didn't have him. Now, If you have cx-
hausted the marriage question, should like
to try on your dress"
There was something behind all this
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 knowing
look. ut may amuse you"
This is what the letter said;
MY DEAR JENNIE: shall be delighted 70 spend
q month with you and your husband There
must be, however, one stipulation about my
vlsit-you must say no more about marriage.
shall never be foolish again. Twenty yeara ago TO
day ! wrecked lny whole life. C''Better embark
In q new ship. hadn't heS" put In Jennie soto
voce) So unsuitable was this marriage so utter
ly and entirely wretched have been It's oonsc
quences that am forced to believe the marriage
institution a 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. Max LANsSS0
erich, Isn't heT' 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 tho incorrigible
"See whatF inquired Miss Kent, quite un-
aware Of our pantomime.
That parties which are chemically attrac-
ted will unite. OF course an alkali and an
acid. Don't you think this sleeve little
too long, Miss Kentr
Not after the seam is of. But what was
you saying Miss Carlislel The other day at
Professor Boynton's / saw some wonderful
experiments"
And did they succeedP inquired Jennie,
demnrely.
Beautifully"
80 will mine. never yet botched a job |
IN my life"
u don't think quito understand you,n re- |
piled Miss Kent perplexed-
''Noi l always grow scientific waen talk- |
ing about marriage, my dear"
"Botherl" was all the little woman said |
but the tone was much better natured than ! |
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 that gentleman. He had ae-
cepted the situation like IA man, Jennie told |
me, and for fifteen years carried load Of
misery that few could have endured. Death
came to him at last, and now the poor fellow
actually believed himself an alien from do
nestle happiness.
Singular as 1t may appear, Cousin Mark
was the embodiment Of good health and good
nature; 50, perhaps, though he didn't look it,
and as rotund and as fresh In his way as the
little dreSSmaker was IN hers As looked at
him delled anybody to SEQ ono and not be
Of the other True, he had more
Of the polish which comes from travel and
adaptation to different classes and individ-
ualS but he was not a whit more intelligent
by nature than the bright little woman
whom Jennie determined he should marry.
Il was surprised you should think It neces-
Sary to caution me about that Cousin Mark"
cooed the plotter as she stood his by side,
looking out Of the window. "The idea Of
my being 50 rlulculOuSl" and IN the same
breath, with q wink at me, 'Come, let US 60
70 my sitting room. We are at work there,
but it won't mako any difference to you, will
III"
OF course Cousin Mark answered NO."
as innocent as q dove about the
trap being laid for him.
This Is my cousin, Mr.. lansing Miss
Kent" Ard Mr.. Lansing bowed politely
md Miss Kent rosc, dropped her scissors,
flushed and sat down again Cousin Mark
picked up tho refractory implements, and
hen Mrs. Jennie proceeded with rare eau
ion and tact to her labor Of love- Cousin
Mark at herrequest read aloud IN article from
The Popular Science Monthly, drawing Miss
Kent into the discussion as deftly as was
'ver hy drawn into the web Of a spider.
who was that lady, Jennief' Cousin Mark
inquired in the evening.
"You mean Miss KentP' said Jennie. look.
ng up from her paper. "Oh, She Is a lAdy
have known for long time. She Is max
ig some dresses for mo now. WhyF
"She seemed uncommonly well posted for
woman"
Under any other circumstances Mrs Car
lIle would have resented this, but now she :
The Verdict Unanimous.