Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-11-20
AFFINITIES.
Cousin Mark and Miss Kent, and
Their Broken Declarations.

OOu6ln MARX ana MISS h0nt, ana
Their Broken Declarations.
81 wouldn't marry the best man that ever
livedw And she meant it, or, what an
swers the same purpose, she thought she
meant it After all, how few of US ever
really know what we meant 81 en-
gagged myself once, when girl, and the
simpleton 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 memory! 'No man shall ever
tyrannize over me-neverl What the mis-
chief do you suppose is the matter with this
sewing-machinep
"Annoyed at your logic, most likely" said
my friend, bright young matron, as she
threaded her needle. my husband is not a
tyrant, Miss Kent"
Il am glad you are satisfied" was the L.
comic reply.
1t was quite evident by the dress-makers
face that she had formed her own opinion of
my friends husband, and was quite compe-
tent TO form aud express an opinion on any
subject. Miss Kent was a little 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
proud of it. She was good nurse, faith
full friend and a jolly companion, 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 subjects
were strikingly original, and not to be com.
bated.
s.What are you going to do when you are
oldP' persisted the mistress Of the estab-
meRt. q -
"What other folks do, suppose"
"But you can't work forever"
"Can't say that want to.n
''Now, Miss Kent, a husband with means,
kind, intelligent man.
II don't want any man. tell you, Mrs
Carlisle, l wouldn't marry the best man liv.
ing, if he was as rich as Crpsus, and would
die if I didn't have him. Now, If you Nave
exhausted this 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 letter from tho bureau.
Great that" she said, with knowing
look; ''it may amuse YOU"
This is what the letter said:
''MY DEAR JENNIE-I shall be delighted "a
spend a month with you and your husband
There must be, however, ono stipulation about
riage. 1 shall never be fooled again. Twenty
years ago to-day I wrecked my whole life. "
("Better embark in a new ship, hadn't her' put
In Jennie, soto Uoce.) $50 unsuitable was this
marriage, SO utterly and entirely wretched
have been its consequences, that am forced
to bel ieve the marriage institution . mistake.
So for the last time let me assure you that
wouldn't marry the best woman that ever
lived, If by 80 doing could save her life. Your
old cousin, MARK LANSING"
"R: ch, 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 lncorrigible.
"See WHAT" inquired Miss Kent, quite
unaware of our panto mime.
"That parties which are chemically at
tracted will unite. OF course an alkall and
an acid. Don't you think this sleeve little
| too long, Miss Kent?n
''Not after the seam is off. But what were
you saying, Mrs. Carlislel The other day
at Prof Boynton's l saw some wonderful
experiments"
''And did they succeeds" inquired Jennie
! demurely.
"Beautifully.'
$50 will mine. never yet botched a job
in my life.'
81 don't think l quite understand you,'
replied Miss Kent, perplexed.
"No? / always grow scientific when talk
ing about marriage, my dear"
''BotAerl' was all the little woman said
but the tone was much better natured than
expected.
The next week Cousin Mark arrived, ant
1 liked him at once. An unhappy marriage
would have been the last thing thought oi
in connection with that gentleman. He haG
accepted the situation like 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 alieI
from domestic happiness.
Singular as it may appear, Cousin Mari
was the embodiment of good health ant
good nature; fifty perhaps, though he didn'
| look it, and as rotund and as fresh In hi!
way as the little dressmaker was in hers
As looked at him 1 defied any body to Sc,
| one and not be reminded of the other
True, he had more of the polish which
comes from travel and adaptation to differ
ent classes and individuals, but he was no
whit m re intelligent by nature than tn
bright little woman whom Jennie deter
mined he should marry.
81 was surprised you should think
:. necessary to caution me about that, Cousil
Mark cooed the plotter, as she stood b,
his side, looking out of the window. 18th
idea Of my being SO ridiculousl'' and in tn
/ same breath, with a wink at me: "Come, lie
10 go to my sttting-room. We are ct Werl
there, but it won't make any difference t
you, VIII it!'
OF course Cousin Mark answered: 'sNo,
promptly, as .-..'",nr.aeut .-.',r as dove about tn
! trap being laid for him.
''This is my cousin, Mr. Lansing, Mis-
Kent" And Mr.. Lansing bowed politel
and Miss Kent arose, dropped her scissors
blushed, and sat down again. Cousin Mar
picked up the refractory implements, an
then Mrs. Jennie proceeded with rare car
ton and tact to her labor OF love. Cousi
Mark, at her request, read aloud an articl
from the Popular Science Monthly, drawin
Miss Kent into the discussion as deity .
WAS ever fiy drawn into the web Of spidel
"Whowas that lady, Jennielr Cousin Mar
inquired in the evening.
"You mean Miss Kentl' said Jennie, lool
ing up from her paper. 'sOh, she is q lad
have known for a long time. She is NAL
ing some dresses for me now WhvIs