Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-01-29

TelCu, u ne! Sctlu Cclulc, anu UIcL
pointed to the chubby little figure whose
back happened to be turned.
Ishook my head and laughed.
you'll see." said the incorrigible.
"See what?" inquired Miss Kent, quite
unaware of our pantomine.
'"rhat parties which are chemically at
tracted will unite. Of course an alkali and
an acid. Don't you think this sleeve 6
little toe long, Miss Kent?"
"Not after the seam is OF. But what
was you saying, Mrs. Carlisle? The Other
day at Professor Boynton's l saw some
wonderful experiments"
"And did they succeed" inquired Jen
ME demurely.
beautifully"
$50 will mine. Inever yet botched jot
in my life"
81 don't think quite understand you,
replied Miss Kent, perplexed.
''No? l always grow scientific whel
talking about marriage, my dear"
"Bother!" was all the little woman said
but the tone was much better natured
than expected.
The next week COUSIN Mark arrived
and l liked him at once. An unhappy
marriage would have been the last thing
thought of in connection with that gen
tleman. He had accepted the situation
like man, Jennie told me, and for fifteer
years carried load of misery that few
could have endured. Death came to hin
at last, and now the poor fellow actually
believed himself an alien from domestic
happiness.
Singular as it may appear Cousin MARI
was the embodiment of good health an6
good nature; fifty. perhaps, though ht
didn't look it, and as rotund and as fresh
in his way as the little dressmaker was il
hers. AS looked at him I deied anybody
to see 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 not
q whit more intelligent by nature than the
bright little woman whom Jennie deter
mined he should marry.
II was surprised you should think it
necessary to caution me about that, Cousin
Mark" cooed the plotter, as she stood by
his side, looking out Of the window. ''The
idea of my being SO ridiculous!" and in
the same breath, with a wink at me,
Come, let us go to my sitting room. We
are at work there, but it won't make any
difference to you, will it!"
OF course Cousin Mark answered "No,' %
promptly, as innocent as dove about the
trap being laid for him.
''This is my cousin, Mr.. Lansing, Miss
Kent" And Mr.. Lansing bowed politely
and Miss Kent rose, dropped her scissors,
blushed and sat down again. Cousin
Mark picked up the refractory implements,
and then Mrs. Jennie proceeded with rare
caution and tact to her labor Of love.
Cousin Mark, at her request, read aloud
an article from The Popular Science
Monthly, drawing Miss Kent into the dis
cussion as deftly as was ever fly drawn into
the web of a spider.
"Who is that lady, Jennie?" Cousin
Mark inquired in the evening.
"You mean Miss Kent?" said Jennie,
looking up from her paper. "Oh. she is a
lady ! have known for a long time. She is
making some dresses for ms now. Whyi"
"She seemed uncommonly we'll posted
for woman"
Isle would have resented this, but now she
only queried, Hpo you think so?" and that
ended it.
Two or three invit"+' ling
room were quite sufficient to make Cousin
Mark perfectly at home there, and, after a
week, he became familiar enough to say:
HIf you are not too busy l should like to
read you this article"
ooh, I am never too busy to be read to, II
Miss Kent would say. "Sit down by che
window. in this comfortable chair, and
let's hear it,"
After couple of weeks, when the gen
tleman came in. hoarse, with a sudden
tod Cf,
full of sympathy, and breTed him dose
which he declared he should never forget
to his dying day, but one dose cured
After this occurrence Miss Kent was a real
ly wonderful woman.
All, what an arch plotter! She let them
skirmish 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
California. Then Miss Kent was very de-
murely asked to remain and keep an eye
on Master Carlisle. whom the fond III n6F
did not like to leave quite alone with his
nurse.
'sWe are compelled to be gone couple of
hours" said she; "but Cousin Mark will
rsad to you-wop't you, cousins"
"Certaiply, 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 specq-
latiop would have plenty of time. The
back parlor was the room most in use dur
ing the evening, and out of this room was
a large closet with large blind yentilator,
and out of this closet door leading to the
back gtoop and garden. Imagine my sur
prise when I was told that Mr.. Carlisle
was going to the lodge, and that we, after
profuse warnings about the baby and
promises not to be gone too long, were to
proceed to this closet overlooking the back
parlor by way of the back gate and garden