The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-07-14

| marty.
l was surprised you should think
1t was necessary to caution me about
that, Cousin Mark, cooed the pIotter
as she stood by his side looking out
the window. The idea OF my being
SO ridiculous and in the same
breath with q wink at me, come let
us go to my sitting room. We are
at work there, but it wont make any
difference to you, will it.
OF course Cousin Mark said No.
promptly as innocent as a dove
about the trap being laid for
him.
This is my cousin, Mr.. Lansing,
Miss Kent,
Mr., Lansing bowed politely and
Miss Kent rose, dropped her scissors
bushed and sat down again. Cousin
Mark picked up the refractory imp.e
ments, and then Mrs. Carlisle pro
ceeded 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 discuss
ion as was ever fly drawn INTO the
web OF a spider.
Who is that lady Jennie! Cousin
Mark required. in the evening.
You mean Miss Kent? said Jennie
looking up from her paper. Oh,
she is lady /; 1 have known her tor
a long time. She is making some
dresses for me now. Why?
She seems uncommonly well
posted for woman.
Under any other circumstances
Mrs. Carlisle would have resented
this, but now she only queried, Did
you think Sc? and that ended
it.
Two or three invitations to the
sewi1g room were quite sufficient to
make Cousin Mark at home there,
and after a week he became familiar
enough to say
If you are not too busy l should
like to read you this article.
Oh, am never too busy to read
to, Miss Kent would say. Sit down
by the window in this comfortable
chair and let's hear it.
After a couple OF weeks when the
gentleman 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
a really wonderful woman.
All what an arch plotter. She
let them skirmiSh about, but not for
once did she give them a chance to
be alone together. Her plans were
not to be destroyed by premature
confidence until the verv evening
preceding Cousin Marks departure
for California. Then Miss Kent was
very demureIy asked to remain and
keep ali eye on Master Carlisle,
whom the fond mother did not like
to leave quite alone with his
nurse.
We are compelled to be gone a
couple of hours, said she, but Cousin
Mark will read to you, won't you
cousin2
Certainly if Miss Kent would like
it, replied the gentleman.
The infant Carlisle, thanks to
good management, was never awake
in the evening, so the victims Of this
matrimonial speculation would have
plenty Of time. The back par,or was
the room most in use during the
evening and out of that room was
large closet with a large blind
elevator and out Of this closet a door
leading 10 the stoop and garden.
Imagine my surprise when | was
told that Mr.. Carlisle was going to
the lodge, and that we, after protuse
warnings about the baby and promises
not 10 be gone too long were TO
proceed to this closet overlooking
the back parlor by the way of the
back gate and garden. In vain |
protested.
Oh you little goosie, said Jennie
laughing; there'll be fun enough to
last US lite time. John wanted to
come awfuIly, but l knew he'd make
an awful noise and spoil everything
so I wouldn't let him.
The willy schemer took the pre-
caution to lock the closet door
from the outside SO there was no
fear of detection. On high bench,
as still as two mice, we waited re-
suits.
Presently Cousin Mark as if arous
ing from protracted revery,
asked
Would you like 10 have me
read?
Oh. l am not particular, replied
Miss Kent.
Here is just an excellent article on
elected affinities. How would you
like that?
Jennies elbow in my side almost
toook away my breath.
Who is it by? she inquired.
Jennie exclaimed-clear in my ear
That's to gain time; see if it isn't.
Now for something interesting.
It's by prominent French writer
1 believe, answered Cousin Mark.
| don't think | care for a trans
lation to night said Miss Kent.
Nor 1; nor reading of any kind,
he continued. This is my last even
ing in New York, Miss Kent.