The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-07-28
A CONSPIRACY.

unSWcT5 Uuo bdlHo purpOoe, snc UnOuBnU
she meant It, After all, how very few of
us really know what we mean2 II en-
gagged myself once, when girl, and the
simpleton thought he owned mo. / soon
took tho concoit out of him and sent him
away about his business" The voice was
now little sharp. What wonder, with
so CALLING memoryS "No man shall
ever tyrannizeover me-neverl What the
mischief do you suppose is the matter with
this sowing machinoH"
Annoyed ut your logic, most likely"
said my friend, bright young matron
as she threaded her needle. my husband
is not q tyrant Miss Kent"
II am glad you are satisfied" was the
laconic reply.
1t was quito evident by the expression
Of the dressmaker's face that she had
formed her own opinion about my friends
husband and was quito competent to form
and express an opinion on any subject.
Miss Kent was little woman fair as
girl and plump as q robin. She wasn't
ashamed to own that she was 40 years old
and an old maid. She had earned her own
living most of her life and was proud of
1t. She was good nurse, a faithful
friend and jolly companion, but stroke
her the wrong way, and you'd wish you
hadn't in much shorter time than it takes
to write it. Her views ON all subjects
were strikingly original and not to be
combated.
"What arc you going to do when you
are oldY" persisted tho mistress of the es-
tablishment.
"What other folks do, suppose"
"But you can't work forever"
"Can't say that want to-"
"Now, Miss Kent, husband with
means, kind, intelligent mani
II don't want any man. l tell you,
Mrs. Carlisle, wouldn't marry tho best
man living If he was as rich as Crnsus
and would die If didn't have him. Now,
II you have exhausted the marriage ques-
tion, l should like to try on your dress"
There was something behind all this l
knew well. My friends eyes danced with
fun, and as Miss Kent fitted the waist she
threw mo q letter from the bureau.
"Read that" she said, with knowing
look. 1T may amuse you"
This is what the letter said:
MY DEAR JEsNIE-I shall be delighted to
spend month with you and your husband
There must, however, be one stipulation about
my vislt-you must say no more about mar
riage. shall never be foolish again. Twenty
years ago today / wrecked my whole life.
| t"Better embark In a new ship, hadn't he?r put
| In Jennie soto vocel So unsuitable was this
| marriage, so utterly and enterly wretched have
| been its consequences, that am forced to be-
| leve 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 so doing could save her life. Your
old cousin, MARK LANSING.
Erich, isn't heH" 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 incorrigible.
"See WHAT" inquired Miss Kent, quite
unaware Of tho pantomime.
"That parties which are chemically at
tracted will unite-of course an alkali
and an acid. Don't you think this sleeve
u little too long, Miss Kent?"
mot after the seam is off. But what
were you saying, Mrs. Carlislep The 9TH
er day, at Professor Boynton's, Isaw some
wonderful experiments.
''And did they succeed" inquired Jen-
ME demurely.
"Beautifullyl' t.
$50 will mine. never yet botched q
JOB in my life."
II don't think Iquite understand you" ="
replied Miss Kent perplexed.
mo? l always grow scientific when
talking 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 gen.
tleman. He had accepted the situation
like man, Jennie told me, and for Ii
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 domestic
happiness.
Singularly as it may appear, Cousin
Mark was the embodiment of good health
and good nature. Fifty perhaps, tn ough
he didn't look 1t, and as rotund and as
fresh in his way as the little dressmaker
was in hers. AS looked at him defed
anybody to see one and not be reminded
of the other. True, he had moro of the
polish which comes from travel and adap-
tation to different classes and individuals,
h,,t IA FOL J..
nature than the bright little woman whom
Jennie determined he should marry.
81 was surprised you should think il
necessary to caution me about that, Cousin
Mark" cooed the plotter as she stood by
his side looking out of the window. "ThC
idea of my being SO ridiculous!" and in the
same breath, with wink at me: Come
let us go to my sitting room. We are Of
work there, but 1t won't make any diff;
ference to you, will itS"
OF course Cousin Mark said "No, II
promptly, as innocent as dove about the
trap being laid for him.
"This is my cousin, Mr.. Lansing, Mis-:
Kent"
Mr.. Lansing bowed politely, and Miss
Kent ross. dropped her scissors, blushet
and sat down again, Cousin Mark picked
up tho refractory implements, and ther
Mrs Carlisle proceeded, with rare, c,cautior
and tact, to hor labor of love. Cousir
Mark, Mt her request, read aloud an article
from magazine, drawing Miss Kent int
. the discussion as deftly as was ever fl
drawn into tho web of spider.
"Who is that lady, Jennie" Cousi
Mark inquired In the evening.
I "You mean Miss KentH" said Jennie
looking up from her paper. "Oh, sho Is
/ lady. l have known her for long time
She is making some dresses for mo now
] Why"
q "She soens uncommonly we'll postc
, for woman"
Under any other circumstances Mr.
S Carlisle would have resented this, but no
D she only queried, "Do you think soS" an
! that ended it.
Two or three invitations to the sewin
room were quite sufficient to make Cousi
Mark at homo there, and after week
4 became familiar enough to say;