Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-07-23
A CONSPIRACY.


"a wouldn't marry the best man that
ever hved" And she meant It. or, what
answers the same purpose, she thought
she meant It. After all, how very few Of
US really know what we meant II en-
! gsgod myself once. whom girl, and the
simpleton thought he owned me. ] soon
took the conccit out OF him and sent him
i, away about his business The voice whs
now little sharp. What wonder. with
SO CALLING a memory mo man shall
ever tyrannize over mo-noyer What the
mischief do you suppose is the matter with
this sowing machineS"
"Annoyed ut your logic, most likely"
said my friend, a bright young matron,
as she threaded her needle. MY husband
Is not a tyrant, Miss Kent"
II am glad you are satisfied, was the
laoonic reply.
IL was quite evident by the expression
OF the drossmaker's face that she had
formed her own opinion about my friends
husband and was quite competent 20 form
and express an opinion on any subject.
Miss Kent was little woman, fair as
girl and plump as a robin. She wasn't
ashamed 20 own that she was 40 years old
and an old maid. She had earned her own
living most OF her lifo and was proud Of
it. She was good nurse, faithful
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
TO write 1t. Her views on all subjects
were strikingly original and not TO be
combated
"What are you going to do when you
are oldi" persisted the mistress of the es-
tablishmont.
"What other folks do, suppose"
But you can't work forever.
Cant say that want to. "
"Now, Miss Kent, n husband with
means, a kind intelligent mani
II don't want any man l tell you,
Mrs. Carlisle, i wouldn't marry the best
man living IL he was as rich as Crmsus
and would die If didn't have him. Now,
II you have exhausted the marriage quCs-
ton, i should like TO try on your dress. "
There was something behind all this, l
knew we'll My friends eyes danced with
fun, and ms Miss Kent fitted tho waist she
threw me letter from the bureau.
Read that" she said with a knowing
look 1T may amuse you +"
This Is what tho letter said:
MY DEAR JENSIE--I shall be delighted 10
spend month with you and your husband
There must, however, be ono stipulation about
my visit-you must say no more about mar
riage. ! shall never be foolish again. Twenty
years ago today ! wrecked my whole life.
("Better embark in q new ship, hadn't her" put
In Jennie, soto voce.l So unsuitable was this
marriage, so utterly and enterly wretched have
beon its consequences. that am forced 10 be-
lievo tho marriage Institution mistake. So,
for the last time, let me assure you that
wouldn't marry the best woman that ever
lived II by 80 doing could save her life. Your
old cousin, MARK LANSING.
"Rich, isn't hoi" said Jennie and then
pointed to tho chubby little figure whose
back happened to be turned.
i shook my head and laughed.
you'll Sec said the incorrigible.
"Soe whatF inquired Miss Kent, quite
unaware of the pantomime.
THAT parties which are chemically ut
traoted will unite-of course an alkali
and an acid. Don't you think this sleeve
little too long, Miss Kentf"
mot after the seam Is off. But what
were you saying, Mrs. Carlislei The 9th
or day, at Professor Boynton's, l saw some
wonderful experiments.
And did they succoedf" inquired Jen-
ME demurely.
beautifully"
$50 will mine. never yet botched a
Job In my life. d"
II don't think Iquite understand you,"
replied Miss Kent, pcrploxed.
"Noi / 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 onco. An unhappy
marriage would have been the last thing
thought of in connection with that gen.
tleman He had accepted the situation
like "a man, Jennie told me, and for Is
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 IL may appear, Cousin
Mark was the embodiment of good health
and good nature. Fifty perhaps, tn ough
he didn't look IL, and rs rotund and rs
fresh In his way as tho little dressmaker
was in hers. AS looked at him doflod
anybody TO see one and not be reminded
of tho other. True, he had more Of the
polish which comes from travel md adap-
tation 20 different Glasses and individuals,
but ne was not a whit moro intelligent by
nature than the bright little woman whom
Jonnie determined ho should marry.
Il was surprised you should think IL
necessary to caution me about that, Cousin
Mark" coood the plotter as she stood by
his side looking out of tho window. The
idea of my being so r,dioulousl' and in the
same breath, with q wink at me: Come,
let us go to my sitting room. We are at
work there, but IL won't make any Diff
ference To you, will IT."
OF course Cousin Mark said mo"
promptly, rs 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, blushed
and sat down again. Cousin Mark picked
up the refractory implements, and then
Mrs Carlisle proceeded, with rare. e.caution
and tact, to her labor of love. Cousin
Mark, at her request, read aloud an article
from q magazine, drawing Miss Kent into
the discussion as dcftly as was ever q ly
drawn into the web Of spider.
who is that lady, Jennief" Cousin
Mark inquired In the evening.
"You mean Miss Kentf" said Jennie,
looking up from her paper. "Oh, she Is a