The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-08-01

LADY. L have known her for long time.
! She is making some dresses for me now.
Why9"
! "She seems uncommonly we'll posted
for woman. %
Under any other circumstances Mrs
Carlisle would have resented this, but now
She only queried, do you think so?'' and
/ that ended it,
Two or three invitations to the sewing
room were quite sufficient to make Cousin
| Mark at home there, and after week he
| became familiar enough to say:
: Ii you are not too busy, I should like
to read you this article.
"Oh, am never too busy to be read
| TO-" Miss Kent would say. ''Sit down by
the window in this comfortable chair and
let's hear it.
After couple Of weeks, when the gen
tleman came in hoarse with sudden cold,
Miss Kent hustled about, her voice full Of
sympathy and brewed him dose which
he declared he should not forget to his dy
ing day, but one dose cured After this
occurrence Miss Kent was really won
derful 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.
LII pitIIS W6T0 uOU 10 10 u6SUrOy6u by
premature confidence until the very even
ing 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 moth
er did not like to leave quite alone with
his nurse.
I'VE are compelled to be gone couple
OF hours, said she, ''but Cousin Mark
will read to you, won't you, cousin?'
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 matrimo-
NAL speculation would have plenty of time.
The back parlor was the room most in use
during the evening, and out of that room
was large closet, with a large blind ele-
vator, and out of this closet door leading
to the stoop and garden. Imagine my sur
prise when l 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.
In vain protested.
''Oh, you little goosie," said Jennie,
laughing. ''Theren be fun enough to
last us a lifetime. John wanted to come
awfully, but knew he'd make an awful
noise and everything, so I wouldn't
let him "
The willy schemer took the precaution to
lock the closet door from the outside, SO
there was no fear of detection On a high
bench, as still as two mice, we waited re-
suits.
Presently Cousin Mark, as if arousing
from protracted reverie, asked:
Would you like to have me read?'
ooh, am not particular, replied Miss
Kent
Here is an excellent article on elective
affinities. How would you like that?'
Jennie's elbow in my side almost took
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
Its by prominent French writer,
believe" answered Cousin Mark.
Il don't think / care for translation
tonight" said Miss Kent.
'ssNor I. Nor reading of any kind" he
continued. This is my last evening in
New York, Miss Kent''
Il hope you've enjoyed your VISIT" she
returned
Jennie into my very head this time
-'she is as shy as 3-year-old COLT
II didn't think I should feel so bad
about leaving Cousin Mark went on.
HE is the wreck, you remember, "
whispered Jennie.
A long pause.
II think hear the baby" exclaimed
Miss Kent.
sob, no. said Cousin Mark. "You
are fond Of babies, are you not, Miss
Kent?"
No answer from Miss Kent.
II have been a very lonely man, Miss
Kent, /" Cousin Mark resumed, "but never
realized how lonely the rest of my life
must be until came to this house,
"Oh, how lonely!' echoed Jennie
Now must return to my business and
my boarding house-boarding house for
man SO fond of domestic life as I am, Miss
Kent
just then we very distinctly heard a lit
tie kind of pur, which sounded very like
a note of intense sympathy from Miss
Kent.
IT have friends in San Francisco, of
course, y said Cousin Mark, ''but no fireside
like this-no one to care for me if I'm i'll,
nobody to feel very badly if I die,
AAeho II AOuci ACI, sdlu J0uul0.
Il wish that lived in San Francisco"
said Miss Kent in a little quivering voice.
You could call upon me any time, if you
needed anything
Jennie in commissions
IF you will go to California with me,
Miss Kent, I'll wait another week.
Why Mr. Lansing what do you mean?
What would folks say?" she said.
I'VE don't care for folks, said Mark.
IF you will go, we will have house as
pleasant as money can make it, You shall
have birds and flowers and horses and all
the scientific monthlies that you want,
deuced If you shan't and you shall never
sew another stitch for anybody but me-
Will you be my wife?''
just then Jennie and stepped up an
other peg, and there was that little old
maid, who would not marry the best man
that ever lived, Rugged close to the mans
breast who wouldn't marry the best wom-
an that ever lived, not even to save her
life. We came away then, but my opinion |
is that they remained in just that position
till we rang the bell about half an ho11r