Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1894-07-06
The Best Man On Earth.

Il wouldn't marry the best man
that ever lived' 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 mean? 81 engaged myself once,
when a girl, and the simplcton thought
he owned me. / soon took the conceit
out of him, and sent him away about
his business" The voice was now q
little sharp. What wonder, with so
CALLING a memory? "No man shall
ever tyrannize over me-nevcr! What
the mischief 10 yoa suppose is the
matter with this sewing machine?'
Annoyed at your logic, most like
ly," said her friend, a bright young
matron, MS she threaded her needle.
"My husband is not tyrant, Miss
Kent.
81 am glad you are satisfied, was
the laconic reply.
1t was quite evident by the express
sion of the dressn rkcr's fnce that she
had formed her own opinion about my
friends husband, and was quite com
petent 10 form and express an opinion
on any subject. Miss Kent was a lit
tie woman, fair as a girl and plump rs
a robin. She wasn't ashamed to own
that she was forty years old and an
old maid. She had earned her own
living most of her life, and was prond
of it. She was good nurse, faith
ful friend and a lily companion; but
stroke her the wrong way, anl you'd
wish you hadn't IN much shorter time
than it takes me to write it, Her views
on all subjects were strikingly original,
and not to be combated.
"What are you going to do when
you are old?" persisted the mistress
of the establishment.
"What other folks do, 1 suppose"
"But you can't work forever"
Cant say that l want to. +"
"Now, Miss Kent, husband with
means, a kind, intelligent man
81 don't want any man. | tell you,
Mrs. Carlisle, [ wouldn't marry the
best man living, if he was as rich as
Croesus and would die if I didn't have
him. Now, if you have exhausted the
marriage question l should like TO try
on your dress.
There was something behind all
this, | knew well. My friends eyes
danced with fun, and as Miss Kent fit
ted the waist she threw me a letter
from the bureau.
'Read that, she said, with know
ing look. "It may amuse you"
This is what the letter said:
MY dear Jennie I shall bo deli .hteI to
spend month with YOU AMI your hus-
band. There must, however, be one sipua-
ton about ny visj; yon must say no more
about marriage, shall never he foolish
again. Twenty years aso today l wree<cd
my whole life, So unsuitable was that mar
riage, SO utterly and entirely wr3tched hare
been its consequences, that | am fo-cel to
believe the marriage institution a mistake
So, for the last time, let mo assure You |
wouldn't marry the best woman that ever
lived, if by 50 doing | could save her hte.
''Your old cousin.
MARK LANSING"
erich isn't hep" said Jennie, and
she 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 the pantomime.
"That parties which are chemically
attracted will unite. OF course an al
kali and an acid. Don't you think
this sleeve is a little too long, Miss
Kent?"
"Not after the seam is off. But
what were you saying, Mrs. Carlisle? !?
The other day, at Professor Boyntons,
saw some wonderful experiments.
"And did they succeed?" inquired
Jennie, demurely.
beautifully"
$50 will mine. I never yet botch-
ed job IN my life. "
81 don't think l quite understand
you" replied Miss Kent, perplexed.
''No? l always grow scientific
when talking about marriage, my
dear.
"Bother !" was all the little woman