Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-09-20
A CONSPIRACY.

II wouldn't marry the best man thai
ever lived!" And she meant 1t, or, what
answers the same purpose, she thought
she meant it, After all, how very few o.
us really know what we mean? II en-
gagged myself once, when a girl, and thu
simpleton thought he owned me. soor
took the conceit out of him and sent him
away about his business The voice was
now little sharp. What wonder, with
SO CALLING a memory? mo man shall
ever tyrannize over me-never! What the
mischief do you suppose is the matter will
this sowing machine?"
Annoyed at your logic, most likely, u
said my friend, q bright young matron
as she threaded her needle "My husband
is not 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 quite competent to form
and express an opinion on any subject
Miss Kent was little woman, fair as q
girl and plump as a 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, faithful
friend and jolly companion, but stroke
her the wrong way, and you'd wish you
hadn't in much shorter time than 1t takes
to write it. Her views on all subjects
were strikingly original and not to be
combatcd.
'What are you going to do when you
are old?" persisted the mistress of the es-
tablishment.
what other folks do, suppose.
"But YOU can't work forever"
Cant say that want to-
"Now, Miss Kent, husband with
means, kind, intelligent mani
II don't want any man. I tell you,
Mrs. Carlisle, wouldn't marry the best
man living if he was as rich as Croesus
and would die If didn't have him. Now,
if you have exhausted the marriage ques-
ton, should like to try on your dress"
There was something behind all this, I
knew we'll. My friends eyes danced with
fun, and as Miss Kent fitted the waist she
threw me letter from the bureau.
Read that" she said, with knowing
look. 1T may alnuse you"
This is what tho letter said:
MY DEAR JENNIE-I shall be delighted to
spend month with you and your husband
There must, however, be one stipulation about
my visit-you must say no more about mar
riage. ! shall never be foolish again. Twenty
years ago today l wrecked my whole life.
["Better embark In q new ship, hadn't he?" put
in Jennie, soto voce.] So unsuitable was this
marriage, so utterly and enterly wretched have
been its consequences, that am forced to be-
lieve the marriage institution q mistake. So,
for the last time, let me assure you that I
wouldn't marry the best woman that ever
lived If by 80 doing could save her life. Your
old cousin, MARK LANSING.
Erich, isn't he?" 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 tho 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
a little too long, Miss kent?'
"Not after the seam is off. But what
were you saying, Mrs. CarlisleP Tho 9th
er day, at Professor Boynton's, saw some
wonderful experiments.
And did they succeetl9" inquired Jen-
ME demurely.
Beautifully
$50 will mine. never yet botched a
job in my life"
II don't think 1quite understand you,"
replied Miss Kent, perplexed.
mo? always grow scientific when
talking about marriage, my dear"
'Bother!" was all the little woman said,
but the tone was much better natured than
I expected.
The next week Cousin Mark arrived,
and liked him at once. An unhappy
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 Is
years carried q load of misery that few
could have endured. Death came to him
ut last, and now the poor fellow actually
believed himself an alien from domestic
happiness.
Singularly as it may appear, Cousin
MuiA was ULo CulDOSlllncHU VI BOOu nealCn
and good nature. Fifty perhaps, tn ough
he didn't look it, and as rotund and as
fresh in his way as the little dressmaker
was in hors. As looked at him I defled
to see one and not be reminded
Of the other. True, he hAd more of tho
polish which comes from travel and adap-
tation to different classes pnd individuals,
but he was not whit more intelligent by
nature than the bright little woman whom
Jennie determined he should marry.
II was surprised you should think 1t
necessary to caution me about that, Cousin
cooed the plotter us she stood by
his side looking out Of the window. "The
idea of my being SO ridiculous!" and In tho
same breath, with wink at me: Come,
let us 20 to my sitting room. We are at
work there, but 1t won't make any diff
ference to you, will its"
OF course Cousin Mark said ''No"
promptly, as innocent as o 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.caution
and tact, to her labor Of love. Cousin
Mark, at her request, read aloud an article
from a magazine. drawing Miss Kent into