Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1894-07-06

AHc next week Cousin Mark arrived,
and liked him at once. An unhappy
marriage would have been the last
thing thought of in connection with
tlat gentleman. lie had accepted the
situation like a man, Jennie told me.
and for fifteen years carried load OF
misery that few could have endured.
Death came to him at last, and now
the poor fellow believed himself an
alicn from domestic happiness.
Singularly as it may appear. Cousin
Mark was the embodiment of good
health and go~d nature fifty, perhaps,
though he didn't look it, aud as ro-
tund and as fresh in his way as the
little dressmaker was in hers. As
looked at him I defiod anybody to see
one and not be reminded of the other.
True, he had more of the polish which
comes from travel and adaptation to
different classes and individuals, but
hf eas not whit more intelligent by
nature than the bright little woman
whom Jennie determined he should
mary.
4 was surprised you should think
1t Necessary to caution me about that,
Cousin Mark, cooed the plotter, as
she stood by his side looking out OF
the windew. 'The idea of my beng
SO ridiculousl" and in the same breath,
with wink at me, Come. let us go
to my sitting-room. We are at work
there, but it won't make any differ
enc2 to you, will it?"
OF course, Cousin Mark said "No, y
promptly, as innocent as a dove about
the trap being laid for him.
''fhis is my cousin, Mr.. Lansing,
Miss Kent"
Mr. Lansing bowed politely, and
Miss Kent rose, dropped her scissors,
blusaed and sat down again. Cousin
Mark picked up the refractory imple-
monts, and then Mrs. Carlisle proceed
cd, with rare caution and tact, to her
la5or Of love. Cousin Mark, at her
request, read aloud an article from
the Popular Science Monthly, draw
ing Miss Kent into the discussion as
deity IS was ever fly drawn into the
web Of a spider.
HN'ho is that laly, Jennie?" Cousin
Mark inquired, in the evening.
"Yoq mean Miss Kent?' said Jen-
nissl0klpg up from her paper. "oh,
shssi sladyy; / have known her for
tisna. She i iaakin9 soua
ShNf for me now. Why?"
fsle seems uncommonly well post
cd g. woman"
piler any other circumstances Mrs.
Cef flsle would have resented this, but
NOV she only queried, "Do you think
so3 and that ended it.
Two or three invitations to the sew
ine$room were quite sufficient to make
Coy asu Mark at home there, and after
wfek he became familiar enough to
sayE
n You are not too busy, I should
likdto read you this article.
ioh, I am never too busy to be
read to-" Miss Kent would say. "Sit
dow wn by the window in this comfort
able chair and let's hear it.
After a couple of weeks, when the
gentleman came in hoarse with sud
den cold, Miss Kent bustlel about,
her voice full of sympathy, and brew
ed him dose which he declared he
should not forget to his dying day
but one dose cured. After this occur.
renee Miss Kent was really wonder
full woman.
Alb, what an arch plotter! She LEI
them skirmish about, bus not for once
did'she give them chance to be alone
Together. Her plans were not to be
destroyed by premature confidence
until the very evening preceding
Cousin Marks departure for Califor-
MIA. Thon Miss Kent was very de-
mufeiy asked to remain and keep Al
eye on Master Carlisle, whom til,
fond mother did not like to leav,
quite alone with his nurse.
I'VE are compelled to be gone
couple Of hours said she, "bu
Cousin Mark will read to you, won
you, cousin?"
Certainly, if Miss Kent would lik,
1t, replied the gentleman.
The infant Carlisle, thanks to good
infringement, was never awake in the
evening, SO the victims of this matri
mon'al speculation would have plent,
OF time. The back parlor was tn,
room most in use during the evening
ana oat of that room was a larg,
closet, with large blind elevator. an,
out OF this closet door leading t,
the stoop and garden. Imagine m,
surprise when l was told that Mr.. Car
Isle was going to the lodge, and tha
We alter profuse warnings about tn,
Dapy and promises not to be gone to,
long were to proceed to this close
overlooking the back parlor by way o
the back gate and garden. In vain
protested.
"oh' you little goosie," said Jon
me- laughing; ''there'll be fun enough
to last us lifetime. John wanted +,
come awfully, but knew he'd max
an awful noise and spoil everything
so l wouldn't let him."
The willy schemer took the precou
'ioh 70 lock the closet door from tb