The Forrest City times., 1894-07-06

natured than expected. l The next week Cousin Mark arrived, and liked him at once. An unhappy marriage would have been the last | thing thought of in connection with | that gentleman. He 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 actually believed him. | self an alien from domestic happiness. Singularly as it may appear, Cousin Mark was the embodiment of good health and good nature; fifty, perhaps, | though he didn't look it. and as rotund | and as fresh in his way as the little dressnaker was in hers. As l looked at him defied 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 he was not whit more intelligent by nature than the bright little woman whom Jennie determined he should marry. ''l was surprised you should think it necessary to caution me about that, Cousin Mark cooed the plotter, as she stood by his side looking out of the window. "The idea of m so ridiculous!' and in the same ath, with wink at me: Come, let us go to my sitting room. We are at work there. but it won't make any difference to you, will it?'
 | No promptly, as innocent as dove about the trap being laid for him. s'This is my cousin, Mir. Lansing, Miss Kent.'
 MT. Lansing bowed politely and Miss kont 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 the Science Monthly, drawing Miss Kent into the discussion as deftly as was ever fly drawn into the web of a spider.
 ''Who is that lady, Jennie?" Cousin Mark inquired in the evening. You mean Miss Kent?" said Jennie, looking mp from her paper. ''Oh, she is lady; 1 have known her for a long time. She is making some dresses for me now. Why?"
 ''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 SOP" and that ended it.
 Two or three invitations to the sew ing-room were quite sufficient to make Cousin Mark at home there, and after a week he become familiar enough to say:
 If you are not too busy, I should like to read you this article"
 "Oh. I'm never too busy to be read O." Miss Kent would say. ''Sit down by the window in this comfortable chair and let's hear it."
 After couple of weeks, when the gentleman came in hoarse with 8 sud- den cold. Miss Kent hustled about. her voice full of sympathy, and brewed him dose which he declared he should not forget to his dying day; but one dose cured. After this occurrence Miss Kent was really wonderful woman.
 An, what an arch plotter! She let them skirmish about, but not for once did she give them chance to be alone together. Her plans were not to be de- s.royed by premature confidence until the very evening preceding Cousin rl-f. Ia, C., Ca1 Miss Kent was very demnrely asked to remain and keep an eye on Master Carlisle. whom the fond mother did not like to leave quite alone with his nurse.
 We are compelled to be gone couple of hours" she said, 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 matri monial 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 large blind elevator, and out of this closet door leading to the stoop and garden. Imagine my surprise when l was told that Mir. 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, lacghing; ''there'll be fun enough to last us a lifetime. John wanted to