The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1894-09-14
CUPID'S DARTS.
How One of Them Pierced Two
Unwilling Hearts.

ANSWERS the same purpose. she though
she meant it. After all. how very few
of us really know what we mean. 81
engaged myself once when a girl, ant
the simplcton thought he owned me-
soon took the conceit out of him anC
sent him away about his business
The voice was now little sharp
What wonder. with SO CALLING a mem
DRY? NO man shall ever tyrannize
over me-never. What the mischief dc
You suppose is the matter with the
sewing machine?''
'Annoyed at your logic, most like
~" said my friend, a bright young
matron. as she threaded her needle
My husband is net a tyrant, Miss
Kent"
Il am glad yon are satisfied" was
the laconic reply.
1t was evident by the expression OF
the dreSsmallcr's face that she had
formed her own opinion about my
friends husband, and was quite com
petent to form and express an opinion
on any subject Miss Kent was little
woman. fair as a girl and plump as 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 proud of it.
She was a 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 it takes to write it. Her views
on all subjects were strikingly orig
inal and not to be combated.
"What ere you going to do when
you are o!l?" persisted the mistress of
the establishment.
"What other folks do. suppose"
'But yOu can't work forever"
Cant say that want to-"
Now. Miss Kent, husband with
means kind intelligent man.
Il don't want any man. tell. You,
Mrs. Carlisle, | wouldn't marry the
best man living, if he was as rich as
CrGsus and would die if | didn't have
him. Now. ii you have exhausted the
marriage question, | 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 fitted the
waist she threw me letter from the
bureau.
Read that" she said. with a know
ing look 1t may amuse YOU
MY DEAR JENNIE: 1 shall be delighted to
spend q month with you and your husband.
There must. however. be one stipulation about
my VlSit-Nou must say no more about mar
riaTc. ! shall never be foolish again. Twenty
years ago to-day / wrecked my whole life.
CBctter embark in 4 new ship h2Gnt he put
III Jennie. soto voice. SO unsuitable was this
marriage. so utterly and entirely wretched
have been its consequence. that an forced to
believe the marriage institution Z mistake So
for the last time. let me assure you that L
wouldn't marry the best wom;ln that ever lived
if by so doing could save her life. Your old
cousin MARK LANSING"
Rich. isn't hep" said Jennie. and
then pointed to the chubby little figure
whose back happened to b. turned.
shook my head and laughed.
oull 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
alkali and an acid. Don't you think
this sleeve little too long, Miss Kent?'
Not after the seam is off. But
what were you saying, Mrs. Carlisle?
The other day, at Prof. Boyntons
saw some wonderful experiments.
And did they succeed?" inquired
Jennie, demurely.
"Beautifully.
$50 will mine. I never yet botched
a job in FAY life
Il don't quite understand you," re-
piled Miss Kent, perplcxed.
No? always grow scientific when
talking about marriage. my dear"
"BOthcr.' was all the little woman
said, but the tone was much better
natured than expected.
The next week Cousin Mark arrived !
ana liked HIM at once. An unhappy
marriage would have been the last
thing thought OF in connection with
that gentleman. lie had accepted the
situation like man, Jennie told me,
ana 1or fifteen years carried q load of
misery that few could have endured.
Death came to him at last, and now
the poor fellow actually bel eyed him
self an alien from domestic happiness.
Slngul2ry as it may appear, Cousin
MARX Wa the EN- 5odiment of good
health a. p)d nature; fifty, perhaps,
though ~ n look it, anu as rotund
ana as ircaI in his way as the little
drcssma ,,cr Was in hers. AS | looked
at nm drAei anybody to see one and
not be reminded Of the other True.
he mad moro OF the polish VIII Oh comes
from t. .r. ga 4 Ia ,tation to &! iffercnt
ella - d., d.. yiIuals. but he was not
a "hit Horc Atelligent by nature than
the bright little woman whom Jennie
determined he should marry.
Il 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 my being so
ridiculous" and in the same breath.
with wink at me: Come, let us 90 to
my sltting-room. We are at work there,
but 1t won't make any difference to
You. will it?"
OF course, Cousin Mark said: NO"
promptly. as innocent as 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
ana sat down again. Cousin Mark
picked up the refractory implements
ana then Mrs. Carlisle proceeded, with
rare caution and tact, to her labor of
love. Cousin Mark, at her request.
re'lo aloud an article from the Science
Monthly, drawing Miss Kent into the
discussion as deity as was ever a fly
drawn INTO the web of spider.
W no Is TINT lnH,- ;1,Os, C..-.