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Making a Match.

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Making a Match. I wouldn't marry the best man that ever lived 1" And she meant it, or, what answers the same purpose, she thought she meant it. After all, how few of us ever really know what we mean? "I engaged myself once, when a girl, and the simpleton thought he owned me. I soon took the conceit out of him, and sent him away about his business. The voice was now a little sharp. What wonder, with so galling a memory? No man shall ever tyrannise over me—never What the mischief do you suppose is the matter with this sewing machine ?" "Annoyed at your logic most likely," said my friend, a bright young matron, as she threaded her needle, My husband is not a tyrant, Miss Kent." I am glad you are satisfied," was the laconio reply. It was quite evident by the expression of the dressmaker's face that she had formed her own opinion about my friend's husband and was quite competent to form and express an opinion on any subjeot. Miss Kent was a 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, a faithful friend, and a jolly companion; but stroke her the wrong way and you'd wish fou hadn't in much shorter time than it takes e to write it. Her views on all subjects were strikingly original and not to be oom- iated, What are you going to do when you are aid ?" persisted the mistress of the establih- lnent. What other folks do, I suppose." But you can't work for ever." U Can't say that I want to." Now, Miss Kent, a husband with means, kind,intelligent man——" r. "I don't want any man. I tell you Mrs. Carlisle, I wouldn't marry the best man living, if he was as rioh as Croesus and would die if I did'nt have him. Now, if you have exhausted the marriage question, I should like to try on your dress." There was something behind all this I knew well. My friend's eyes danced with fun and, as Miss Kent fitted the waist, she threw me a letter from the bureau. "Read that," she said, with a knowing look. It may amuse you." This is what the letter said:— My dear Jennie,—I shall be delighted to spend a month with you and your husband. There must be, however, one stipulation about my vist-you must say no more about marriage. I shall never be foolish again. Twenty years to-day I wrecked my whole life. (" Better embark in a new ship, hadn't I ?" put in Jennie, sotto voce.) So unsuit- able was this marriage, so utterly and entirely wretched have been its consequences, that I am forced to believe the marriage institution a mis- take. So, for the last time, let me assure you that I wouldn't marry the beat woman that ever lived, if by so doing I could save her life.—Your old cousin, MARK LANSING. 11 Rich, isn't he?" said Jennie, and then pointed to the ohubby little figure whose back happened to be turned. I shook my head and laughed. You'll see," said the incorrigible. See what ?" inquired Miss Kent, quite un- aware of our pantomime. That parties which are chemically attracted will unite. Of course an alkali and an aoid. Don't you think this sleeve a little too long, Miss Kent ?" Not after the seam is off. But what was jrou saying, Miss Carlisle ? The other day at }?rofeasor Boynton's I saw some wonderful experiments." And did they sucoeed inquired Jennie, temorely. Beautifully." So wi I I mine, I never yet botched a job my life." I don't think I quite understand you," yplied Miss Kent, perplexed. No P I always grow scientific when talk- ing about marriage, my dear." Bother!" was all the little woman said, but the tone was muoh better natured that I expected. The next week Cousin Mark arrived, and I liked him at onoe. 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 oarried a load of misery that few could have endured. Death oame to him at last, and now the poor fellow actually believed himself an alien from domestic happiness. Singular as it may appear, Cousin Mark was the embodiment of good health and good nature; fifty, perhaps, though he didn't look it, and tu rotund and as fresh in his way as the little dressmaker was in hers. As I looked )t him I defied anybody to see one and not be minded of the other, True, he had more of the polish which nomes from travel and adaptation to different classes and individuals, but he was Dot a whit more intelligent by nature than the bright little woman whom Jennie determined he should marry. I was surprised you should think it neoes- sary to caution me about that, Cousin Mark," cooed the plotter as she stood by his side, looking out of the window. U The idea of my being so ridiculous! and in the same breath, with a wink at me, Come, let us go to my aitting-room. We are at work there, but it won't make any difference to you, will it ? Of course Cousin Mark answered "No" promptly, as innocent as a dove about the trap being laid for him. This is my cousin, Mr. Lansing, Miss Kent." And Mr. Lansing bowed politely and Miss Kent rose, dropped her soissors, blushed and sat "down again. Cousin Mark picked up the retractory implements, and then Mrs. Jennie proceeded with rare caution and tact to her labour of love, Cousin Mark, at her request, read aloud an article from the "Popular Science Monthly," drawing Miss Kent into the disoussion as daftly as was ever fly drawn into the web of a spider. Who is that lady, Jannie ?" Cousin Mark inquired in the evening. You mean Miss Kent," said Jennie, look- ing up from her paper. Oh, she is a lady I have known for a long time. She is making some dresses for me now. Why ?" "She seemed uncommonly well posted for a woman." Under any ottatflncaaastances Mrs. Carlisle would have ressentadiihie, but now she only queried, Do you think so ?" and that ended it ?" Two or three invitations to the sewing-room were quite sufficient to make Cousin Mark perfeotly at home there, and, after a week, he became familiar enough to say: If you are not too busy I should like to read you this artiole." Oh, I am never too busy to be read to," Miss Kent would say. Sit down by the win- dow, in this oomfortable chair, and let's hear it." After a couple of weeks, when the gentle- man came in, hoarse, with a sudden cold, Miss Kent bustled about, her voice full of sympathy, and brewed him a dose which he declared he should never forget to his dying day; but one dose cured, After this ooour- rence Miss Kent was a really wonderful Woman. Ah, what an &rob-plotter I She let them skirmish about, but not once did she give them a chance to be alone together. Her plans were not to be destroyed by premature confidences until the very evening preceding Cousin Mark's depai tjjre for Vail i fgrnia, Then Miss Kent was very demurely 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 a couple of hours," said she; 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 gooi manage- ment, was never awake in the evening, so the victims of this matrimonial speculation would have plenty of time. The back parlour was the room most in use during the evening, and out of this room was a large closet with a large blind ventilator, and out of this closet a door leading to the back stoop and garden. Imagine my surprise when I was told that Mr. 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 pro- ceed to this closet overlooking the back parlour by the way of the back gate and garden, In vain I protested. Why, you little goosie, laughed Jennie, there'll be fun enough to last a lifetime. John wanted to come awfully, but I knew he'd make an awful noiae and spoil everything, so I wouldn't let him." The wily schemer took the precaution to lock the closest door from the outside, so there was no fear of detection. On a high bench, still as two mice, we awaited results.. Presently, Cousin Mark, as if arousing from a protracted reverie, asked, Would you like to have me read P" "Ob, I am not particular," replied Miss Kent. "Here is an excellent article on elective affinities. How would you like that ?" Jennie's elbow in my side almost took away my breath. Who is it by ? she inquired. Jennie exclaimed (close in my ear, That's to gain time, see if it ain't. "It's by a prominent Frenoh writer,' I believe," answered Cousin Mark. I don't think I care for a translation to- night," said Miss Kent. Nor I; nor reading of any kind," he con- tinued. This is my last evening in New York, Miss Kent." "I hope you've enjoyed your visit," she re- turned. Jennie (into my very head this time)," She's as shy as a three-year-old colt." I didn't think I should feel so bad about leaving," Cousin Mark went on. He is the wreck, you remember," whis- pered Jennie. A long pause. I think I hear the baby," exclaimed Miss Kent. Oh, no," said Cousin Mark. You are. fond of babies, are you not," Miss Kent P" No answer from Miss Kent. "I have been a very lonely man, Miss Kent," Cousin Mark resumed, but I never realised how lonely the rest of my life must be until I came to this house." Oh, how lonely," echoed Jennie. Now I must return to my business and my boarding honse-boarding house for a man so fond of domestic life as I am, Miss Kent." Just then we very distinctly heard a little kind of a purr, which sounded very like a note of intense sympathy from Miss Kent. "I have friends in San Francisco, of course." said Cousin Mark, but no fireside like this, no one to care for me if I am ill, nobody to feel very badly if I die." That'll fetch her," said Jennie. I wish that I lived in San Francisco," said Miss Kent, in a little quivering voice. You could call upon me at any time if you needed anything." Jennie in convulsions. "If you will go to California with me,Misa Kent, I'll wait another week." "Why, Mr. Lansing, what do you mean? What would folks say f she said. We don't care for folks," said Mark. If you will go, we will have a house as pleasant as money can make it. You shall have birds and flowers and horses, and all the scientific monthlies that you want, deuced if you shan't, and you shall never sew another stitch for anybody but me. Will be be my wife ?" Just then Jennie and I stepped up another peg, and there was that little old maid, who would not marry the best man that ever lived, hugged close to the man's breast who wouldn't marry the best woman that ever lived, not even to save her life. We came away then, but it's my opinion that thev re- mained in just that position till we rang the bell half an hour later. How did you know ?" 1 asked of Jennie. My dear," she answered, my whole trust was upon human nature; and lot me tell you, dear .goosie, whatever else may fail, that never does ?" Why, Miss Kent, what makes your face so very red ?" inquired Jennie, upon entering; and Cousin Mark, how strangely you look! Your hair is all mussed up." "And I hope to have it mussed often," said Cousin Mark, boldly. Miss Kent and I are to be married this week." Jennie laughed till her face was purple, and when I went upstairs Miss Kent was pounding her baok.-Wave)-ley Magazine.

THE NEBRASKA LOADSTONE.

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