The Washington times., 1901-12-22
Mr.. and Mrs. BarriSter
BY g. HOME.
mo. 1 am not going"

finish my book; and in the third. 1 don't
care for the flowers"
Margaret, in the first place. you should
not give way to your foolih nervousness;
in the second, your brain needs a resi-
from all this trashy reading; and in the
third, 1 told Thompson to expect US this
afternoon for the flowers"
A one cared interest In ttis dialogue
had been letting the conversi tion Of the
rest of the table sink to meaningless
rumble. Finally. all were silent except
the landlady-who could listen and talk
with perfect ease-and the wellbred little
assistant school teacher.
That may all be true. Edwin" There
was n tone OF worry and complaint in her
voice. That may all be true, but do
not want to go, and you need not order
the carriage, for am not going"
Her husband gave faint smile.
Excuse me, you are going" he said,
coIdiy. n,s
Here even the landlady stopped to lis
ten cxpectantly; and all eyes we're fixed
on the two speakers. All but those Of
the little school teacher. who was blush
ing and looking down at her plate.
Edwin, how can you be so absurd? /
tell you, will not 60
"And tell you. you will
He raised his eyes, and at his quick
glance around the table, the boarders
started, and took up their knives and
| forks.
what were you saying. Mrs. Psrsons?"
nc asked, smiling pleasantly at the land
lady.
And wonder OF wonders, Mrs. Parsons
was for moment embarrassed. But only
for moment.
IL was saying" she answered briskly.
"that we're going to have cold summer.
and Mr. Bryce here says we're not"
Mr.. Bryce and the other boarders grate-
fully forgave the lie.
| Well, Judging by today. I agree with
Mr. Bryce" said Edwin Barrister, rising
and glancing at his wife Sc arose iur-
rlcdly. and they left the room together.
There was an awkward silence among
the boarders around the breakfast table;
they needed some remark to take away
! their acute consciousness OF one another.
Suddenly Miss Twichel. the music teach-
er. spoke: Il go
Hes as bad ~ ever this morning."
she said. with grave shake OF her thin
stiff curls. y 1
Mr.. Bryce, who felt somehow implicated
in Mrs. Parsons fdisehood, was glad to
start conversation. 1
Hes a brute" he said. empha .ically,
and then the talk went on CT itself.
1t is boarder's pndeniable privilege 10
discuss with those at table those who
have just left. So now. as had often been
the case before. Mr.. and Mrs. Barrister
furnished subject matter for the inmates
OF Mrs Parsons select summer boarding
house They were both young, and she
was beautiful: there was nothing remark
able in all that. brt their behavior GER
sainIy was extraordlnary. There IVES
something strained and Ill at ease in her
manner; something nervous, almost
pleading And in him there was cold
ness. a touch OF stern superiority. that
fascinated, while 1t angered them all ex-
tremely Did she keep out OF their way
by choice, that they might not see his
cruelty to her, or had he commanded Eer
to do it? They did not know. but they
knew very well that she avoided them,
After each meal she would leave them.
would go out into the woods. TO the VIII
lage, or to the river. he following always.
silently, relentlessly, like a threatening
shadow.
1t was very evident that she feared him.
OF course, each of the boarders had bis
or her own sad secret, but none so OBJ
trusiyely mysterious. none which caused
such general interest as this. 1t was with
increasing ylsor that they discussed the
subject now.
That afternoon, at about 4 o'clock. sorle
Of the boarders were assembled on the
veranda. when the Barristers' hired car
riage drove up to the door. Miss Twichel
reJoiced that Mr. swang had gone to give
a lesson; Miss Jennie looked plying |
around, and Mrs Parsons opened her |
mouth to speak. when Mrs. Barrlster. |
with her hat and gloves on, stepped out |
Of the doorway. Miss Jennie started and |
looked nervously at her; then. blushing |
violently. she went over to her, and lead
ing her in haste to the far end Of the |
veranda. spoke in a hurried tone.
Forgive me, do not mean to intrude \
or interfere, bur you seem SO very-you-
your must be SO unhappy. and L"
Here Mr.. Barrister came out, and Miss
Jennie started guiltily and looked down,
blushing redder than before.
81 do not hear you" said Mrs. Barris
ter, kindly. rs there anything l can do
for you?"
"oh. no. no-yes-only favor. will
ask you about it later
Poor little Miss Jennie, Her impulsive
offer OF sympathy and assistance had
been nipped in the bud. and she stood
there feeling that she had been guilty Of
the most blazing insolence.
Take US to Thompson's greenhouses"
said Mr.. Bsrristei" sternly. The driver
nodded, jersed the feins, and they logged
off tn
That night at dinner Mrs. Bsrrister was
late. and Mr. Barrister sat by her va
cant place with a froTn on his brow,
which he took no pains TO conceal. AT
last his wife entered, glanclng apologeti
cally at him.
81 am sorry l am late" she said. slip
ping into her chair with lowered eyes
I'VE are very sorry, too" he answered
drily. IAN
Mrs. Parsons said that at made abso-
lutely no difference at all" and followed
1t up with a string of reasons and anec-
dotes to prove her assertion. When she
had finished. Mrs. Barrister looked at her
gratefully.