The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-01
Their Literary Guest.
BY F. H. LANCASTER.

SSopyu8nt, lSuz py Ddiiy Srory fuo. Co.)
 They were glad enough to have the It. erury woman among them for a week or two. She was neither prude nor biue- stocking, but . bright. entertaining talker . good reader and a willing one-moreover sne knew how to mind her own business and never meddIed in the affairs Of the homes she entered. Added to all tlts she hAd 3uwt been around the world and had at her command a fund of auecdote and amusing incidents. Naturally they look a forward to her coming with pleasant andcipattons and welcomed her warmly. Even If they did suspect that the real was the accumulation of country color.
 They had expected to be entertained and anHueed. Ah, well they got . little more olan they bergaaned for.
 It1es Hfetafy woman came, read aloud. told stories. listened to their joys and wces and sympaehized. Three days wore ewSy. then two strangers, gentlemen. 0roppeQ in for an evening call The ob- 1sct or their attention was plainly the iferary woman, but they made them inmates of the quiet country home en- loved the Incident.
 An evening passed and the strangers gain presented themselves upon the hos pdt9ble doorstep. One of them was fair and young, the othr somewhat older. darker and very deep-voiced. The literary woman talked fndifferently we'll to both, but Morton, the younger, seemed to have established his claim upon her and he ptrshed his advantage hard after the crude manner of youth. The old man looked on, smiled an inscrutabie smile and made himself agreeable to the lady of the house.
 At last the conversation becoming gem eral turned upon the then recent Fair fire at Paris. and Morton, with his a4r of first right. turned to the literary woman.
 What about 1t. Miss Nordhamy'
 Why. don't know. Nothing. sup
 The modern Frenohman is such . mo- ble, hearty fellow, eh?' he persisted.
 The French are race of acute and subtle thfnkezS." she responded.
 But what about their heart. their ,vaMghn leaned forward slightly and his deep voice filled the pause that fol- lowed Morton's question. = your. curiosity?'
 Curiosity! It is not that. I am try ins to ret an opinion out of Miss Nord- year and though l thought hundred ttanss that I had her cornered she has always dodged the issue. Do you never express an opinion, Miss Nordham?'
 Why. really" sho replied absently, "T
 Isn't a high chair and strong cord the best remedy for a troublesome young ster. Miss Morton" Vaughn asked pleas antly. ..s- .-..
 Ut might be-" she smiled. moving away In response to the postrnan's whistle.
 Morton turned to the other ladies.
 Wouldn't even express an opinion about chat" he observed triunphantly. T tell you she never does it. 1 have listened known. her to commit herself to a shadow. Take the brightest. boldest things she has written and tear them to pieces. What have you? A clever array of facts. quota lions, subtle reasoning. sound logic and clear English: But an opinion? Not on your life. When you have read every thing she has written you cannot put your finger on a single thing and say Miss NordhaI1 believes this. Generally, even in a book of fiction, the author by know what he really believes---what he wants you to believe. Did any of you ever Ind shadow of q hint like that in one of Miss Nordham's books?'
 vaughn's deep voice struck leisurely
 Well. that's all right. Morton. The only trouble is. you are trifie behind the times. Thds absence of the ego is the distinctive mark of our twentieth century literature. Every man. nova form his own opinion. All he wants is we'll authenticated facts and perfectly clear English. and the writers have found It out. They are no longer the shep- herds of thought and don't expect the world to trot after their whistle. All they aim to do Is to let down the bars.
 Bother! That's no reason why Miss Nordham should keep her opinions as dark as though they were dangerous bombs that would explode upon the slightest ex- posture to daylight"
 .'I will tell you something else Vaughn continued slowly. Don't impose upon Miss Nordhams tolerance under the irn- precision that you are playing with a kitten I saw a man do that once and he will carry the remembrance of the tiger claws to his grave It was only a bout five carefully spoken words, but he admitted to me that five sword thrusts would have been distinctly preferable
 Bother" Morton commented again. We were going to have a game of cards. were we not, Miss Nanny
 While the cards were being dealt the literary woman re-entered the room and went up to Vaughn, who was not ~laying
 Mir. Vaughn l believe these are the -er---'
 Morton grinned
 Tried her best to express an opinion and broke down"