The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1904-06-04

actly mean Dy literature, SAID MI
Swang. 1t was what he always re-
piled to that question.
Then Miss Twitchell struck in.
Taking literature in its generally
accepted sense, as meaning what we
all unanimously believe it to mean,
think it is declining. But it is not
the fault of literature we are severei
critics than were those of the past
in fact, we can all do so we'll if we
try that it is very bad for any special
writer to succeed"
She stopped, and there was pause.
Conversation would not flourish in
that strained atmosphere.
81 have always thought, +" remark
ed Mrs. Barrister, quietly, ''that many
of the writer's of the past are famous
chiefly because they lived in the past.
That if they lived and wrote their
works today they would not be con-
-sfdered at ali remarkable.
Mr.. Barrister twisted impatiently
in his chair. IT think you had bet
ter leave such subjects alone until you
know more about them," he said.
But, Edwin, you must admit that
it was easier to make an impression
then than it is now?"
1t was nothing Of the kind"
She looked at him, pleadingly, and,
falteringly, went on: "But, Edwin,
take any of those old writer's"
Her husband cut her short, with an
ugly laugh. "Don't be FOOL" he
muttered.
Mr.. Bryce rose from his seat, very
white, and trembling with excite
ment.
"StopP' he cried. eve have all
sat by and listened to your dastardly
sneers long enough, and it is time you
understand that you must stop them,
now and forever"
Mr.. Barrister looked at him coldly.
"Who is to make me, I should like
to know?"
s'I am ~
All but Mr.. Barrister arose excl.
tedly, some frightened into silence,
some protesting, all preparing for
violence.
"You are?"
eyes, am |" Mr.. Bryce's voice
rang loud and steady. II will not
stand by any longer and see a de-
fenseless woman treated as you treat
your wife F! I will defend her against
you, against all of you, against all the
world !"
Mrs. Barrister looked at him in ter
ror, and moved nearer to her hus-
band.
Come" said the latter, "you had
better not listen to these rawlings, +"
and he led her to the door.
Mr.. Bryce started forward as if
to stop them, but was held back, and
they went out.
Poor Mr.. Bryce He knew he had
a passion within him which would
some day awaken, and now it had
IUuucoI StfCesti1- v,- anany a ~San~- per
son is to protect, and this beautiful
woman who needed protection had
reused every power and emotion in
him. And when he had offered his
help she had moved nearer to her
husband
Upstairs, with his hand on the door
knob of their room, Mr.. Barrister
turned to his wife and said, softly:
"I think we had better go tomor-
row." And the wife answered,
eyes"
As the train the next morning
steamed slowly out of the station,
bearing Mr.. and Mrs. Barrister, tie
latter heaved a long sigh of relief.
She looked into her husbands eyes,
which were twinkling merrily; her
own danced, and they both burst into
a hearty laugh.
''I never knew before that you
were an actress, Meg" he said, his
voice choked with mirth. "You were
simply superb, and I most ferocious
william"
Mrs. Barrister laughed again.
"But weren't we playing with fire,
dear Edward?" she said, gravely.
II was really frightened last night.
Our tangled web seemed to have
caught ourselves in it,
I'VE will forget all the sad part, "
he murmured, bending over her.
"Poor fellow !" Then taking her
hand tenderly in his, he said in an
ecstasy of happiness. 1--WE are prob
ably the first two persons, darling,
who have not been found out on their
honeymoon"
az TyYr nTerpm