Newark post., 1911-08-02

l
She had motive, however, for
| outstripping hersel: on this occa-
sion which had no root in desire
for fame and applause.
1t was to "do" Lister Birkett.
For it must be admitted that Of
all Old Symptoms inhabitants, Lis
ter Birkett seemed to Mrs. De-
vine the least endurable.
Even George Caves and Mrs.
Lamia had some claims to distinc-
ton on the grounds of unity Of
characteristics, but Lister Birkett !!
Such pretensons of synicism, such
contempt of authority; such de-
fiance of Professionalism, and man
| in general-these things must be
punished.
1t was not then Tito Melena
of George Eliot's Romola whom
she undertook to paint in his true
colors and deserts. No, Lister
Birkett was the composite ul
treachery, vanity and demoniacal
spleen that glowed in dashes Of
carmine upon her written pad. Not
that he had any of the seductive
beauty of the Greek, for dear
knows his features were normal
enough to complete your lack Of
sympathy with him on any score.
All the better for that, if Justice
were to prevail without hindrance.
Finding herself numbered with
the survival Of the fttest, she was
none the less discomhted by Mrs.
Lister Birkett's outcry Of welcome
for, after all it was Listers mo-
ther, whom she loved, and who
was always SO good to her. She
felt suddenly seized with some
thing like nausea at the idea Of
thus dragging to light the crimes
of Lister Birkett as embodied in
her treatment of Tito Melema.
What if her mother should recog-
lize the portrait, and with all her
good humor chide her for such
breach Of loyalty, however she
might admit its truth and justice !?
Apparently, however, nobody
read Lister Birkett in these tines
of fire, and Professor Jumbo rose
and walked down into the audience
chamber and greeted her without
an egg or cabbage to protest.
1t was as if the mountain had
come to Mahomet, and all pres
ent SO conceived it. He extended
his hand, which Marian accepted
doubtfully, growing sicker and
slcker over what was to happen to
Lister Birkett when Professor
Jumbo should state his opinion of
him
Lister being seated for the mo-
ment en- garcon i'll his apartment
at Midvale, rocking nothing of
what was going on in Old Ship
ton, Which he despised as we'll as
loved.
Il am very pleased" pronounc-
ed Professor Jumbo, ito meet the
author o: this remarkable paper"
which he appeared to fondle in his
grasp. You have handled your
character with discernment and
correctness of proportions very
seldom to be observed in my bup-
lis, and you have moreover meted
out to him all those subtleties Of
the punishment of Tito Melema.
which the author desired to i'm
press upon her readers, but which
few can follow to the climax in
tended"
lhus the bay and laurel settled
upon Marian's throbbing brow,
while all sense of triumph was OBJ
liberated by Lister Birkett's mo-
theirs exclamations of generous
delight.
Il knew it! | expected it!
You've brought credit to all us
dummies, and I'm as pleased as
Punch !!
Is there any Nemesis to be COM
pared with the good faith of a
TREND to whom we have done de-
spite?
Thus Lister Birkett escaped his
doom. Not even his own mother
mad recognized the being in whose
destruction Marian had found
such joy. AS for the victim him
self, he was at that hour gently
stirring something in a chafne.
dish for the ladies of the Midvale
Golt Club. He had no idea that
ne had been driven up the River
Road and into the deep waters of
BoSey Run by the daggers of Mrs
Devlne's scorn and literary JUS
tice.