The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-08-19
Evil to Him Who
Evil Thinks
BY RYLAND BELL

a number of literary critics and hall
a dozen authors. These persons com
posed about third Of the invited
guests and on account of their connec-
ton with literature were objects Of In
terest to the rest of us.
The Buffers had recently published
q novel called The Code Reversed,
which was having a phenomenal sue
cess. 1t had been issued uAder a nom
de plume. and opinion was divided
as to whether the author was man or
woman.
One spicy review of it said 1t was
the most immoral novel that had been
issued in many years. Most of the
notices took pretty much the same
view Of the book. but there were few
that made no mention whatever Of
anything naughty in it. One critic
said that some persons might give 1t an
immoral Interpretation, adding, Evil
to him who evil thinks"
Naturally we spent good deal OF
time discussing the merits, dement's
and Interpretation to be put upon this
story. Some of US endeavored to in
duce Butler to tell US about the au-
thor. But he resolutely declined. He
would not even say whether the book
had been written by man or wo-
man.
The party came together early In
October and remained till November,
though there were many changes in
the meantime. | remained as long as
Butler kept the house open, having
met young lady who affected me diff
ferently from any other woman. She
was but nineteen and more of lily
than rosebud. l kept my tongue al
ways under control when with her lest
/ might shock her-not that she was
prudish. for there was nothing of
prudishness in her. Her purity was
self evident.
She did not belong to the author
esses. several of whom were among
us. | attempted to talk to her about
literature. but found that her reading
was very meager. Indeed. in party
where there was a sprinkling of in
tellectual people / did not see that she
had any place. ] hintef as much to
Butler. who said, "Oh. she's a nice lit
tie girl; rather unsophsticated, but
you know we're not all geniuses here"
Toward the close of our stay Butler
announced one morning that in a few
days the author of THE Code Revers-
ed" would be with us. Several who had
announced their intention of leaving
Immediately declared that they would
remain. Some one asked Butler IL he
or she was coming incog. Butler re-
piled that the person would be incog.
But he promised before the party |
broke up to remove the mask that we
might all see him or her in propria |
persona.
During the next few days several |
persons arrived, and each conner was |
at once pounced upon as the author. |
One was young man who wore his
hair pompadour and looked otherwise
like a genius. Another was a middle
aged masculine looking woman with a
coarse voice and unrefined manners.
Perhaps / would have taken more
interest in this matter had not been
especially engaged with the young lady
have mentioned whose name was
Mary Brown. One evening while chat
ting with her alone, drawing nearer
and nearer to speaking my heart, /
finally let my arm fall upon her waist
and. turning my face to hers, kissed
her.
had scarcely done so when it SEEM
ed to me that the act was prof
anation. l was not repulsed. but there
was so much modesty displayed on the
part of the young lady that blamed
myself for taking what 1 had not the
right to take. fastened to repair the
damage by an offer of my heart and
hand.
Two days later, as I was about to
leave. Butler announced that IL we
would all gather In the drawing room
he would present the author of 1.-THE
Code Reversed" entered with the 9TH
,rs, and when all had assembled our
lost approached us and. taking Mary
Brown by the hand. led her apart from
he others and said:
my friends. have the honor to
present the author Of The Code Re-
yersed.' | will also explain that her
book is an example of how differently
lifferent persons may look upon the
anne thing. You all have had an OPP
to know Miss Brown and
re. am sure, united as to her purity"
But you said she was to arrive"
emarked a guest
Pardon me; said that she would
70 with us. did not say that she was
lot then with u.s."
Miss Brown is now my wife, but
axe care that she doesn't scribble-
t least not for publication.
Fortunately she was not spoiled by
er remarkable success. Had she been
lated over it she would have been
oomed to an equal disappointment.
Ter story was without literary merit.
! meaning had been placed upon It
y persons whose minds naturally per-
Give the sensual. To the author no
uch meaning was intended Indeed,
be was incapable of conceiving of
uch meaning. Butler understood both
ne public and the author and, not be. +
,g averse to making money out of a
rst seller. had issued the story anony-
lously. giving it name that would