AUTHOR OF <=
“PENROD " ETC.
-
COPYRIGHT 19/6" BY
SYNOPSIS.
fe
Sheridan's attempt to make a business
Bibhs going to
On his re-
the machine shop ends in
a sanitarium, a nervous wreck
turn Bibbs finds himself an in
able and unconsidered figure in the “New
House" of the Sheridans. The Vertrecses,
old town family next door and impover-
ished, call on the 8Sheridans, wewly-rich
parents’ unspoken wish t
one of the Sheridan boys.
encourages Jim Sheridan's atte
tells Mary Bibbs is not a t
queer.” He proposes to Mary
accepts him. Sheridan tells
must go back to the machine
soon as he Is strong enough,
Bihhs' plea to be allowed to write
Bibbs" sister, and Sibyl, Roscoe
wife, quarrel ov
goes to Mary for
from marrying E:
her in the room alor Bibbs has to bre
to his father the news of Jim's
death. All the rest of the famil
in thelr grief, Bibbs becomes te
master of the house. At the {
meets Mary and rides home
Bibbs purposely terrupts a
between
Edith ths
ing love to
SEE REE CIHR
Bibbs Sheridan, the physical
weakling, the “queer one,” and
Mary Vertrees, the aristocrat,
the husband-hunter, ac-
quainted while hearing organ
music. They exchange spiritual
messages on the wings of mel.
ody. Do you think this ac-
quaintance will awaken in their
breasts a mutual recognition of
love's first symptoms?
re
CHAPTER XIV—Ccn
and
PTT
MIF
=
SLA
Pe
Gb
BG
31
“No.”
not thinking
vocal sounds
ject of what littl
sess, and I'd like
don't know how to ma
“You needn't change
my account, Mr. Sheridan”
“Not even if you
yourself."
him as
his breath; he
by the look she gave him
glowing look, war
derstanding, and,
him, it was an e
Bibbs was not ac
like that.
“l—you—I-—I1'm
ard the faint color
almost vivid.
She
she
came into his
thing
tow “queer” many
him; but he did
Mary Vertrees:
guaintly natural
met.
He
really tall
She turned her fa
she and Bibb
spoke
was pathe
was stil
saw the
3 . ¥
about i
walte
don't even
bere I am,
man's solo!
“No,” 1
play your accompanims
“I'll stop and Jiste
“Perhaps—" she beg but
pausing thoughtfully she ma a
ture with her muff,
brick church which they
proaching. “Do
Mr. Sheridan?”
“I suppose I could,”
gimple truthfulness, at her
“But I don't want to. 1 have a feel
ing it’s where you're going, and where
I'll be sent back.”
She shook her head in cheery nega-
tion. “Not m1 want to be.
Would you like to come with me?”
“Why—why id “Any-
where!” And again it was apparent
that he spoke in simuple truthfuiness.
“Then come-—if you care for organ
music. The organist is an old friend
of mine, and sometimes he plays for
me. He's a dear old man. That's he,
waiting in He
like Beethoven, doesn’t he?
knows that, perhaps, and enjoys it a
little. 1 hope "
“Yes.” said Bibbs, as they reached
the church steps. “I
would like it, too
to look like other people.”
“1 haven't kept you? Mary said to
the organist. “This is Mr
Doctor Kraft. He has come to
with me.”
The organist bluntly suar-
prised. “less that he exclaimed.
“He iss musician himself, of course.”
“No.” said Bibbs, as the three en
tered the church together, “II played
the—1 tried to play—" Fortunately he
checked himself: he had been about to
offer the information that he had falled
oi he jews' harp in his boy-
i 4 | 'm not a musician,” he
pontented hig:self with saying
“What? Doctor Kraft's surprise in.
creased. “Young man, you are fortu-
pate! 1 play for Miss
comes always alone. You are the first.
You are the tirst one ever!”
They had reached the Lead of the
central alsle, and as the organist fine
ished speaking Bibbs siopped short,
ehe in
after
ges
indicating a
were ap
see that ob
you
he anawered in
looking
unless y
yes,” he si
1
the doorway
30,
listen
looked
#0?"
THB
turning to look at Mary Vertrees in a
dazed way that was not of her percelv-
ing; for, though she stopped as he did,
her gaze followed the organist, who
the front of the his
white Beethovian
“It's false pretenses
Bibbs said. “You
but I'm
I'm well
church, shaking
mune roguishly.
a0 my
mean to be kind to
not an invalld any
I'm going back to
I'd better
before he begins to play, hadn't 1?”
“No,”
forward. “Not
great musle.”
fe followed her to a seat about
the aisle
the organ
Handel!” he
SO
unless you don't
half
Kraft
after-
turned to
while Doctor
noon
shout.
Mary nodded
sone
“I don’t know
‘Largo.’ 1 d«
music. I don’t
to pretend I do. If
preter d, I would”
Mary, |
except
about
" 254A
Sail
turned aw
witl
to fill
sat inter
and
15ely
ill round about ther
d sky
made a
rd un
rhythm
AI0D
white he
veered with tl
thrusting, but
» master of his g
48 he
was SwWel
singing
unknown
music in his
it was
ad brought
and
what made its mag
It seemed to i
he had
ym Do
to him
a happy
3
chanted cave,
was
nee 1
v fr
vy Ire
seemed
where Mary
Vertree
stening t«
ivigible soldiers
There wer a
them, singing praise
vet they were
lible that t!
not the boun
1 to remain 80
that there was a smoky
where housen
in evening papers fi
He bh 1d}
ition
t could
TABLA LA ‘
> A ~
“Young Man, You Are Fortunate,”
“You hear this strain? You hear that
strain? Youn know the dream that these
sounds bring to me?”
to him as though she answered con
tinually: “I bear! 1 bear that strain,
and I hear the new one that you are
hearing now.
these sounds bring to you. Yes,
I hear it all! We hear—together!”
And though the church grew so dim
that all was mysterious shadow except
the vague planes of the windows and
the organist's light, with the white
Lead moving bebeuth it, Bibbs bad no
yoR,
consciousness that the girl be
glide him had grown shadowy;
seemed to see her as plainly as ever in
the darkness, though he did not look at
her. And all the mighty chanting of
the organ's multitudinous voices that
afternoon seemed to Bibbs to cho-
rusing of her and Interpreting her, |
her thoughts and singing for
him the world of humble gratitude that
was in his heart because she was 50
kind to him. It all meant Mary
But when him
meant, on their homeward way, he was
silent, They had paces
from the church
walking slowly.
“I'll tell you what it meant
she said, as did not
reply. “Almost any music of Handel's
always means one thing
ers to
makes
sitting
he
be
she asked what
come a few
without speakiog,
he immediat
above all oth-
That's {it It
RO
me: CO
cownrdice
ourage’
or whining
it makes most
Heem
little lives seen
i
“YY ps
that
hurrying to t
straps in trolley
to
0 they car
And
get
yot
peopie
ywerpaid
worship the
i
paia
and ye
trier tha
COUrse, v
ng its wage
ferent.’
“Do yl
and
shed
yf what
think it
nan that
gen the mt ic mus leave it to you
and the
can mean to you
except to himself and peo
1 suppose.”
I'd
like him,
“I suppose that's
true, though
“I tmagine
music
pictu
must make feel |
the m
paint res In nds
“according to tt
1
Bg thelr
own
much as acconding to the
itaelf."
musician might compose some-
you to think
some people
a prayer
The
the Holy Grail, and
good they were themselves, and a boy
might think of himself at the head of a
solemn procession, carrying a banner
and riding a white horse, And then,
if these were some jubilant passages
in the music, he'd think of a circus.” i
They had reached ber gate, and she |
set her band upon it, but did not open |
}bbs felt that this was almost |
be prompt in leaving him i
“After all,” she sald, “you didn’t
"
“No. 1 didn't need to,
“No, that's true, and I didn’t need
I knew jut you sald yon |
were trying to keep from telling me |
what it did mean” |
“I ean't keep from telling it any
longer,” he sald. “The music meant to
meant the kindness of-wof
“Kindnesa? How?"
“You thought 1 was a sort of lonely
tramp—and sick"
“No.” she sald, decidedly. “I thought
perhaps you'd like to hear Doctor
Kraft play. And you Hd”
“1's curious: somethines it seem
to ne that It was you who were play.
Mary laughed. “I? [I strum! Plano.
A little Chopin—Grieg--Chaminade,
You wouldn't
tibbs drew a
frightened
steady vol
I'm
the words sank
“Oh, If
1"
you.
listen!”
bre
iin,” said,
“I'm afraid you'll
but—"" He paused
murmur
to |
idly. It
“I'm
un-
ith
in
deen
hes an
hink
pushing, and
ton
want me
for
will
yon
ghe said “Yes, gl
this afternoon. I play like a
I'm
to
checked
willing
She stopped,
glad when anyone's
and if you
by a sudden recollection, and laughed
ruefully. “But my plano won't be here
after tonight. I—I'm sending it away
I'm afrald that
like me to play to you you'd have to
“You'll let me?’ he cried
“Certainly, If you care to
“If 1 could play he said,
wist-
in the church I could thank you.”
“Ah, but you haven't heard me
play. I know you liked this afternoon,
but—"
“Ye Bibbs “It was
greatest happiness I've ever known
It was too dark to see his face, but
his voice held such plain honesty, and
he with uncon
the
sald
spoke such complete
sciousness of saying
significant, that sh
3
truth For a
anything especial
e knew it was the
ent she Was non
moi
went “You'll come after dinner
then?"
“Yea” he sald, not moving
mind if 1
stood here until
ome in?
hed the
offering
ind
She
an to | oor
tramp had bet
hat ia Take
Humble's the word!
he
CHAPTER XV.
That “mystery about pianos” which
troubled Bibbs had been a mystery to
Mr being ex-
plained to hi about the time Bibha
scribbled the to it in his
notes Mary npstairs upon
Bibbs’ departure at lock, and
Mr. and Mrs. Ve until after
midnight in the library talking
“lhe needn't to have done that about
her plano,” vapored Mr, Vertrees. “We
could have managed somehow without
it. At least she ought to have coasult-
ed me. and if she insisted | could have
arranged details with the-—the
dealer.”
“She thought that (t
noying for you,” Mrs
Vertrees it was
eforeonce
had gone
ten 0'¢
trees sat
+
we
might be—an-
Vertrees
not to know about it until they had re-
but I decided to—to mention it. You
see, she didu't even tell me about it un-
til this morning
I'm afraid
“Well?” he
Usit'g—"
urged. as she found It
“Her other idea is—that is, it was
«1 think It can be avoided, of course
It was about her furs”
“No!™ he exclaimed, quickly. “I
won't have it! You must see to that
I'd rather not talk to her about it, but
you mustn't let her.”
“I' try not”
course the piano will take care of some
things like those for a while and"
“1 don't like it. 1 gave her the piano
to play on, not to=-"
“You mustu't be distressed about it
in one way,” she said, comfortingly.
“Khe areanged with the with the pur
chager that the men will come for it
about half after five in the afternoon
The days short now
quite winter.”
“Oh, yes"
far as that
neighbors are
just now, though I
mick In his office earls
after the funeral
Mrs, Vertrees
commiseration
was
are no
he agreed, “So |
don’t
moodily
goes | suppose our
i
paying u attention
hear Sheridan was |
|
morning i
little sound of
don't believe that
wasn't suffering
seemed
made a
“]
because he
Mary told he
i
“
me
rr
RE
Bry] 1}
4
Sd
E
Have Done
the Piano.”
after
only have an impre
don't know-~that
then went
t how
She paused, ot
know jus jg]
didn’t mention it to Mary I didn't
The lady
nciuding with a
4
nsx
floundered piti-
“So
poor
mumble
the shock.”
i
fully, of
after the
soon after
said Mr
if 1 saw
of him
springing
agitation “1 can’t
no!” he gasped
floor. “A half-witted epi
a glimpse of him," Vertrees
“1 wouldn't Know
but 3
broke
foot
her
io
leptic!”
“No, no!” she cried.
right. We"
“Oh, it's horrible! I can't—" He
threw himself back into his chair
again, sweeping his hands across his
him
our
oft
in
oh
pace
impression in
suddenly, to
the
“He may be all
his sides,
Mrs. Vertrees was tremulous. “You
musn’'t give way so,” she sald, inspired
for once almost to direct discourse.
it wouldn't be on her own account; it
would be on ours. But if we should
our own account. It isn't because we
“Oh God, no!” he groaned. "Not for
us!
Mary can’t be a stenographer!”
obligueness., “Of course,”
speculating about such things, but 14
had a queer sort of feeling that she |
*
bad almost said “in this one” but,
checked herself. “In this young man |
It's natural, of course; she Is always
sastrong and well, and he ls-<he seems |
to be, that is-~eather appealing to the |
«the sy mpaties” |
agreed, bitterly. "Prec
faltered
tioned, |
somebody !
then 1 might
sorry
find
I was to he
much SBowething
perhaps?”
“You don't
the
know any!
family.”
That
one of
“Yes
OUrse,
is well a way, of
That Mrs
that
ed Ht
i ” ry
he family
toscoe Sheridan is not
rather a
pleasant -fa
I think she is intereste
d about
be anxious to
that ix
be
intimate with Mary, naturally
looking over here
glie was looking out of win
y
iow this
out, 1
Mary saw her
hink it
1b matters
afternoon when Mary went
noticed! lou't think
tio} ¥
WUgHn i
of it
That's very sweet
the
always
Vertrees
steps and walked to
th
“I'm sfraid Miss Vertrees wil
her plano,” sald Sibyl,
an
in
van at
wonderfully
watching the
iment disappear into the 1}
sir big
curb
the
Mrs
“Yes, she plays very
“She plays .
Kittersby tells me.”
well, 3dr
Sheri
dan came t ar her play
because ashe had arranged t
that is, it was to be removed
O01 He seems almost
Yes.” Siby! nodded
going to try to start hin
“He seems very deli
Vertrees
with the
this aft
again.”
“His father's
to work"
ate.” said Mra.
“1 shouldn't think he would
be able to stand a great deal, either
physically or" She paused and then
wel
.
own adroitness
“Oh
“or mentally.”
mentally Bibbs is all
said Sibyl, ip an odd volce.
“But has he always been?" The
question came with anxious eagerness
“Certainly. He bad a long siege of
nervous dyspepsia, but he's over it"
“And you think"
“Bibbs is all right. You needo’t
wor" Ribyl choked, and pressed her
handkerchief te heér mouth “Good
night, Mrs. Vertrees,” ghe sald, hor
right,”
Will Sybil help along the
match between Bibbs and Mary
in order to link up the Sheridan
family with the aristocrats? Or
will she set about to poison Old
Man Sheridan's mind against
the girl?
Bananas can be ripened in a room
kopt at 110 degrees,