ea at CHAPTER XXVili—Continued. — law, is engaged in poisoning Mrs. Sheridan's mind against the Vertrees family and Mary Vertrees, Bibbs loves. The twe women standing just outside the door of Bibbs' roem. He hears it all. So she started for Roscoe; but she found out pretty quick he was married, and she turned right around to Jim and she landed Rim! There's no doubt about it, she had Jim, and if lived you'd had another daughter-in- | i | telling you the God's truth about it! Well- tery she was waiting out drive home with Bibbs! cold—and she dida't know whether Bibbs was insane or not, but he was tke only ene of the rich Sheridan boys left. She had to get him.” The texture of what was the truth made an even fabric with what was mot, in Siby!'s mind; she belleved every there with the rapidity and vehemence of fierce conviction. “What I feel about “it oughtn't te be allowed It's too mean! I don’t want te see h foel of, and I don't want to family made such a fool of! poor Bibba, if he'd only stop think a minute himself he'd have to realize he isn’t the kind of a man girl would be apt to fall in love wit He's better looking lately, maybe, but know how was kind of a white rag in good clothes And like men with some ‘ern sort of dashingues No wly ever looked at poor and neither’d she- 'd tried both Rescoe and It only when her and y got desperate that she—" bbhs—whiter than when h it she sald, to go I like poor Bibbs, and 8." on m made sucl soe L but any 3 4 you he just long girls gome go fo anyhow! Bibbs ir! not Jim Ss, De no, was came ¢ sanitarium-—opened » (door He its stood thre shold * TOSS at stepped a looking hier. loth men cried Sibyl wh, I wou good heavens!” zed Mrs. Sh eridan’s aru toward * stairy Sheridan!” efuddied JF and tral f gracious! bad! 1 didn’t woul byl le “Good obeyed, S a clamations: 1't Too as there! 1 Not } Of But, for the world now some time! Urs or ~ " 3 She heard his door close as she and Mre dan reached the of the stairs 1 she glanced over her shou der quickly, but f ing: be had gone back “He—he looked minered Mra sh" “8till, St top Bibbs was not into his terrib oh, 7 Sheridan. stan wi it's good deal know about 3" aald shouldn't wonder it might turn out the very best thing could happened. Come on And completing their descent to the library, the two made their ¢ oe and his father. Siby full and 1 taken to Ros gave a what had once account of repeating her ¥ i 3) truthful place, remarks, and omitting f that it was through her Bibbs had overheard them. as 1 told in cone own on the esigu mother Sheridan’ on, “it t turn th that he did hear 14t it way Don't you think ither Sheridan? ius e very best RO and sat k hair on the top of his with his left hand and lookis He had given pressed in nre of Mary fn 1agivity it was He merely grunted in reply, the th 2 at no sign of be any manner Vertreos cha lid Bibbs whom ire + pot dismay H she desired nd she was content in that 1 sure it was all for the best.” ghe i over now, and he knows In one way I think it was just hearing a person can haven't got iy own good he is. hw Caae way. a i he knows | 1 . ' grinag except his ind good of Mrs door and the family.” Sheridan went ners yialy to the stood ‘1 wish what he was doin”,” she dad. “He did look bad It was like thing had been done to Li I don't what I bod y like he Aid was 1 " 3 +3 Liere WoRIng I wis toward the stairway whint h terrible sone i that was neve any He looked go " She called know look It e you'd own the hall, “George!” “Yon 9 “Were you just now 7" “Yes'm. He ring bell: tole me make tim fiah in his grate. 1 done bull’ him tilce fiah, 1 he ain’ feelin’ well. Yes'm He doparted. "What do you expect he wants a fire for?’ she asked, turning toward her husband, “The house is warty as can be. I do wish 1.” “Oh, quit frettin'!" sald Sheridan, “Well, 1-1 kind o' wish you hadn't jueer up In Mr. Bibbs’ room reckon " wor sald anything, Sibyl. I know you harm if" “Mother Sheridan, you don't mean Why she" “1 don't know, I don't know,” the troubled woman quavered. “If he lked ity to spoil it He's so queer, and he hasn't ever taken much enjoyment. And besides, | more willin’ te do what If she wants to he papa wants him to. warry him" Sheridan Interrupted her with a hoot “She don't!” he sald You're barkin’ up the wrong tree, Sibyl. She ain't that kind of a girl.” “But, father Sheridan, didn’t she He cut her short. “That's enough You may mean all right, but you guess Se do you, m rma.” yl cried out, “Oh! jut just look he ran after Jim . e did take Jim, down cold.” “But "wy I how s » curtly. “She turned not,” he said, wouldn't She him she did." redu that's Impossi not. I know byl looked flatly luc needn't wile S lous, worry,” he sald, | won't have | because there | anyhow, I)'| likely to take | wouldn't tak J “And you ruing to his effect on any 1k she'd his idea, it be ver $ . any your wasn't sense to i a1 this ¥i Lil s—after she fm a good-hearted girl, and she sit if she'd ever f end lets i come to see her, © sign youl women m one oO ‘OUragement think, he woulda't fool he has way of acted the 'a’ been at me nd of a job ‘here's #41 hb stubborn he'd lone ao bhorrin’ me for ong =, DEER ne Io me X ¢ ' ie i the sam is I know 4 Lord Mrs lifted her Sheridan, hand n’ downstairs 3 a the That's h still in * She thio Bibbs she sald, mnder oor as if she her in a what he’ goin’ woe aimost Her timorousness had its effect upon frowning beside his chair ard the open doorway Sheridan ro 2, mained standing us ind Hoscoe moved tow who tared Sibyl, uneasily listened as the slow steps de i the stairs and the library. Bi and yw ly ¥ iis came toward stopped with sick as tro gaze rested up he « t ame and stood be much trou ¥ “You | ¢ job you | y you've had so sald, I'll tal se he cet * { mare ih As a us; and Bibbs eo stared cupants uttered a sound, though he went ns slowly as he came, Mra, Sheri dan was the first to nervously back to the doorway, then out into the hall from the house. Bibbs' mother had a feeling about him then that she had never known before; It was indefinite and vague, but very poignant-—something in hey move 3ibbs had gone done to him, though she did not know what It was. She went up to his room The fire George had built for him was almost =mothered charred ashes of paper. The lid of his trunk stood open, and the large upper tray. which remembered to have seen full of papers and notebooks, was empty. And somehow she understood that Bibbs had given up the mysteri ous vocation he had hoped to follow and that he had given it up for ever, She thought it was the wisest thing he could have done—and yet, for an un known reason, she sat upon the bed and wept a little before she went down stalrs, So Sheridan had his way with Bibbs, all through. she CHAPTER XXIX. As Bibbs came out of the new house, a Sunday trio was in course of passage upon the sidewalk: An ample young woman, placid of face; a black-clad, thin young mam, whose expression was one of habitual anxiety, habitual warl ness and habifual eagerness. He pre pelled a perambulator coutaining the third—and all three were newly leaned, Sundayfied, and made #t to dine with the wife's relatives, “How'd you like for me to be that young fella, mamma?’ the whispered. there ain't but two left The wife stared curiously at Bibbs “Well, 1 don't know,” she returaed “He to like be had Lis ewn troubles.” “1 expect he has, like anybody else’ sald the young husband, “but we could stand a good deal if ’ now looks me 1 guess we had his money.” “Well, maybe, if you keep on the You can't tell.” She at Bibbs, who had turned walks kind of slow and Hike" much money im sag, | usband, with gianced back north. “He stooped ever, in his guess ” it the “Re u 1 pockets ma ke said joung bitter adwira Lion Mary, from happening to glance cenit % and she together Lim T's hands She met window, saw bbs wsping larm her 1 a sudden a * door “Bibbs! matter? 1 “What ng was terribly she cried is the Aw when | somel wrong ed, eyes lo hers look x he and he came iifting his Al he pau n, not ways when he ¢ had come with his is wistful gaze in rossed that threshold head up and 1 “Ah gesture of know what it is!” ie fo they always sat, peeing hers poor boy! understanding aud pity. “I owed | into & chair ghe sald ur fa and sank ‘You peedn’t tell “They've made you give up. Yi ther's won-—you're going You've yt clined bis head She gave and ca he » me,’ ne wants given up looking at her, in affirmation Het St with » be in compassion him in be glad of ene thing I can be glad you it's more of ~ cry sat near “Bibbs.” *1fish to you'd come because you aie straight me than even if were happy.’ » littl for le while; then she said ‘Bibbsdear Io you want Still he did shaken and husky, he asked he i question so grotesque that at firs she had to?” loak not up, but In a YOo.Ce thought sunderstood thi “Mary.” me?" ‘What asked, quiet His Will you marry me’ oth her hands leaped te her cheeks did y sels toue and attitude did not change oe she grew red and then white and moved backward fro gtaring at him, first lncred ulously, then with an intense perplex ity and luminous wide eyes; it was tion The ness in the lon ose slowly at in ike a spoken ques filled with # slisnee—the two were ~ At more nore room sirange 20 strange to each other last shoe said “What made you say that?” He did not answer “Ribbe, jook at me!” Her volce was loud and © “What made you sa) that? Look at me!” He could not could not speak “What was it that made you?” said. “I want you to teil me She went to him, her eyes ever brighter and wider with that in tensity of wonder. “You've given to your father,” she sald, sk “and then ¥¢ broke off. “Bibbs, do you want me to marry you?” “Yea" he anid, “NO! what made you that's happened?” “Nothing.” “Wi ear. look at her, and he ghe Closer ug wis Khe wi come to ask me just audibly “You do not. me? What is it she cried ask “Let me think it happened since our since you left happened She stopped abruptly, with a she said yething th this morning at J "Hs OOTY Something that fremulous comprehension. She dawning remem Bibbs swallowed painfully and con trived to say, “1 do Marry ifeif—wyou could,” fhe looked at him, and slowly shaok her head “Bibbs, do you Hor volce was as unsteady as his-little more than a whisper. "Do you think in love with you?” “No.” be said. Somewhere In the still air room there was a whispered word: it not seen to come from Mary's lips, but he was aware of It. “Why “I've hand nothing but Mibba sald, desolately, “but they weren't like this, Slleyl sald no girl could efire about me” He smiled me, Mary. “And when I first came home | Edith told me Sibyl was so anxious to | marry that she'd have married me. She meant it to express Sibyl's extremity you see, But 1 hardly needed either of them to tell me. 1 hadn't thought | of myself as—well, not as particularly captivating!” Oddly enough, Mary's pallor changed to an angry flush. “Those two!” she exclaimed, sharply; and then, with thoroughgoing contempt: “Lamhorn! That's lke them!” She turned away, went to the bare little black mantel, and stood leaning upon it. Presently she asked: “When did Mrs. Sheridan say that ‘mo girl’ could care about you?” “Today.” Mary drew a deep breath, I'm beginning to understand She bit her lip; good truth In her eyes and in her voles “Answer me once more,” said “Bibbs, do you know now why | stopped wearing my furs?” “Yes. “l thought told you, didn’t Roscoe yy think a little.” there was anger in| she 80! Your sister-in-law “Mary, Mary!” He Cried Helplessly. sy ¥ § i sy { now.” heard think | Mary's say vhat came fast know happened breath voloe her You a y firm? WK but she spoke rapid heard her say’ more than that heard Ler say’ 1 postr, lo | Y ie: iat we were Lit and em that a marry But now she faltered was only after a cony your brother—and | and It tilsive effort then {elie was able te go on I tried to marry say’ that-—-aund you don't care for iI care nn suck that you! i her believe | Couie You ain ‘as Sibyl w was nting me believing th could not except f my ‘extremity’ { took your father's offer and then ca | to ask me—to uo What had | shown you of myself that could make you | Suddenly she sank do with and i you or You me TY You wn, kneel in her arms I's Overwis her face buried the ap of a chair, tes her “Mary, Mary!" he “Oh no--you-—you don't 1 do, though!” He came and stood beside her he cried, helples tingerstanad “1 do!™ “yo make she sobbed me! said “1 can’t From the rst me, | | ways you that gave an Jou ove ucss to was ail was that | was the dependent } hing We alwn It was all about and troubles ean on you not of yO distresses tH u my idiotic you as a kind of wonde ad no mortal buman cept by sympathy. You seen down ar oud 1 never dreamed | for you: | or out of OHY ( ne you for you that--that “You ROMY ONe she | were { that Cou d ne y anybod; you" that anyb money.” "And you thoug you heard sobbed iit we sO I had he said, quickly, R sai taba i ®oy desperate iM “1 didn’t be kind thing for ! 1 knew you'd renerouss n't make it lHleve you'd done on me { —for that never {0 give. plain!” “Wali tended 1 1y, cried, de She 1ifted Lie pairingiy. her iead and ex unconscious Bibbs.’ more hands to him hiid Help { Then, when sb 1% her feet, siniled ut reassuringly | that that meant to hart her. A that smile of ! i but faithfully | | friendly, misted his own eyes, for Lis shamefacedness lowered them no more her like nn « up onee upon and and faintly, tell him, in he had she wii of her him ruefully as if to she know nd eves Hpron hers, sd utnble RO tell me.” she said you can't put it toe humiliating for me and you're too gentle to say them. Tell me, though jan’t it true? You didn’t believe that I'd tried to make you fall in love with ¥ i mes | wx aver! Never for an instant!” | “You didn’t belleve I'd tried to make | you want to marry me" “No, no, no!" “1 believe it. Bibbs. Youn though! that 1 was fond of you. you knew | cared for you-~but you didn’t think | might bein love with you. But you i did belleve 1 had tried to marry your and" “Mary, 1 the first " only knew-—for that you-—that you were “Were desperately poor,” she sald. “You can't even say that! }ibbs, it was true: I did try to make Jim want to marry me. 1 did!” And she sank down [nto the chair, weeping bitterly again, Bibbs was agonized. “Mary.” you could cry!” “Listen,” through] w know “Listen t jeratand she gal ant 0 un and We'd been pienty, We never had been know rich wanted be, we what to do there to ta growth of the wis richer, but inst the next time your door we thing. People meaning that COMpPpanison w kind, "we ney, ers ‘ought to peopie 2 It's curious! made you into been raised to fortably or a = DORe 1 pot to marry on slowly, Bibl! and 1 did stenographer. i anything « maid there ie or and her « YOR bowed before Bibb “Marry "Yes." “No, ho, ind w Mary “Never, passion o any mote mehow dience to her bese got himself to the « house. Yoaist F001 CHAPTER XXX. Sibyl and Roscoe were point of leaving when Bibbs He went strai ely, to the new house ght Sibyl and spoke 10 her qt but so that the others might bear. “When you =aid that If I'd stop t« think, apt to care enough about me to marry me, you right," he sald. “I thought perhaps you weren't, and so 1 asked Miss Vertrees to marry me. It proved what you said of me, and dis. proved what you said of ber. Ehe re fused.” And, having thus spoken, he quitted the room as straightforwanrdly as he had entered it. “He's queer!” Mrs. Sheridan gasped. “Who on earth would thought of his doin’ that? “1 told you" grimly. “You there and “1 told you she woulin't have him I told you she wouldn't Lave Jim, (didn't 17" were Ri sald her husband, didn't us he'd we tell EO over Sibyl altogether taken “Do you suppose it's true? suppose she wouldn't?” was aback Do you “He didn't look exactly like a young man that had just fine with his girl” to idn't!"” “But why would “1 told 3 “ghe aln’t got things fixed up sald Bheridan, “Not me, he d "” mL" he interrupted kind angrily If you tell you and that of a pir over wi gh I'd pretty near AR BOON ate af midn’t straight about my She w — “You Don't Know What Work Is, Yet" way to the do worker ten times that get ahead is to work of ihe hardest works for you. But you d know what work is, yet All you've ever done was just stand around and feed machine child handle, and then come home and take a bath and 1 tell you you're up against 4 mighty different proposition now, and if you're worth your salt—and youn never showed any signs of it yet--not any signs that stuck out enough to bang somebody on the head and make ‘om sit up and take notice—well, 1 LER a a could you better listen, because | want te I say" He meandered to a full stop. His (TO BE CONTINUED)
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