Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-06-08

Lamhorn found himself In danger OF
looking silly.
II was just going" he said rising.
"Oh nor Edith cried. sharply.
yes. Good night! think l."
'Too bad" said Bibbs, genially.
walking to the door with the visitor,
while Edith stood staring as the two
disappeared in the hail. She heard
Bibbs Offering to help" Lamhorn with
his overcoat and the latter rather curt
ly declining assistance, these episodes
of departure being followed by the
closing Of the outer door. She ran into
the hall.
whats the matter with your" she
cried, furiously. what do you mean?
How did you dare come in here when
you knew"
Her voice broke; she made gesture
of rage and despair, and ran up the
stairs, sobbing. She fed to her moth
er's room, and when Bibbs came up. a
few minutes later, Mrs. Sheridan met
him at his door.
"Oh, Bibbs," she said, shaking her
head woefully. you'd oughtn't to dis
tress your sister? She says you drove
that young man out of the house. You'd
ought to been more considerable"
Bibbs smiled family, noting that
Edith's door was open, with Edith's
naive shadow motionless across its
threshold. YES" he said. He doesn't
appear to be much Of mans man.
He ran at just glimpse Of one."
Edith's shadow moved; her voice
came quavering: you call yourself
oneg
mo, no." he answered. 81 said just
a glimpse of one.' I didn't claim"
But her door slammed angrily; and he
turned to his mother.
There" he said, signing. That's
almost the first time In my life l ever
tried to be man of action, mother,
and l succeeded perfectly in what
tried to do. AS consequence l feel
like horse thief!'
"You hurt her feelin's," she groaned
you must "a gone at it too rough,
Bibbs."
He looked upon her wanly. That's
my trouble, mother" he murmured.
Pm plain, blunt fellow. l have
rough ways, and I'm rough man."
For once she perceived some mean
ing In his queerness. Hush your nom
senseg she said, good-naturedly, the
astral Of troubled smile appearing.
"You go to bed"
He kissed her and obeyed.
Edith gave him a cold greeting the
next morning at the breakfast table.
"You mustn't do that under a mis-
apprehension" he warned her, when
they were alone in the dining room.
"Do what under what?" she asked.
Speak to me. 1 came into the
smoking room last night ON purpose"
he told her, gravely. Il have preju-
dice against that young man."
She laughed. 81 guess you think it
means a great deal who you have
preJudices againstv' In mockery she
adopted the manner of one who i'm
plores. "Bibbs, for PHYS sake promise
me, don't use your influence with papa
against himr' And she laughed louder.
Listen" he said, with peculiar earn
estness. "I'll tell you now, because
because I've decided I'm one of the
family" And then, as IL the earnest
ness were too heavy for him to carry
it further, he continued, in his usual
tone, 'I'm drunk with power, Edith"
what do you want to tell me?" she
demanded, brusquely.
"Lamhorn made love to Sibyl," he
said.
Edith hooted. "She did to himw
mo" he said, gravely. 81 know"
"How?"
II was there, one day a week ago.
with Roscoe, and l heard Sibyl and
Lamhorn--"
Edith screamed with laughter. "You
were with Roscoe-and you heard
Lamhorn making love to Sibylv
"No. heard them quarreling."
you're funnier than ever, Bibbs!
she cried "You say he made love to
her because you heard them quarrel
ingv'
''That's it. II you want to know
what's between people, you can-by
the way they quarrel"
you'll kill me, Bibbs! What were
they quarreling aboutY
Nothing. That's how l know. Peo-
pie who quarrel over nothing!-it's
always certain"
Edith stopped laughing abruptly, but
continued her mockery. "You ought
to know. You've had so much expert
'ence, yourselfw
II haven't any, Edith" he said. "My
life has been about as exciting as an
incubator chickens. But look out
through the glass at things"
swell, them" she said. 'if you look
out through the glass you must know
what effect such stuff would have up
on meT' She rose, visibly agltated.
what IL it was trueT' she demanded,
bitterly. what II it was true a hun
dred times over? You sit there with
your silly face half ready to giggle and
half ready to snifIie, and tell me stories
like that, about Sibyl picking on Bobby
Lamhorn and worrying him to death,
and you think it matters to me? What
il already knew all about their quar-
reling'? What II understood why
She" She broke Off with violent
gesture, a sweep of her arm extended
at full length, as IL she hurled some
thing to the ground. do you think a
girl that really cared for man would
pay any attention to that? Or to you,
Bibbs Sheridanv