Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1916-06-30
CHAPTER VII Continued.

"Bibbsr Edith's voice was angry
and her color deepened suddenly as
she came into the room, preceded by q
scent of violets much more powerful
than that warranted by the actual
bunch Of them upon the lapel Of her
coat
Bibhs did not turn his head, but
wagged it solemnly, seeming depressed
by the poem. "Pretty young, isn't itY''
he said. "There must have been some
thing about your looks that got the
prize, Edith; can't believe the poem
did it."
She glanced hurriedly over her Shout
der and spoke sharply, but in a low
voice: ~ don't think it's very nice Of
you to bring it up at all, Bibbs. I didn't
want them to frame it, and wish to
goodness papa'd quit talking about it;
but here, that night, after the dinner,
didn't he go and read it aloud to the
whole crowd Of 'em! thought I'd die
Of shamew
Bibbs looked grieved. 1.-THE poem
isn't that bad, Edith. You see, you
were only seventeen when you wrote
It,"
"Oh, hush upr she snapped. 81 wish
1T had burnt my fingers the first time
/ touched it. Then I might have had
sense enough to leave it where it was.
/ had no business to take it, and I've
been ashamed"
''No, no. he said, comfortingly. "It
was the very most ffattering thing ever
happened to me. It was almost my
last flight before went to the machine
shop, and it's pleasant to think some
body liked it enough to-
"But don't like it!' she exclaimed.
"'I don't even understand it-and papa
made so much fuss over its getting the
prize, I just hate it! The truth is I
never dreamed it ID get the prize"
''You have to live it down, Edith.
Perhaps abroad and under another
name you might find"
"Oh, hush up! I'll hire someone to
steal it and burn it the first chance I
get" She turned away petulantly,
moving to the door. "I'd like to think
could hope to hear the last Of it be-
fore I dier'
Edith he called, as she went into
the hally
Whats the matter?"
81 want to ask you: Do really look
better, or have you just got used to
me?"
what on earth do you mean?' she
said, coming back as far as the thresh-
old.
when 1 first came you couldn't look
at me-" Bibbs explained, in his imper-
sonal way. "But I've noticed you look
at me lately. 1 wondered if I'd"
SITS because you look so much bet
ter" she told him, cheerfully. ''This
month you've been here's done you no
end of good. Anybody could look at
you now, Bibbs, and not-not GET q
"Sick?"
"Well-almost that!' she laughed.
"And you're getting better color
every day, Bibbs; you really are.
You're really getting along splendidly."
''I-Im afraid So" he said, ruefully.
afraid so! Well, if you aren't the
queerest! I suppose you mean father
might send you back to the machine
shop if you get we'll enough. 1 heard
him say something about it the night of
the" The jingle Of distant bell in
terrupted her, and she glanced at her
watch. Bobby Lamhorn! I'm going
to motor him out to look at place in
the country. Afternoon, Bibbsw
When she had gone, Bibbs mooned
pessimistically from shelf to shelf, his
eye wandering among the titles Of the
books. The library consisted almost
entirely of handsome uniform edi-
TONS" They made an effective deco
ration for the room. all these big, ex-
pensive books, with a glossy binding
here and there twinkling a reflection of
the flames that cracked in the splendid
Gothic fireplace.