Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-08-17
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


He stood in the manycOIOreu ilgnI
of the stained-glass window at the far
end Of the long room, when Roscoe and
his wife came in, and he eXhaled a
solemnity. His Difference to the Sab
bath was manifest, as always, in the
length Of his coat and the clOseness of
his Saturday might shave; and his eX-
preston, to match this religious pOmp
was more than Sabbatical, but the
most diSmaying of his demonstrations
was his keeping his hand in his sling
Sibyl advanced to the middle Of the
room and halted there not looking at
him, but down at her muff, in which, it
could be seen, her hands were nervous
~ moving. Roscoe went to a chair in
another part Of the room. There was
a deadly silence.
But Sibyl found a shaky voice. after
an interval of gulping, though she was
unable to lift her eyes, and the dark
ling lids continued to veil them. She
spoke hurriedly, like an ungifted child
reciting something committed to mem
Dry, but her sincerity was none the
less evident for that.
Father Sheridan, you and mother
Sheridan have always been SO kind to
me, and | would hate to have you think
| don't appreciate it, from the way |
acted. I've come to tell you l am
sorry for the way l did that night, and
to say | know as we'll as anybody the
way | behaved and it will never hap
pen again, because it's been a pretty
hard lesson; and when we come back,
some day, | hope you'll see that you've
got a daughter-in-law you never need
to be ashamed of again. | want to ask
you to excuse me for the way | did
and l can say l haven't any feelings
toward Edith now, but only wish her
happiness and good in her new life.
thank you for all your kindness to me-
and | know | made n poor return for
It, but if you c. Ii overlook the way |
behaved | know | would feel a good
deal happier-and | know Roscoe
would, too. | wish to promise not to
be as foolish in the future, and the
same error would never occur again to
make us all so unhappy, if you can be
charitable enough to excuse it this
time"
He looked steadily at her without
replying. and she stood before him.
never lifting her eyes; mOtiOnless,
save where the moving fur proved the
agitation of her hands within the muff
"All right" he said, at last
She looked up then with vast relief,
though there was a revelation of heavy
tears when the eyelids lifted.
Thank YOU" she said. There's
something else-about something diff
ferent-I want to say to you. but
want mother Sheridan to hear it, too"
shes upstairs iii her roOm," said
Sheridan. Roscoe"
Sibyl interrupted. She had just seen
Bibbs pass through tie hall and begin
10 ascend the stairs; and in a flash she
nstinctively perceived the chance for
precisely the effect she wanted.
mo, let me co. she said. Il want
to speak to her minute first, any
way"
And she went away quickly, gaining
The top Of the stairs in time to see
Bibbs enter his room and close the
door. Sihyl knew that Bibbs, in his
rOom had overheard her quarrel with
Edith in the hall outside; for bitter
Edith, thinking the more to shame her.
aad subsequently informed her of the
circumstance. Sibyl had just remem-
bered this, and with the recollection
there had flashed the thought-out of
1er own eNperience-that people are
often much more deeply impressed by
words they overhear than by words
directly addressed to them. Sibyl in
tended to make it impossible for Bibbs
not to overhear. She did not hesitate
her heart was not with the old sore.
and she believed wholly in the Justice
Of her cause and in the truth of what
she was going to say. Fate was vir-
suous at times; it had delivered into
ler hands the girl who had affrented
aer.
Mrs. Sheridan was in her own room.
The approach of Sibyl and Roscoe had
sriven her from the library, fer she