Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-09-21

Nothing" ne returned, smiling.
She frowned. did you want some
thing?" she asked.
Nothing in the world. Father and
mother have gone upstairs; l sha'n't
be going up for several hours, and
there didn't seem to be anybody left
| for me to chat with except you and
Mr.. Lamhorn.'
"'Chat with'r' she echoed, incredu-
l----
II can talk about almost anything"
said Bibbs with an air of genial polite
| ness. "It doesn't matter to me. I
don't know much about business-if
that's what you happened to be talking
about. But you aren't in business, are
| you, Mr.. LamhOrn?''
"Not now" returned Lamhorn,
| shortly.
I'm not, either" said B1bbs cit
was getting cloudier than usual, I no
| tced, just before dark, and there was
| wind from the southwest. Rain to-
morrow, l shouldn't be surprised"
He seemed to feel that he had begun
a conversation the support Of which
had now become the pleasurable duty
| Of other parties; and he sat expectant-
| ~, looking first at his sister, then at
Lamhorn, as if implying that it was
| their turn to speak. Edith returned
| his gaze with a mixture Of astonish-
ment and increasing anger, while Mr..
| Lamhorn was obviously disturbed,
| though Btbbs had been as considerable
G in h., +Lor
| as a topic. Bibbs had perceived that
Lamhorn had nothing in his mind at
any time except ''personalities"
could talk about people and he could
make love. Bibbs, wishing to be cour-
teous, offered the weather.
LamhOrn refused it, and concluded
| from Bibbs' luxurious attitude in the
leather chair that this half-crazy broth
| er was a permanent fixture for the
| rest Of the evening. There was no rea-
| son to hope that he would move, and
| Lamhorn found himself in danger of
| looking silly.
81 was just going" he said, rising.
ooh mop Edith cried, sharply.
eyes. Good night I think /"
'"Too bad" said Bibbs, geniaIly,
walking to the door with the visitor,
while Edith stood staring as the two
| disappeared in the hall. She heard
| B1bbs 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 you?" she
| cried, furiously. what do you mean?
| How did you dare come in here when
| you knew"
Her voice broke; she made a gesture
Of rage and despair and ran up the
stairs, sobbing. She fed to her moth
| er's room, and when Bibbs came up,
| 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
Ediths 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 a glimpse Of one"
Edith's shadow moved; her voice
came quavering: 'You call yourself
| oneY
mo, no." he answered. 81 said Just
| a glimpse of one 1 didn't claim"
| But her door slammed angriIy; and he
| turned to his mother.
There" he said, signing. That's
almost the first time in my life I ever
| tried to be man of action, mother,
and l succeeded perfectly in what
| tried to do. AS consequence l feel
like a horse thiefy'
you hurt her feelin's," she groaned.
"You must "a gone at it too rough,
Bibbs."
He looked upon her wan1y. That's
| my trouble, mother" he murmured.
I'm q plain, blunt fellow. I have
rough ways, and I'm rough man."
For once she perceived some mean
| ing in his queerness. Flush your nom
| sense!" she said, good-naturedly, the
| astral of a 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 mis-
apprehension" he warned her, when
they were alone in the dining room.
DO what under a what?" she asked.
Speak to me. I came into the
smoking room last night 'on purpose"
he told her, graVely. Il have a preju-
dice against that young man."
She laughed. 81 guess you think it
means a great deal who you have
prejudices againstr 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 himt' And she laughed louder.
Listen he said, with peculiar earn