The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-08-31
CHAPTER xxx.


a Sunday trio was in course OF passage
upon the sidewalk: An ample young
woman. placid of face; q black-clad,
thin young man, whose expression was
one of habltual anxiety. habitual wari-
ness and habitual eagerness. He pro-
PEELED a perambulator containing the
third-and all three were newly
cleaned. Sundayfed. and made ft to
dine with the wite's relatives.
How'd you like for me to be that
young fella, mammal" the husband
whispered. Hes one of the sons. and
there amt but two left now"
The wife stared c~uriously at Bibbs.
We'll, l don't know she returned.
ne looks to ME like he had his own
trcables."
Il expect he has, like anybody else"
said the young husband. but l guess
we could stand a good deal II we had
his money"
We'll. maybe, II you keep on the
way you been. baby II be as well fixed
as the S~heridans. You can't tell" She
glanced back at Bibbs. who had turned
north. HE walks kind Of slow and
stopped over, like"
$50 much money la his pockets 1t
makes him sag. | guess" said the
young husband, with bitter admira-
ton.
Mary. happening to glance from q
window, saw Bibbs coming. and she
started, clasping her hands together
in a sudden alarm. She met him at
the door.
"Bibbs!" she cried. what is the
matter? I saw something was terribly
wrong when l. You look" She
paused, and he came In, not lifting his
eyes to hers. Always when he crossed
that threshold he had come with his
head up and his wistful gaze seeking
hers. "Ah. poor boy" she said, with a
gesture Of understanding and pity. IL
know what 1t is!"
He followed her into the room where
they always sat, and sank into a chair.
You needn't tell me-" she said.
They've made you give up. Your IA
theirs ~won-you're going to do what
he wants. You've given up"
Still without looking Mt her. he in
cllned his head in affirmation.
She gave a little cry Of compassion.
and came and sat near him. "Bibbs,"
she said. II can be glad Of n thing.
though it's selfish. ! can be glad you
came straight to me. It's more to me
than even IL you'd come because you
were happy" She did not speak again
for a little while: then she said:
"Bibbs-dear-could you tell me about
it? Do you want top
Still he did not look up. but in n
voice. shaken and husky, he asked her
n question so grotesque that at first she
thought she had misunderstood his
words.
Mary" he said, ''could you marry
me?"
What did you say. Bibbs?" she
asked, quietly.
His tone and attitude did not change.
"will you marry meT"
Both her hands leaped to her cheeks
she grew red and then white. She
rose slowly and moved backward from
him, staring at him, at first incred-
ulously, then with an intense ~perplex-
ity more and more luminous in her
wide eyes; 1t was like a spoken ques-
ton. The room filed with strange
ness In the long s~ilence--the two were
SO strange to each other. At last she
said:
what made you say that?"
He did not answer.
"Bibbs, look at mel" Her voice was
loud and clear. what made you say
thati Look at mel"
He could not look at her. and he
could not speak.
what was it that made you?" she
said. II want you to tell me-"
She went closer to him, her eyes
ever brighter and wider with that in
tensity of wonder. You've given up
to your father" she said. slowly,
"and then you come to ask me-" She
broke of. Gibbs. do you want me to
marry you?"
EYES," he said. just audibly.
Nor she cried. 'You do not. Then
what made you ask me? What is II
that's happenedT
Nothing"
"walt," she said. "Let me think.
It's something that happened since our
walk this morning-yes. since you left
me at noon. Something happened
that" She stopped abruptly. with a
tremulous murmur Of amazement and
dawning comprehension. She remem.
bered that Sibyl had gone to the new
house.
Bibbs. swallowed painfully and con.
trived to say, II dol do want you to
marry me. if-if--you could"
She looked at him. and slowly SHOOK
her head. "Bibbs, DO you" HeI
voice was as unsteady as his-littls
more than a whisper. "Do you think
I'm-in love with youf"
"No." he said.
Somewhere In the still air of the
room there was a whispered word: Il
did not seem to come from Mary's
parted lips. but he was aware Of II
why"
"l've had nothing but dreams ;
Ribhs said. desolately, hut the,
weren't like this. Sibyl said no cir
could enre about me-" He amilCf