Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-08-03

thOuDiCS.
Il expect he has. like anybody else =
said the young husband, "but guess
we could stand good deal II we had
his money"
swell. maybe, II you keep on the
way you been, baby II be as well Hxed
as the Sheridans. 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 in his pockets 1t
makes him sag, guess" said the
young husband. with bitter admira-
ton. -,
Mary, happening to glance from a
window. saw Bibbs coming, and she
started, clasping her hands together
In a sudden alarm. She met him at
the door.
"Bibbsr' she cried. what is the
matter? 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 boyw she said, with
gesture Of understanding and pity. 81
know what 1t isy'
He followed her into the room where
they always sat, and sank into chair
you needn't tell me-" she said.
They've made you give up. Your IA
Tiers won-you're going to do what
he wants. You've given up"
Still without looking at her. he in
clined his head In animation.
She gave a little cry of compassion.
and came and sat near him. gibbs"
she said, II can be glad of one thing,
though it's selfish. can be glad you
came straight to me. It's more to me
than even II you'd come because you
were happy" She did not speak again
for little while; then she said:
"Bibbs--dear-could you tell me about
It? Do you want tor
Still he did not look up. but In
voice. shaken and husky, he asked her
question so grotesque that ut 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:~it was like spoken ques-
ton. The room filed with strange
ness in the long silence-the two were
so strange to each other. At last she
said:
what made you say that?"
He did not answer.
"Bibbs, look at mew Her voice was
loud and clear. what made you say
that? Look at mep'
He could not look at her. and he
could not speak.
"What was it that made your 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
Ito your father" she said, slowly,
"and then you come to ask me-" She
broke off. "Bibbs. do you want me to
marry your"
EYES," he said. just audibly.
Nor she cried. you do not. Then
what made you ask me? What is II
that's happenedT
Nothing"
wait" 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
tremulous murmur of amazement and
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 Her
voice was as unsteady as his-lIttle
more than whisper. "Do you think
Im-in love with your
"No," he said.
Somewhere in the still air of the
room there was whispered word; 1t
did not seem to come from Mary's
parted lips, but he was aware of It.
"why?"
"Pve had nothing but Dreams"
Bibbs said. desolately, "but they
weren't like this. Sibyl said no girl
could care about me-" He smiled
family, though still he did not look It
Mary. "And when l first came home
Edith told me Sibyl was so anxious to
marry that she'd have married me. She
meant it to express Sibyrs extremity.
you see. But hardly needed either
of them to tell me. hadn't thought
OF myself as-well, not as particularly
captivatingr'
Oddly enough, Mary's pallor changed
to an angry flush. Those twov she
exclaimed, sharply; and then. with
thoroughgoing contempt: "Lamhorn!
That's like themp She turned away,
went to the bare little black mantel.
and stood leaning upon it. Presently
she asked: when did Mrs. Roscoe
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