The Ordway new era., 1916-09-22
sheridan; and know you have reason

to be-" she said gently. III you II iet
me, I'll" And without explaining
her purpose she opened the door on the
side of the coupe and leaned out.
Bibbs stared In blank perplexity, not
knowing what she meant to do
"Driver." she called, in her clear
voice, loudly. Driver! We'd like to
start. please. Driver. Stop at the
house Just north Of Mr.. Sheridans'
please" The wheels began to move
and she leaned back beside Blbbs once
more. 81 noticed that he was asleep
when we got in," she said. Il suppose
they have great deal of night work.
Bibbs drew n long breath and walt
ed till he could command his voice
I've never been able to apologize
quickly" he said, with his accustomed
slowness. because II l try to STAN
mer. My brother Roscoe whipped me
once, when we were boys. for stepping
on his slate pencil. II took me so long
to tell him it was an accident, he nm
ishcd before | did"
Mary Ncrtrces had never heard any
thing quite like the drawing, gentle
voice vi lHt plltl lllEpii'h'i'i' '''''' ''t
not noticing the mOtiOnless state of
their vehicle was an "aCCident' Al
once she discovered that he was unlike
any of her cursOry and vague imaGin-
ings of him. And suddenly she had n
glimpse of Bibbs' life and into his life.
She had a queer feeling. new to her
experience, of knowing him instantly.
1t startled her little; she did not
realize, however that she had made
no response to his apology, and they
passed out Of the cemetery gates, ncl-
thcr having spoken again.
Bibbs was so content with the 81
lenCe he did not know that it was ST.
lence. The dusk. gathering in their
small inclosurc, was filled with rich
presence for him; and presently 1t was
so dark that neither of the two could
see the other. nor did even their gar
ments touch. But neither had any
sense of being alone. The wheels
creaked steadily, rumbling presently
on paved streets; there We're the
sounds, as from n distance, of the
plod-plod of the horses. Oblongs of
light came lancinS into the coupe, and
passed, leaving greater darkness. And
yet neither of these two last attend
ants at Jim Sherdan's funeral broke
the silence.
1t was Mary who perceived the
stranEeness of it-too late. Abruptly
she realized that for an indefinite in
terval she had been thinking of her
companion and not talking to him.
'Mr. Sheridan" she began, not know
ing what she was going to say, but i'm
PEELED to say anything. as she realized
the queerness Of this drive-"Mr. Sher-
idan, L"
The coupe stopped. you. joel" said
the driver, reproachfully, and climbed
down and opened the door.
whats the trouble?" Bibbs in
quired.
Lady said stop at first house north
of Mr.. Sheridan's, sir"
Mary was incrcdulous: she felt that
1t couldn't be true and that it mustn't
be true that they had driven all the
way without speaking.
Bibbs descended to the curb. "Why,
yes,' he said. You seem to be right"
And while he stood staring at the dim
ly Illuminated front windows of Mr..
Vertrces' house Mary got out, unas-
sisted.
Let me help you" said Bibbs, step
ping toward her mechanically; and she
was several feet from the coupe when
he spoke.
"Oh, no." she murmured. 81 think l
can She meant that she could get
out of the coupe without help, but, per-
ceivinG that she had already accom-
plished this feat, she decided not to
complete the sentence.
You, Joe" cried the driver, angrily,
climbing to his box. And he rumblcd
away at his teams best pace-a snalrs.
THANK you for bringing me home,
Mr.. Sheridan" said Mary, stiGiy. She
did not offer her hand. Good night"
Good night" Bibbs said in response.
and, turning with her, walked beside
her to the door. Mary made that a
short walk; she almost ran. Reallza-
ton Of the queerness Of their drive was
growing upon her, beginning to shock
her; she stepped aside from the light
that fell through the glass panels of
the door and withheld her hand as it
touched the old-fashioned bell handle.
I'm quite safe, thank you" she
said, with n little emphasis. Good
night"
Good night" said Bibbs, and went
obediently. When he reached the
street he looked back, but she had
vanished within the house.
Moving slowly away, he caromed
against two people who were turning
out from the pavement to cross the
street. They were Roscoe and his
wife.
Where are your eyes, Bibbs ?' de-
manded Roscoe. "Sleep-walking, as
usual?"