The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1916-10-05


He was more shaken than he had
allowed his father TO perceive, and his
side was sore where Sherldan had
struck him. He desired to be alone:
he wanted to rub himself and, for once,
to do some useless thinking again. He
knew that his father had not 'hap-
pened" TO run into him; he knew that
Sheridan had instantly--and instinct
ively-proved that he held his own life
OF no account whatever compared to
that OF his son and heir. Blbbs had
been unable TO speak of that, or seem
to know It: for Sheridan, just as in
stlnctively, had swept the matter aside
AS OF no Importance. since all was
well-reverting Immediately to busi-
ness.
Blbbs began to think lntently OF his
father. He perceived, as he had never
perceived before, the shadowing OF
something enormous and indomitable
and lawless; not to be daunted by
the will of natures very self; laughing
at the lightning and at wounds and
mutllation; conquering. irresistible
and blindly noble. For the first time
In his life Bibbs began to understand
the meaning OF being truly this mans
son.
He would be the more truly his son
henceforth, though, as Sheridan said
Bbbs had not come downtown with
him meanly or half-heartedly. He had
given his word because he had wanted
the money. simply for Mary vertrees
in her need. And he shlvered with
horror OF himself, thinking how he had
gone TO her TO offer II. asking her TO
marry him-with his head on his
breast In shameful fear that she would
accept him! He had not known her;
the knowing had lost her to him, and
this had been his real awakening; for
| he knew now how deep had been that
slumber wherein he dreamlly celebrat-
ed the superiority OF Friendship" The
sleep-walker had wakened to bitter
knowledge OF love and life, finding
himself a failure In both. He had
made a burnt Offering OF his dreams,
and the sacrifice had been an unforgiv.
able hurt to Mary. All that was left
for him was the work he had chosen
but at least he would not fail In that
though 1t was indeed no more thar
"dust in his mouth" II there had beer
anything ''to work for"
He went to the window, raised II
and let in the uproar OF the streets be
low. He looked down at the blurred
hurrying swarms - and he looked
across, over the roofs with their pant
Ing jets OF vapor, into the vast, fogg!
heart OF the smoke. Dizzy traceries o
steel were rising dimly against II, chat
tering with steel on steel, and screech
ing In steam, while tiny figures OF mel
} walked on threads In the dull sky
Buildings would overtop the Sheridan
! Bigness was being served.
But what for2 The old question
came to Bibbs with new despair
Here, where his eye fell, had once bee
green fields and running brooks, an
how had the kind earth been despoile
and disfgured! The pioneers had bs
gun the work, but In their old age thei
orators had said for them that the
had toiled and risked and sacrifice
that their posterity might live In peac
and wisdom, enjoying the fruits OF tn
earth. Well, their posterity was here
and there was only turmoil. Wher
was the promised land2 1t had bee
promised by the soldiers OF all IN
wars; 1t had been promised to this ger
Grafton by the pioneers; but here wa
the very posterity to whom II had bee
promised. toiling and rlsklng and sat
9 rifcing in turn-tor whatl
!, The harsh roar OF the city came 4
through the open window, continuousl
, beating upon Bibbs' ear until he bega
to distinguish pulsation In it-a bro
I ken and irregular cadence. II SCENE
to him that II was like titanic voic,
discordant. hoarse. rustily metallic
the voice of the god. Bigness. And tn
voice summoned Bibbs as It summone
all its servants.
"Come and work. II seemed TO cal
"Come and work for Ne. all men! B
your youth and your hope | summo
you! BY your age and your despa
| summon you to work for Me yet
little, with what strength you hav,
BY your love of home | summon you
by your love OF woman / summon yoI
BY your hope of children summo
you!
"You shall be blind slaves OF Min
blind to everything but Me, your MAJ
ter and Driver! For your reward yo
| shall gaze only upon my ugllness. Yo
shall give your toll and your lives, yo
shall go mad for love and worship {
my ugllness! You shall perish sti
worshiping Me, and your children sha
perish knowing no other god!'
And then. as Bibbs closed the viii
dow down tight, he heard his father
voice booming in the next room;
could not distinguish the words, bl
| the tone was exultant-and there can
the thump! thumpl OF the maine
hand. Bibbs guessed that Sherlda
was Dragging OF the city and of II