The Elk Mountain pilot., 1916-12-28


his Saturday night shave; and his ex-
preston, to match this religious pomp.
was more than Sabbatical, but the
most dismaying of his demonstrations
was his keeping his hand in his sling
| Sibyl advanced to the middle of the
room and halted there. not looking at
him, but down at her muff, in which. it
could be seen. her hands were nervous
ly moving. Roscoe went to a chair in
another part of the room. There was
deadly silence.
But Sibyl found shaky voice. after
an interval Of gulping. though she was
unable to lift her eyes. and the dar-
king lids continued to veil them. She
spoke hurriedly. like an ungifted child
reciting something committed to mem
ory, but her sincerity was none the
| less evident for that.
Father Sheridan. you and mother
Sheridan have always been so kind to
me, and 1 would hate to have you think
l don't appreciate it, from the way l
acted. I've come to tell you / am
sorry for the way did that night, and
| to say l know as well as anybody the
way behaved, and it will never hap
pen again. because it's been a pretty
hard lesson; and when we come back.
some day, 1 hope you'll see that you've
got daughter-in-law you never need
to be ashamed of again. I want to ask
you to excuse me for the way l did,
and l can say l haven't any feelings
toward Edith now, but only wish her
happiness and good in her new life.
thank you for all your kindness to me.
and 1 know l made poor return for
1t, but II you can overlook the way
behaved l know l would feel a good
deal happier--and l know Roscoe
would, too. I wish to promise not to
be as foolish in the future, and the
same error would never occur again to
make us all so unhappy, If you can be
charitable enough to, excuse 1t this
time"
He looked steadily at her without
replying. and she stood before him,
never lifting her eyes: motionless,
save where the moving fur proved the
agitation of her hands within the muff
"All right" he said at last
She looked up then with vast relief
|
tears when the eyelids lifted.
THANK you," she said There's
something else-about something diff
ferent-I want to say to you, but l
want mother Sheridan to hear it, too"
"She's upstairs in her room," said
Sheridan. "Roscoe-"
Sibyl interrupted. She had just seen
Bibbs pass through the hall and begin
to ascend the stairs; and in a flash she
instnctively perceived the chance for
precisely the effect she wanted.
mo. let me CO." she said. "I want
to speak to her a minute first. any
way"
And she went away quickly, gaining
the top of the stairs in time to see
Bibbs enter his room and close the
door. Sibyl knew that Bibbs, in his
room, had overheard her quarrel with
Edith in the hall outside; for bitter
Edith, thinking the more to shame her.
had subsequently Informed her of the
circumstance. Sibyl had Just remem-
bered this, and with the recollection
there had flashed the thought-out of
her own experience-that people are
words they overhear than by words
directly addressed to them. Sibyl in
tended to make it impossible for Bibbs
not to overhear. She did not hesitate
her heart was not with the old sore
and she believed wholly in the justice
OF her cause and in the truth of what
she was going to say. Fate was vir-
tuous at times; 1t had delivered into
her hands the girl who had affronted
her
Mrs. Sheridan was in her own room
The approach of Sibyl and Roscoe had
driven her from the library. for she
and she felt that II he used his injured
hand as a mark of emphasis again. in
her presence, she would (as she thought
of ib "have a fit right there" She
heard Sibyl's step, and pretended to be
putting touch to her hair before a
mirror.
Il was just coming down." she said
as the door opened.
Yes, he wants you to-" said Sibyl
"It's all right, mother Sheridan. He's
forgiven me-
Mrs. Sheridan shifted instantly:
tears appeared. She kissed her daugh-
ter-in-law's cheek: then, in silence, re-
garded the mirror afresh. wiped her
eyes. and applied powder.
"And l hope Edith will be happy"
Sibyl added. melting more applications
of Mrs. Sheridan's handkerchief and
powder.
"Yes, yes," murmured the good wom-
an. 1--WE mustn't make the worst of
things"
We'll, there was something else l
had to say. and he wants you to hear
it, too" said Sibyl. I'VE better go
down, mother Sheridan"