Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-06-22

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him, it was an eagerly interested look.
Bibbs was not accustomed to anything
like that.
"I-you-I-I'm-" he stammered,
and the faint color in his cheeks grew
almost vivid.
She was still looking at him, and
she saw the strange radiance that
came into his face. There was some
thing about him, too, that explained
how queer" many people might think
him; but he did not seem "queer" to
Mary Vertrees; he seemed the most
quantity natural person she had ever
met.
He waited, and became coherent.
''You say something. now," he said. II
don't even belong in the chorus, and
here I am, trying to sing the funny
mans solo! You"
mo-" she interrupted. "I'd rather
play your accompaniment"
"Tll stop and listen to it, them
"Perhaps-" she began, but after
pausing thoughtfully she made a ges-
ture with her muff, indicating a large
brick church which they were ap-
preaching. "Do you see that church,
Mr. Sheridan?"
Il suppose I could,' he answered in
simple truthfulness, looking at her.
"But don't want to. I have a feel
ing it's where you're going, and where
I'll be sent back"
She shook her head in CHEEKY mega
ton. mot unless you want to be-.
Would you like to come with me?'
"Why-why-yes," he said. amy
Where!' And again it was apparent
that he spoke in simple truthfulness.
''Then come-if you care for organ
music. The organist is an old friend
Of mine, and sometimes he plays for
me. He's a dear old man. That's he,
waiting in the doorway. He looks
like Beethoven, doesn't he? 1 think he
knows that, perhaps, and enjoys it a
little. nope So"
eyes," said Bibbs, as they reached
the church steps. II think Beethoven
would like it, too. 1t must be pleasant
to look like other people,"
81 haven't kept you?" Mary said to
the organist. This is Mr.. Sheridan,
Doctor Kraft. He has come to listen
with me-
The organist looked bluntly sur
prised. "Iss that SOP he exclaimed.
'He ISIS musician himself, Of course"
NO." said Bibbs, as the three en-
tered the church together. "I-I played
the-I tried to play" Fortunately he
checked himself; he had been about to
offer the information that he had failed
to master the jews harp in his boy
hood. mo, I'm not musician" he
contented himself with saying.
"What?" Doctor .raft's surprise in
creased. Young man, you are fortu-
nate! 1 play for Miss Vertrees; she
comes always alone. You are the first.
You are the first one everv
They had reached the head of the
central aisle, and as the organist fin
ished speaking Bibbs stopped short,
turning to look at Mary Vertrees in a
daZed way that was not of her perceiv-
ing; for, though she stopped as he did,
her gaze followed the organist, who
was walking away from them toward
the front of the church. shaking his
white Beethovian name roguishly.
''It's false pretenses on my part
Bibbs said. you mean to be kind to
the sick, but I'm not an invalid any
more. I'm so we'll I'm going back to
work in few days. I'd better leave
before he begins to play, hadn't ~
NO" said Mary, beginning to walk
forward. mot unless you don't like
great music"
He followed her to seat about half
way up the aisle while Doctor Kraft
assembled to the organ. "This after
noon some Handel!' he turned to
shout
Mary nodded. "Will you like that?"
she asked Bibbs.
81 don't know. I never heard any
except Largo 1 don't know anything
about music. I don't even know how