Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-05-13

you're very hiuu, Sue s"iu'
what breathlessly II should have hac
to walk, and it's beginning to get dark
| Its three miles. think
.Yes,'' said Bibbs. lit is begin
| ming to get dark. IL noticed that. 4
II ought to tell you'll Mary be
gan. confnsedly. Sic bit her lip, SAL
| silent d moment. then spoke with com :
posurea cit must seem odd. my
mo. no." Bihbs protested. earnestly
! met in them the least
s'It does. Though" said Mary.
had not intended to come to the GENE
tery. Mr.. Sheridan. but one OF the men
in charge at the house came ana WINS
pered to me that the family wished me
to- think your sister sent Elm. 80
| came. But when we reached mere
I--ch. | felt that perhaps u
Bibbs nodded gravely "Yes, yes"
he murmured.
II got out on the opposite side OF
the carriage" she continued. II mean
opposite from-from where all Of you
were. And l wandered of over in the
other direction; and | didn't realize
how little time-it takes From where
was l couldn't see the carriages leav'
ing-at least Ididn't notice them. So
when I got back, just now, you We're
the only one here. l didn't know the
other people in the carriage came in,
and Of course they didn't think to wait
for me. That's why"
Yes said Bibbs, CT" And that
seemed all he had to say just then.
Mary looked out through the dusty
window. II think we'd better be go
ing home if you please she said.
She gave him quick little glance.
81 think you must be very tired, Mr..
Sheridan; and know you have reason
to be-" she said gently. IF you'll let
lie, 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.
"Driyer!' she called, in her clear
voice, loudly. Driver! We'd like to
start, please. Driver! Stop at the
house just north of Mr.. Sheridan's,
please" The wheels began to move,
and she leaned back beside Bibbs once
more. II noticed that he was asleep
when we got in," she said. II suppose
they lave great deal of night work"
Bibbs drew long breath and wait
ed till he could command his voice.
1--WE never been able to apologize
quickly" he said, with his accustomed
slowness, because if try to I STAN
mer. My brother Roscoe whipped me
once, when we were boys, for stepping
on his slate pencil. 1t took me SO long
TO tell him it was an accident, he fin
ished before did" tG. a ..e1l
Mary Vertrees had never heard any
thing quite like the drawling, gentle
voice or the odd implication that his
not noticing the mOtionless state of
their vehicle was an accident At
once she discovered that he was unlike
any of her cursory and vague imagin-
tngs Of him. Aud suddenly she hat-
glimpse Of Bibbs' life and into his life.
She had queer feeling, new to her
experience. Of knowing him instantly.
1t startled her a little: she did not
realize, however, that she had made
10 response to his apology, and they
passed out Of the cemetery gates, nei-
tner having spoken again.
Bibbs. was so content with the 81
Ience he did not know that it was ST.
lence. The dusk, gathering in their
small Enclosure, was filed with rich
presence for him; and presently it 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 were the
sounds, as from distance. of the
plod-plod OF the horses. Oblongs Of
light came lancing into the coupe, and
passed, leaving greater darkness And
vet neither of these two last attend
ants at Jim Sheridah's funeral broke
the silence. H,
It was Mary who perceived the
strangeness 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, IL
The coupe stopped. "You, joe" 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 incredulous; 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
| " 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 smoke s5sa