The Ordway new era., 1916-09-29
CHAPTER XII-Continued.

There came a second explosion, and
Uncle Gideon ran out into the hall.
Blbbs went to the head OF the great
staircase, and, looking down, discov-
cred the source of the disturbance.
Gideon's grandson, boy of fourteen,
had brought his camera to the funeral
and was taking flashlights" Of the
Moor. Uncle Gideon, reassured by
Bibbs' explanation. would have re-
turned to finish his quotation from Bill
dad the Shuhite, but Bibbs detained
him, and after a little argument per
suaded him to descend to the dining
room whittier BIbbs followed, after
closing the door of his fathers room.
He kept his eyes on Gideon after
dinner, automatically preventing sew
eral attempts on the part of that com
forter to reascend the stairs; and 1t
was relief to Bibbs when George an
nounced that an automobile was wait.
ing to convey the ancient man and
his grandson to their train. They were
the last to leave, and when they had
gone Bibbs went signing to his own
room.
He stretched himself wearily upon
the bed, but presently rose. went to
the window, and looked for long time
at the darkcned house where Mary
yertrees lived. Then he opened his
trunk, took therefrom a small notebook
half filled with fraGmentary scrib-
blings, and began to write:
Laughter after a funeral. In this re-
action people will laugh 1t anything and
at nothing. The Jand plays a dlrse on
the way to the cemetery. but when IL
turns back, ard the mourning carriages
are out Of hearing It strikes Up Dark
town Is Out Tonight" That Is natural
but there are women whose laughter Is
like the whIrvtng OF whips
Beauty is not out Of place among grave
stones. 1t Is not out OF plae- anywhere
But a woman who has been bet-1taed to
a man would not look beautiful at his
funeral. woman might look beautiful
though, at the funeral Of a man whom
she had known and liked And In that;
case, too. she would probably not Ta1-
10 talk II she drove home from the cerae-
terry with his brother. nor would she
want the brother to talk D.. Seve-the-
less, too much silence Is open to sIspi
cion. It may be reticeuce. or II may oe =
vacuum 1t may be dignity. or II may b4
false teeth. -.
Silence can be golden Tss But ~
hnps IL a woman Of the world should SD
herself by accident sitting oezsds : rnz7
for the length of time It must necessarily
take two slow old horses 20 t1z tn-@s
something OF some sort, II he ID ~
even try. but sat every step ot TIE way
as dumb as a frozen fish she might
think him frozen fish. And she raLg.'
be right. She might be rtgk; &. E-s
thought him about as pleasant. Z co---
,panior-as Bildad the Shuhite.
Bibbs closed his notebook. replacing
1t In his trunk. Then. after a period
of melancholy contemplation. be I'd
dressed, put on a dressing gown and
9lippers, and went softly out into the
ILall-to his fathers door. Upon the
floor was tray which Bibbs had sen,
George. earlier in the evening. to place
upon q table in Sheridan's room-bu,
the food was untouched. Bibbs stood
listening outside the door for several
minutes. There came no sound from
within. and he went back to his own
room and to bed.
In the morning he woke to a state
of being hitherto unknown In his ex
perience. Sometimes In the process
OF waking there is little pause
sleep has gone, but coherent though,
has not begun. 1t is the moment, as
We say. before we remember" and
for .ae first time in Bibbs' life it came
to him bringing vague happiness
However, It was a brief visitation and
was gone before he had finished dress
Ing. Il left 4 little trail. the pleased
recollection of Il and the pussie Of II
1hieA rsanaine1 nnsolved. And, b
- w1h1ng haoUliy = - nsfnine 4