The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1916-07-20
Sheridan; and I know You have reason

Sheridan; and know you have reason
to be- she said gently. "If you'll let
me, III" And without explaining
her purpose she opened the door on the
side OF the coupe and leaned out.
Bibbs stared in blank perplexlty, not |
knowing what she meant to do.
"Driverv she called, in her clear |
voice, loudly. "Driverl We'd like to !
start, please. Driverl Stop at the
house just north OF Mr.. Sheridan's,
please" The wheels began to move,
and she leaned back beside Bibbs once
more. 81 noticed that he was asleep
when we got in," she said. 81 suppose
they have a great deal OF night work"
Bibbs drew n 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 II l try TO STAN
mer. My brother Roscoe whipped me
once, when we were boys. for stepping
on his slate pencil. II took me so long
to tell him 1t was an accident, he fin
ished before l did"
Mary Vertrees had never heard any
thing quite like the drawllng, gentle
voice or the odd implication that his
not noticing the motlonless state of
their vehicle was an accident" At
once she discovered that he was unlike
any OF her cursory and vague imagin-
ings OF him. And suddenly she had a
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
no response TO his apology, and they
passed out OF the cemetery gates, nei-
ther having spoken again.
Blbbs was so content with the ST.
lence he did not know that II was ST
lence. The dusk, gathering In their
small inclosure, was filed with rich
presence for him; and presently II 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 lanclng into the coupe, and
passed, leaving greater darkness. And
yet neither of these two last attend
ants at Jim Sheridan's funeral broke
the silence.
1t was Mary who perceived the
: strangeness of it-too late. Abruptly
she realized that for an indefinite In
; 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 drlye-"Mr. Sher
] idan, l."
The coupe stopped. "You, Joev' salt
Q the driver, reproachfully. and climbed
n down and opened the door.
whats the troubleT" Blbbs in
| quired.
LADY said stop at first house nortl
Of Mr.. Sheridans, sir"
Mary was lncredulous; she felt tina
1t couldn't be true and that II mustn'
be true that they had driven all tn
way without speaking.
Blbbs descended to the curb. "Why
yes" he said. "You seem TO be right
And while he stood staring at the dim
ly illuminated front windows of MI
Yertrees' house Mary got out, unas
| sisted.
| LET me help you" said Bibbs, step
ping toward her mechanically; and sh
| was several feet from the coupe whel
| he spoke.
] "Oh. no." she murmured. 81 think
| can" She meant that she could &c
| out of the coupe without help, but, pei
| ceiving that she had already accom-
plished this feat, she decided not I
complete the sentence.
! "You, Joev cried the driver, angrily
! climbing to his box. And he rumble
Il away at his teams best pace-a snalri
! "Thank you for bringing me hom,
Mr.. Sheridan" said Mary, stifiy. Sh
I did not offer her hand. Good night.
| "Good night" Bibbs said in respons,
and, turning with her, walked besld
her to the door. Mary made that
short walk; she almost ran. Realizi
ton OF the queerness Of their drive wa
growing upon her, beginning to shoe
her; she stepped aside from the ligl
e that fell through the glass panels q
% the door and withheld her hand as
touched the old-fashioned bell handl,
I'm quite safe. thank you" sh
u said, with a little emphasis. Goo
l. night"
Good night" said Blbbs, and wer
i obedlently. When he reached I'll
street he looked back, but she ha
= vanished within the house.
u Moving slowly away, he carome
J. against two people who were turnin
out from the pavement TO cross tn
y street. They were Roscoe and hi
wife.
"Where are your eyes, BibhsY" d,
e | al tsCIaar,- G.,.r A