Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-05-16
CHAPTER xxx.

. As Bibbs came out of the new house,
Sunday trio was In course Of passage
upon the sidewalk: An ample young
woman, placid OF face; a black-clad,
thin young man, whose expression vas
one Of habitual anxiety, habitual wAri-
ness and habitual eagerness. He pro-
PEELED perambulator containing the
third-and all three were newly
cleaned,l Sunday6ed, and made ct to
dine with the wite's relatives.
How'd you IKE for me to be that
young fella, rnamma?" the husband
whispered. "He's one Of the sons, and
there amt but two left now" gs{zggs
The wife stared curiously at Bibbs.
''Well, l don't know" she returned.
"He looks to me like he had his own
troubles" - -. ri. 4.
81 expect he has, like anybody else
said the young husband, "but guess
we could stand good deal II we had
his money ~ .s,,% sft:& o
swell, maybe, IL you keep on the
way you been, baby II be as well fixed
as the Sheridans. You can't tell" She
glanced back at Bibbs, who had turned
north. He walks kind Of slow and
stopped over. like. !" Y { I,
$50 much money in his pockets it
makes him sag. + guess" said the
young husband. with bitter admira-
ton. tssst;tE >sr
Mary.-happening to glance from a
window, saw Bibbs coming, and she
started, clasping her bands together
in q sudden alarm. She met him at
I ''Bibbsr' she cried. what IS the
matter? saw something was terribly
wrong when T. You look She
paused, and he came In, not lifting his
eyes to hers. Always when he crossed
that threshold he had come with his
head up and his wistful gaze seeking
hers. t"Ah. poor boyw she said, with a
gesture Of understanding and pity. Il
know what it is!' s&
He followed her into the room where
they always sat, and sank into q chair.
/ You needn't tell me-" she said.
They've made you give up. Your IA
theirs won-youre going to do what
he wants. You've given up" ,
Still without looking at her. he In
clined his head in affirmation.
She gave little cry Of compassion,
and came and sat near him. "Bibbs,"
she said, II can be glad Of one thing,
though it's selfish. can be glad you
came straight to me. It's more to me
than even II you'd come because you
were happy" She did not speak again
for q little while; then she said:
"Bibbs -dear-coul you tell me about
It? Do you want to-"
Still he did not look up, but In q
voice. shaken and husky, he asked her
& question so grotesque that at first she
thought she had misunderstood his
words. rs
Mary" he said. 'could you marry
meY # 3$
"what did you say. Bibbs7" she
asked, quietly.
His tone and attitude did not.change.
tWill you marry. me" iii
K Both her hands leaped to her cheeks
she grew red and then white. She
rose slowly ana moved backward rom
him, staring at him, at first incred-
.ulously, then with an intense perplex-
lily more and more luminous In her
wide eyes; 1t was like spoken qnes-
tion. The room filed with strange
ness In the long silence-the two were
50 strange to each other. At last she
said:
What made you say that7"
He did not answer. 4
f.Bibbs, look at mew Her voice was
loud and clear. What made you say
that? Look at met is ut
He could not look at her. and he
could not speak.
What was It that made your" she
said. II want you to tell me"
She went closer, to him, her eyes
ever brighter and wider with that In
tensity OF wonder. You've giren up
ITO your father" she said. slowly.
.and then you come to ask me \ She
broke on. 'Bibbs, do you want me to
marry you? sa
Eyes" he said. Just audibly. =
.No!' she cried. You do not. Then