Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-07-20
CHAPTER XVIII.

| IOOm VI ldulliy 10 WHOM the SHelVeU
volumes are indeed sealed. Thus 1t
was with Sheridan, who read nothing
except newspapers. business letters
and figures; who looked upon books as
he looked upon bric-a-brac or crochet
ing-wben he was at home, and not
abed or eating, he was in the library.
He stood In the many -colored light
of the stained-glass window at the far
end of the long room, when Roscoe and
\ his wife came In, and he exhaled a
solemnity. His Difference to the Sab
bath was manifest, as always, In the
length of his coat and the closeness Of
his Saturday-night shave; and his ex-
| preston, to match this religious pomp.
was more than Sabbatical, but the
most dismaying of his demonstrations
was his keeping his hand in his sling
Slbyl advanced to the middle of the
room and halted there. not looking at
him, but down at her muff, in which. 1t
could be seen, her hands were nervous
ly moving. Roscoe went to chair In
another part Of the room. There was
a deadly silence.
But Sibyl found shaky voice. after
an interval Of gulping, though she was
unable to lift her eyes, and the dar-
king lids continued to veil them. She
spoke hurriedly, like an ungifted child
reclting something committed to men,
DRY, but her sincerity was none the
less evident for that.
l
Father Sheridan. you and mother
Sheridan have always been so kind to
me, and | would hate to have you think
| don't appreciate 1t, from the way I
acted. I've come to tell you I am
sorry for the way did that night, and
to say know as well as anybody the
way l behaved, and it will never hap
pen again, because it's been a pretty
hard lesson; and when we come back.
some day, hope you'll see that you've
got daughter-in-law you never need
you to excuse me for the way ! did,
and | can say haven't any feelings
toward Edith now, but only wish her
happiness and good In her new life. l
thank you for all your kindness to me,
and l know made a poor return for
behaved l know | would feel a good
deal happier-and l know Roscoe
would, too. | wish to promise not to
| be as foolish in the future, and the
same error would never occur again to
make US all so unhappy, IL you can be
| n n ri ta m
| time"
| He looked steadily at her without
replying, and she stood before him.
never lifting her, eyes; motionless,
save where the moving fur proved the
agitation of her hands within the muff.
"All right" he said, at last
She looked up then with vast relief,
though there was a revelation of heavy
tears when the eyelids lifted.
Thank you" she said. There's
ferent-I want to say to you, but |
want mother Sheridan to hear it, too"
"She's upstairs in her ROOM" said
Sheridan. Roscoe"
Sibyl interrupted. She had just seen
Bibbs pass through the hall and begin
to ascend the stairs and in a fash she
instinctively perceived the chance for
precisely the effect she wanted.
NO, let me CO." she said. 81 want
to speak to her a minute first. any
way"
And she went away quickly, gaining
the top Of the stairs in time to see
| Bibbs enter his room and close the
door. Slbyl knew that Bibbs, in his
room, had overheard her quarrel with
Edith In the hall outside; for bitter
Edith, thinking the more to shame her.
had subsequently Informed her of the
circumstance. Sibyl had just remem-
bered this. and with the recollection
there had flashed the thought-out Of
her own experience-that people are
often much more deeply impressed by
words they overhear than by words
directly addressed to them. Sibyl In
tended to make it impossible for Bibbs
not to overhear. She did not hesitate
her heart was not with the old sore,
and she believed wholly in the justice
| of her cause and in the truth of what
she was going to say. Fate was vir,
| tuous at times; it had delivered into
her hands the girl who had affronted
| her.
Mrs Sheridan was in her own room
The approach Of Sibyl and Roscoe had
driven her from the library. for she
had mlscalculated her husbands mood
and she felt that If he used his injured
hand as a mark of emphasis again, In
her presence, she would (as she thought
of IT. ''have a fit right there" She
heard Sibyrs step, and pretended to be
putting a touch to her hair before a
mirror.
II was just coming down." she said,
as the door opened.
"Yes, he wants you to-" said Sibyl.
ITS all right. mother Sheridan, He's
forgiven me-"
Mrs. Sheridan shifted instantly
tears appeared. She kissed her daugh-
ter-in-law's cheek; then, in silence, re-
garded the mirror afresh, wiped her
eyes, and applied powder.
"And I hope Edith will be happy"
Sibyl added, melting more applications
of Mrs. Sheridan's handkerchief and
powder.
Eyes. yes,"' murmured the good WON.
an. 1--WE mustn't make the worst of
things"
swell, there was something else I
had to say. and he wants you to hear
it, too" said Sibyl. 1--WE better go
down, mother Sheridan"
She led the way. Mrs. Sheridan fol-
lowing obediently. but, when they