The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1916-08-18

SAdS vi AGS So9lC II iSdlCd u
Bibbs stared in blank perlaexity, not
knowing what she meant to do.
"Driyer.." she called, In her clear
voice, loudly. Driver! We'd like to
start, please. Driver! Step at the
house just north of Mr.. Sheridan'A,
please" The wheels began to nova
and she leaned back beside Bibbs once
more. II noticed that he was asleep
when we got H." she. said. ~ suppose
they have a great deal OF night work"
Bibbs drew a Ions breath and wait
cd till he could command lis voice
I'VE never been able to apologize
quickly" he said, with his accustomed
slOwness, because II l try to l STAN
ner. My brother Roscoe whipped me
once when We we're boys, for stepping
on his slate pencil. It took mo SO long
to tell him 1t was III accident, he fin
ished before l did"
Mary Vertrees had never heard any
thing quite like tho drawing, gentle
voice or the odd Implication, that his
not noticing the -%notionless state Of
| their vehicle was An accident" At
once she discovered that he was unlike
any of her cursorv and vague imagin-
inss OF him. And. suddenly she had a
glimpse of Bibbs' zlfe and intn his life.
She had a queer feeling. new to her
experience, OF knowing him instantly.
e startled her o little; she did not
realize. however, that she had made
no response to his apology, and they
passed out Of the cemetery gates, mel
ther having spoken again.
Bibbs was so content with the a.
hence he did not know that 1t was ST.
lence. The dusk, gathering in their
small inclosure, was filed with . rich
presence for hirn: and presently 1t 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, rumbliHg presently
on paved streets; there were the
sounds, as from a distance, Of the
plod-plod Ok the horses Oblongs OF
light came lancing into the coupe, and
passed, leaving greater darkness. And
Wv 4 " AACSO N"t 1tot tCll
ants at Sim Sherldan'a funeral broke
the silence.
1t VAS Mary WIN perceived the
strangeness Of it-too bate 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, bu. i'm
PEELED to say anything, as she realized
the queernesS Of this drive-"Mr. Sher-
idan, l."
The coupe stopped. You, Joe" said
the driver, rcproachfully, and climbed
down and opened the door.
whats the trouble?" Blbbs In
CURED.
LADY said stop at first house north
Of Mr.. Sheridan's, sir"
Mary was incredulous; she felt that
it 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..
Vertrees' 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 spoke.
"Oh, no." she murmured. II think l
can" She meant that she could get
out OF the coupe without help, but, per-
ceiying that she had already accom-
plished this feat, she decided not to
complete the sentence.
"Iou, Joe" cried the driver, angrily,
climbing to his box. And he rumbled
away at his teams best pace-a snail's.
"Thank you for bringing me home,
Mr.. Sheridan" said Mary, sufhy. She
did not offer her hand. "Goed night"
"Good night" Bibbs said In response,
and, turning with her. walked beside
her TO the door. Mary made that a
short walk; she almost ran. Realiza-
ton OF the queerness OF their drive was
growing upon her. beginning to shock
her; she stepped aside from the light
that Tell through the glass panels Of
the door and withheld her hand ms it
touched the old-fashioned bell handle.
I'm quite safe, thank you" she
said, with q little emphasis. "Good
night
"Good night" said Bibbs, and went
o%bediently. When he reached the
street he looked back, but she had
vanished within the house.
Moving slowly away, he caromed
against two people who were turning
out from the pavement to cross the
street. They were Roscoe and his
wife.
where are your eyes, Bibbs ?" de-
manded Roscoe. "Sleep-walking, as
usual?"
But Sibyl took the wanderer by the
arm. ~Come over to our house for a
little while, Bibbs," she urged. II
| want to"
mo, I'd better"
"Yes. I want you to. Your fathers
gone to bed, and they're all quiet over
there-all worn out. Just come for