The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1916-07-27

thlng3" she asked.
Nothing I'm the world. Father and
mother have gone upstairs; | sha'n't
be going UP for several hours, and
there didn't seem to be anybody left
for me to chat with except you and
Mr.. Lamhorn."
"'Chat within she echoed, incredu-
lously.
'T can talk about almost anything"
said Blbbs with an air OF genial polite
ness. ut doesn't matter to me.
don't know much about buslness-lf
that's what you happened to be talking
about. But you aren't In business, are
you, Mr. Lamhorn"
mot now," returned Lamhorn,
shortly.
"Im not. either" said Blbbs. "Tt
was getting cloudler than usual, I mo-
ticed, just before dark, and there was |
wind from the southwest. Rain to-
morrow, | shouldn't be surprised"
He seemed to feel that he had begun |
a conversation the support of which |
had now become the pleasurable duty |
of other parties; and he sat eNpectant- |
ly. looking first at his sister, then at
Iamhorn, as IL implying that 1t was
their turn to speak. Edith returned
his gaze with a mixture of astonlsh
ment and increasing anger, while Mr..
LamhOrn was obviously disturbed,
though Bibbs had been as consideratc
as possible In presenting the weather
as topic. Blbbs had perceived that
Lamhorn had nothing in his mind at
any time except "personalities"--he
could talk about people and he could
make love. Bibbs, wishing to be cour-
teous, offered the weather.
Lamhorn refused 1t. and concluded
from Bihbs' luxurious attitude In the
leather chair that this half-crazy broth
er was a permanent fixture for the
rest OF the evening. There was no rea-
son to hope that he would move, and
} Lamhorn found himself in danger OF
looking silly.
; IL was just going" nc said, rising.
: "Oh MOI" Edith cried, sharply.
"Yes. Good night l think /"
"Too bad" said. Blbbs, genially,
: walking to the door with the visitor,
, while Edith stood staring as the two
. disappeared in the hall. she heard
! Bibbs Offering to "help" Lamhorn with
= his overcoat and the latter rather curt
1 ly declining assistance, these episodes
: OF departure being followed by the
4 closing of the outer door. She ran into
l the hall.
4 whats the matter with your" she
$ cried, furlously. "What do you mean ?
: How did you dare come in here when
!, you knew"
! Her voice broke; she made gesture
e of rage and despair, and ran up the
n stairs, sObbing. She fled TO her moth
: er's room, and when Bibbs came up, a
[ few minutes later, Mrs. Sheridan met
him Mt his door.
c "Oh, Blbbs," she said, shaking her
d head woefully, you'd oughtn't to dis.
tress your sister? She says you drove
!, that young man out of the house. You'd
s ought TO been more considerate."
S Bibbs smiled family, noting that
g Edlth's door was open, with Ediths
It naive shadow motionless across It's
h threshold. "Yes," he said. He doesn't
d appear to be much of mans man.
y He ran at just a glimpse OF one"
{ Edith's shadow moved; her voice
r came quavering: you call yourself
u one?"
"No, no." he answered. II said just
glimpse of one | didn't claim
's But her door slammed angrily; and he
turned to his mother.
It There" he said signing. "That's
If almost the first time in my life l evel
:, tried to be a man OF action, mother
II and | succeeded perfectly in what
II tried to do. AS consequence l fee
II like horse thiefv'
II "You hurt her feelin's," she groaned
Il you must "a gone at 1t too rough
I Blbbs."
4 He looked upon her wanly. "That'i
my trouble, MOTHER he murmured
I'm plain, blunt fellow. l hay,
rough ways, and I'm a rough man"
n For once she perceived some mean
y ing In his queerness. "Hush your non
d sense" she said, good-naturedly, th'
: astral of n troubled smile appearing
4 you 90 to bed"
| He kissed her and Obeyed.
Il Eulhi EdNt MN IL tDlh BIttllllE lll'
q next morning at the breakfast table.
n "You mustn't do that under a mis-
III apprehension" he warned her, wheI
N they were alone in the dining room.
n "Do what under a what?" she asked
A "Speak to me. came into tn
\. smoking room last night 'on purpose
Il he told her, grayely. IL have a preJu
= dice against that young man."
| She laughed. 81 guess you think
means great deal who you hay,
| prejudices againstv' In mockery sh,
adopted the manner OF one who i'm
| plores, "Bibbs, for PHYS sake promls
me, don't use your influence with pap;
against him." And she laughed louder
| "Listen," he said. with peculiar earn
q estness. "Tll tell you now, because
Iva HariIaA Itfn nna Of IA,