Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-10-05

1>>sa-Ezae
There's Our Little sunshine!" He
Cried.
father, was about to make his escape
into the gold-and-brocade room when
he heard Sheridan vociferously de-
manding his presence.
Tell him to come in here! He's out
there. l heard George just let him in
Now you'll seer And stained
Mrs. Sheridan, looking out into the
hall beckoned to her son.
Bibbs went as far as the doorway.
Quincy sat winding q strip of white
| cotton, his black bag open upon q
| chair near by; and Sheridan was strid-
ing up and down, his hand so heavily
| wrapped in fresh bandages that he
seemed to be wearing a small boxing
glove. His eyes were bIOOdshot; his
forehead was heavily believed: one
side Of his collar had broken loose,
and there We're blood stains upon his
| right cuff.
There's our little sunshaner' he
cried, as Bibbs appeared. There's the
hope O. the family-my lifelong pride
and joy! 1 want"
Keep your hand in that sling" said
Quincy, sharply.
Sheridan turned upon him, uttering
a sound like howl. For Gods sake,
sing another tune!" he cried. ''You
said you came as a doctor but stay
as a friend and in that capacity you
| undertake to sit up and criticize me-"
ooh, talk sense" said the doctor,
and yawned Intentionally. "What do
| you want Bibbs to say?"
You were sittin' up there tellin' me
got Observation-Disclosures oh Lord!
| You sat up there and told me I got
| 'hystericaP over nothin'! You sat up
| there telIin' me didn't have as heavy
| burdens as many another man you
knew. I just want you to hear this.
| Now Iistenw He swung toward the
| quiet figure waiting in the doorway.
| gibbs will you come down town with
me Monday morning and let me start
| you with two vice-presidencies, a di-
rectOrship, stock and salaries? [ ask
you"
''No, father" said Bibbs, gently.
Sheridan looked at Quincy and then
faced his son once more.
and I'd like the doctor to hear:
What II you do if I decide you're too
high-priced a Workin- man either to
live in my house or work in my shop?"
Find other work." said Bibbs.
There! You hear him for yourselfr'
Sheridan cried You hear what
keep your hand in that sling! Yes,
I hear him"
Sheridan leaned over Quincy and
shouted, in a voice that cracked and
broke, piping into faIsetto: "He thinks
of bein' a plumber Tie wants to be
plumber so he can thinkr'
He fell back q step, wiping his fore
head with the back Of his left hand.
There! That's my son! That's the
only son I got now! That's my chance
to live" he cried, with a bitterness
that seemed to leave ashes in his
throat. That's my one chance to
live-that thing you see in the door
way yonder!''
Doctor Quincy thoughtfuIly regard
ed the bandage strip he had been
winding, and tossed it into the open
bag. whats the matter with giving
Bibbs a chance to lfveP he said, cool
". II would if I were you. You've
had two that went into business"
Sheridans mouth moved grotesquely
before he could speak. Joe Quincy"
he said, when he could command him
self so far, "are you accusin' me of
the responsibility for the death Of my
son JamesY
st accuse you of nothing" said the
doctor. But just once I'd like to have
it out with you on the question of
Bibbs-and while he's here, too" He
got up, walked to the fire, and stood
warming his hands behind his back
and smiling. Look here, old fellow, |
let's be reasonable" he said. you
were bound Bibbs should go to the
shop again, and he did go, and he's
made good there. Now, see: Isn't |
that enough? Can't you let him off |
now? He wants to write, and how do |
you know that he couldn't do it if you /
gave him a chance? How do you know |
he hasn't some MESA ge-sOmething /
to say that might make the world just /
a little bit happier or wiser? I'm not |
speaking as doctor now. But I tell you |
one thing 1 know: If you take him |
down there you'll kill something that |
I feel is in him, and it's finer I think, /
than his physical body, and you'll kill
it deader than a door-nail! And so
why not let it live? You've about
come to the end of your string, old
fellow. Why not stop this perpetual
deviIish fighting and give Bibbs his I
chance?"
Sheridan stood looking at him fixed
~. what 'fghtingY i