Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-08-03
CHAPTER XIV.

nor that other which so 1mm1nenLly
threatened him held place in the con-
seriousness Of Bibbs Sheridan when he
came once more to the presence or
Mary. All was right in his world as
he sat with her, reading Maurice Mae
terlinck's "Alladine and PalOmides. ,"
And while the zinc eater held out to
bring him such golden nights as these,
all the kings horses and all the kings
men might not serve to break the
spell.
Bibbs read slowly, but in a reason
able manner, as if he were talking;
and Mary, looking at him steadily
from beneath her curved fingers, ap-
peared to discover no fault. 1t had
grown to be her habit to look at him
whenever there was an opportunity
It may be said, in truth, that while
they were together, and it was light
she looked at him all the time.
When he came to the end Of ALA
dine and Palomides" they were silent
a little while, considering together;
then he turned back the pages and
said:
There's something 1 want to read
over. This:
You would think I threw a window
open on the dawn. She has soul
that can be seen around her-that takes
you in it's arms like an ailing child and
without saying anything to you consoles
you for everything. . shall never un-
derstand it all. I do not know how it
can all be, but my knees bend in spite of
me when I speak Of it.
He stopped and looked at her.
"You boyw said Mary, not very
clearly.
ooh, yes" he returned. "But it's
true-especially my knees!''
''You boy!" she murmured again,
blushing charmingly. "You might read
another. line over. The first time 1
ever saw you, Bibbs, you were look
ing into a mirror Do it again. But
you needn't read it can give it to
you: "A little Greek slave that came
from the heart Of Arcadyv"
81! I'm one of the hands at the
Pump works-and going to stay one,
unless l have to decide to study
plumbing"
mo" She shook her head. "YOu
love and want what's beautiful and
delicate and serene; it's really art that
you want in your life, and have always
wanted. You seemed to me, from the
first, the most wistful person I had
ever known, and that's what you were
wistful for
Bibbs looked doubtful and more
wistful than ever; but after a moment
or two the matter seemed to clarity
itself to him. "Why, no." he said; Il
wanted something else more than that
l wanted you"
"And here 1 ami" she laughed, COM
pletely understanding. II think we're
like those two in "The Cloister and
the Hearth" I'm just the rough Bur
gundian crossbOw man, Denys, who
followed that gentle Gerard and told
everybody that the devil was dead"
''He isn't, though" said Bibbs, as a
hoarse little bell in the next room be-
gan series Of snappings which
proved to be ten, upon count. "He
gets into the clock whenever I'm with
you" And, signing deeply, he rose
to go.
you're always very prompt about
leaving me-"
There's one little time in the twenty
four hours when I'm not happy. It's
now, when 1 have to say good night.
But now's the bad time-and 1 must
go through it, and sO-good night"
And he added with a pungent vehe
mence of which he was little aware.
II hate itr'
do you?" she said, rising to go to
the door with him. But he stood mo-
tionless, gazing at her wonderingly.
MARY! Your eyes are So" He
stopped.
"Yes?" But she looked quickly away.
II don't know" he said. II thought
just then"
"What did you think?"
II don't know-it seemed to me that
there was something I ought to under
Standard didn't"
She laughed and met his wondering
gaze again frankly. "My eyes are
pleased" she said. I'm glad that you
miss me a little after you 60"
but tomorrow's coming faster than
other days, if you'll let it," he said.
She inclined her head. Eyes. I'll
let it'r'
"Going to church." said Bibbs. at is
going to church when I go with your
She went to the front door with him;
she always went that far. They had
formed a little code of leave-t taking,
by habit, neither of them ever speak
ing of it; but it was always the same.
She always stood in the doorway until
he reached the sidewalk, and there he
always turned and looked back, and
she waved her hand to him. Then he
went on, halfway to the new house
and looked back again, and Mary was
not in the doorway, but the door was
omen and the light ShOne It was as