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

It Is the consoling attribute Of un-
used books that their decorative
warmth VIII so often make even a
readymade library the actual living
room" Of family to whom the shelved
volumes are indeed sealed. Thus it
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
fng-When 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 q
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.
Sibyl 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
~ moving. Roscoe went to a chair In
another part Of the room. There was
a deadly silence.
But Sibyl found a shaky voice, after
an interval Of gulping, though she was
unable to lift her eyes, and the dark
ling lids continued to veil them. She
spoke hurriedly, like an ungifted child
reciting something committed to mem
DRY, but her sincerity was none the
less evident for that
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 [ am
sorry for the way did that night, and
to say know as we'll as anybody the
way 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
| to be ashamed Of again. I want to ask
y
and I can say l haven't any feelings
| toward Edith now, but only wish her
| happiness and good in her new life. I
| thank you for all your kindness to me,
and know [ made poor return for
1t, but If you can overlook the way I
| behaved I know I would feel a good
| deal happier-and 1 know Roscoe
oh To 70
be as foolish in the future, and the
same error would never occur again to
make us all so unhappy, if you can be
charitable enough to excuse it this
| 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
GAIL right" he said, at last.
She looked up then with vast relief,
though there was revelation Of heavy
tears when the eyelids lifted.
THANK yOu," she said. There's
| something else-abOut something DIFF
| ferent-I want to say to you, but I
/ 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 flash she
instinctively perceived the chance for
precisely the effect she wanted.
"No, let me CO., she said. 81 want
to speak to her 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. Sibyl 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 hot 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 miscalculated her husbands mood,
and she felt that if he used bis injured
hand as a mark Of emphasis again, in
her presence, she would las she thought
Of it, "have a fit right there" She
heard Sibyl's step, and pretended to be
putting a touch to her hair before a
mirror
Il was just coming down." she said,
ss The door opened.
Eyes, he wants you to- said Sibyl.
''It's 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.