Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-05-18
CHAPTER VII Continued.


"Bibbsw Edith's voice was angry,
and her color deepened suddenly as
she came into the room, preceded by
scent of violets much more powerful
than that warranted by the actual
bunch of them upon the lapel of her
coat.
Bibbs did not turn his head, but
wagged 1t solemnly, seeming depressed
by the poem. pretty young. isn't it,"
be said. There must have been some
thing about your looks that got the
prize, Edith; can't believe the poem
did It,"
She glanced hurriedly over her Shout
der and spoke sharply, but in a low
voice: 81 don't think it's very nice of
you to bring it up at all. Bibbs. didn't
want them to frame 1t, and wish to
goodness papa'd quit talking about 1t;
but here, that night, after the dinner,
didn't he go and read 1t aloud to the
whole crowd Of 'em! thought I'd die
Of shamew
Bibbs looked grieved. "The poem
isn't that bad, Edith. You see, you
were only seventeen when you wrote
It."
"Oh, hush upw she snapped. 81 wish
1t had burnt my fingers the first time
touched it. Then / might have had
sense enough to leave it where it was
] had no business to take it, and I've
been ashamed"
"a
gssNo, no." he said, comfortingly. at
was the very most flattering thing ever
happened to me. 1t was almost my
last flight before went to the machine
shop, and it's pleasant to think some
body liked it enough to-"
'But don't like itr' she exclaimed.
" don't even understand it-and papa
made so much fuss over its getting the
prize. l just hate it! The truth is
never dreamed 1t d get the prize"
"You have to live it down, Edith.
Perhaps abroad and under another
name you might find"
"Oh. hush up! I'll hire someone to
steal 1t and burn it the first chance |
get" She turned away petulantly.
moving to the door. "Pd like to think
/ could hope to hear the last of it be-
fore / die!'
Edith he called, as she went into |
the hall
whats the matterw
Il want to ask you: Do really look
better, or have you just got used to
meT'
What on earth do you mean 2" she
said, coming back as far as the thresh-
old.
when first came you couldn't look
at me-" Bibbs explained, in his imper-
sonal way. "But I've noticed you look
at me lately. | wondered II I'd"
' Its because you look so much bet
ter" she told him, cheerfuIly. "Thls
month you've been here's done you no
eed OF good. Anybody could look at
you>Qow, Bibbs, and not-not get"
"SicSi"
"WellS@lmost ,thatw she laughed.
"And you're getting better color
every day, Bibbs; you really are.
You're really getting along splendidIy."
'I-Tm afraid So" he said, ruefully.
"Afraid SO! Well, II you aren't the /.
queerest! l suppose you mean father /
might send you back to the machine
shop IL you get well enough. heard I
him say something about it the night of 7
the" The Jingle of distant bell in. :
terrupted her, and she glanced at her !
watch. Bobby Lamhorn! I'm going
to motor him out to look at place in G
the country. Afternoon, Bibbsr
When she had gone, Bibbs mooned
from shelf to shelf, his
eye wandering among the titles of the ,
books. The library consisted almost
entirely of handsome uniform edi- I
lions" They made an effective deco {
ration for the room, all these big, ex-
pensiVe books, with glossy binding $
here and there twinkling a reflection of
the famtS that cracked In the splendid
Gothic fireplace.
There came a chime of bells from a
clock in another part of the house, and
white-jacket appeared beamingly In
the doorway, bearing furs. "Awready,
Mist Bibbs," he announced. You
ma say wrap up wawm e you ride,
an she cain go with you today, an not
rgit go see you pa at TO- CLOCK. Aw
ready. subj"
He equipped Bibbs for the daily
drive Doctor Quincy had commanded;
and In the manner Of master Of cere-
monies unctuously led the way. In the
hall they passed the Moor, and Bibbs
paused before 1t while white-jacket
the door with q flourish and