The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-06-01

| haven't had scarcely ever time to
write more than just a line to ask how
you were gettin' along, but I told Edith
to write, the weeks l couldn't, and |
asked Jim, too, and they both said
they would, so l suppose you've kept
up pretty well on the home news"
"Oh, yes"
what think you need" said the
mother, gravely, sis to liven up a little
and take an interest in things. That's
what papa was sayin' this morning,
after we got your telegram; and that's
what'll stimulate your appetite, toe
He was talkin' over his plans fol
you"
"PlansI" Bibbs, turning on his side
shielded his eyes from the light with
his hand, so that be might see her bet
ter. what" He paused. "Wha
plans is he making for me, mother?"
She turned away, going back to the
window to draw down the shade
"Well, you better talk 1t over with
him." she said, with %perceptible nerv,
BUSINESS. "He better tell you himself
l don't feel as il | had any call, ex'
actly, to go into IL; and you better get
to sleep now, anyway" She came and
stood by the bedside once more. "But
you must remember, Bibbs, whatever
papa does Is for the best. He loves his
children and wants to do what's right
by all Of 'em-and you'll always find
he's right in the end"
He made a little gesture of assent
which seemed to content her; and she
rustled to the door. turning to SPEAK
again after she had opened It. 'YOr
get a good nap, now, so as to be al
rested up for tonight"
"You-you mean-he-" Bibbs STAN
mered, having begun to speak toe
quickly. Checking himself, he drew 9
long breath, then asked, quietly, docs
father expect me to come downstairs
! this EVENING""
"Well, / think he does" she an
swered. "You see, It's the house
warming as he calls it, and he said he
thinks all u children ought to be
around us, as well as the old friends
and other folks. It's just what he
thinks you need-to take an interest
and liven up. You don't feel too bad
to come down, do your
Mother"
"Well?"
Take a good look at me-" he said
ooh, see here!" she cried with
| hrV,,lr Observation-Disclosures kVAa -NN or
bad off as you think you are, Bibbs
You're on the mend, and 1t won't dc
you any harm to please your"
at isn't that" he interrupted. Hon,
estly, I'm only afraid it might spoi.
somebody's appetite. Edith"
81 told you the child was too sensi
tive" she interrupted, in turn. you're
a plenty good-lookin' enough young
man for anybody! You look like you
been through a long spell and begun to
get well, and that's all there is to it,
"All right. I'll come to the party
IL the rest of you can stand it, / cam
"It'll do you good" she returned
rustllng into the hail. Now take q
nap, and I'll send one o. the help tc
wake you In time for you to get
dressed up before dinner. You go to
sleep right away, now, Bibbs!"
He woke refreshed, stretched him,
self gingerly-as one might have a care
against too quick or too long a pull
upon a frayed elastic-and, getting to
his feet, went blinking to the window
and touched the shade so that it few
up. letting in a pale sunset.
He looked out into the lemon-colored
light and smiled wanly at the mex
house, as Edith's grandiose phrase
came TO mind, "the old Vertrees coun
| try mansion" Ii stood I'm a broad
lawn which was separated from the
Sheridans' by a young hedge; and IL
was a big, square, plain old box Of a
house with a giant ~salt-cellar atop fol-
a cupola. Paint had been spared for a
long time, and no one could have put
a name to the color Of IL, but in spite OF
that the place had no look Of being
out at heel, and the sward was as
neatly trimmed as the Sheridans' own
Directly opposite the window the
vertrees' lawn had been graded so as
to make a little knoll upon which stood
a small rustic summer house." II
was almost on a level with Bibbs' win.
dow and not thirty feet away. Prob.
ably the summer house" was pleasant
and pretty In summer. But now in
the tbis light 1t was desolate, the color
Of dust. and hung with haggard vines
! which had lost their leaves.
Bibas looked at 1t with grave sym
patty probably feeling some kinship
with Snything so ~dismantled; then he
turneA to a cheval glass beside the
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