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

had another daughter-in-law before
this, as sure as l stand here telling you
the Gods truth about it! Well-when
Jim was left in the cemetery she was
waiting out there to drive home with
BibbS! jim wasn't cold-ard she
didn't know whether Bibbs was insane
or not. but he was the only one of the
rich Sheridan boys left. She had to
get him.
The texture of what was the truth
made an even fabric with what was
not, in Sibyl's mind; she believed every
word that she uttered, and she spoke
with the rapidity and vehemence Of
fierce conviction.
''What l feel about it is" she said,
st oughtn't to be allowed to go on.
It's too mean! l like poor Bibbs, and
| don't want to see him made such a
fool of, and / don't want to see the
family made such a fool of! l like
poor Bibbs, but if he'd only stop TO
think a minute himself he'd have to
realize he isn't the kind of a man any
girl would be apt to fall in love with.
He's better looking lately, maybe but
you know how he was-just kind of a
long white rag in good clothes. And
girls like men with some go to 'em-
some sort Of dashingness, anyhow! No
body ever looked at poor Bibbs be-
fore, and neither'd she-no, sir! not
till she'd tried both Roscoe and Jim
first! It was only when her and her
family got desperate that She"
Bibbs-whiter than when he came
from the sanitarium-opened the door.
He stepped across its threshold and
stood looking at her Both women
screamed.
ooh, good heavensr' cried Sibyl.
"Were you in there? Oh, wouldn't
She seized Mrs Sheridan's arm, pull
ing her toward the stairway. Come
on, mother Sheridanr' she urged. and
as the befuddled and confused lady
obeyed, SibEI left a trail Of noisy ex-
CARNATIONS: Good gracious! Oh. I
wouldn't Too bad! l didn't dream
be was there! | wouldn't hurt his feel
lngs! Not for the world! OF course
he had to know some time! But, good
heavens"
She heard his door close as she and
Mrs. Sheridan reached the top of the
stairs, and she glanced over her shout
der quickly, but Bibbs was not follow
ing. he had gone back into his room.
"He-he looked-oh, terrible badr'
stammered Mrs. Sheridan. I'll
wish"
"Still, it's a good deal better he
knows about it," said Sibyl. 81
shouldn't wonder it might turn out the
very best thing could happened. Come
onr'
And completing their descent to the
library, the two made their appearance
to Roscoe and his father. Sibyl at once
gave a full and truthful account Of
what had taken place. repeating her
own remarks, and emitting only the
fact that it was through her design
that Bibbs had overheard them.
But as | told mother Sheridan"
she said, in conclusion, 'it might turn
out for the very best that he did hear
just that way. Don't you think So,
father Sheridan"
He merely grunted in reply, and sat
rubbing the thick hair on the top of his
head with his left hand and looking at
the fire. He had given no sign of be-
ing impressed in any manner by her
exposure of Mary Vertrees' character:
but his impassivity did not dismay
Sibyl-it was Bibbs whom she desired
to impress, and she was content in that
matter.
'I'm sure it was all for the best" she
said. Its over now, and he knows
what she is. In one way / think it was
lucky, because just hearing a thing
that way, a person can tell it's So
and he knows | haven't got any ak to
grind except his own good and the
good of the family"
Mrs. Sheridan went nervously to the
door and stood there, looking toward
the stairway. "I wish-I wish I knew
what he was doin'," she said. 'He did
look terrible bad. It was like some
thing had been done to him that was
I don't know what. / never saw any
body look like be did. He loOked-so
queer. It was like you'd" She called
down the hall, "Georgep'
"Yes'm?'
"Were you up in Mr.. Bibbs' room
just now?"
''Yes'm. He ring bel; tole me make