The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1916-08-25

astonished.
Nothing" he returned. smiling.
She frownod. Ibid you want some
thing?' she asked.
Nothing in the world. Father and
mother have gone upstairs; l sha'n't
be going up for several hours, and1
there didn't seem to be anybody left
for me to chat with except you and
Mr.. Lamhorn."
"'CLat within she echoed, incredu-
lousy.
II can talk about almost anything"
said Bibbs with an air Of genial polite
ness. 1T Doesn't matter to me. I,
don't know much about business-if
tnat's what you happened to be talking
about. Bur you aren't in business, are
you, Mr.. Lamhorn:"
Not now" returned Lamhorn,
Ahortly.
I'm not, either" said Bibbs. ut
was getting cloudier than usual. I no
ticed. just before dark, and there was
wind from the southwest. Rain to-
morfSw, I shouldn't be surprised"
he seemed to feel that he had begun
q conversation the support OF which
had now become the pleasurable duty
OF other parties; and he sat expectant-
", looking 0rst ct his sister, then ut
Lamhorn, - IL Implying that it wns
their turn TO speak. Edith returned
his gaze with a mixture of astonish-
ment and Increasing anger, while Mr..
Lamhorn was obviously disturbed.
though Bibbs had been as considerable
as possible in presenting the weather
as a topic. Elbbs had perceived that
Lamhorn had nothing in his mind at
ony time except "personalities"-he
could talk shout people and lie could
make love. Bibbs. wishing to ~ cour
teous. offered the weather.
Lamhorn refused It, and concluded
from Bibbs' luxurious attitude in the
leather chair that this half-crazy broth
err was a permanent fixture for the
rest Of the evening. There was no rea-
son to hope that he would move, and
Lamhorn found himself In danger Of
looking silly.
Il was just going" he said. rising.
"Oh no." Edith cried, sharply.
"Yes. Good night! I think l."
"Too bad" said Bibbs, geniallJ,
walking to the door with the visitor.
while Edith stead staring a. the two
disappeared in the hall. She heard
Bibbs Offering t. help Lamhorn with
his overcoat ana the latter rather curt
~ declining assistance, these episodes
OF departure being followed by the
closing o9 the eutor door. She raj INTO
the hall.
whats the matter with your" she
cried, %furiously. what do you meant
How did you dafo come in here when
you knew"
Her voice broke; she made q gesture
OF rage and despair, and ran up the
stairs, sobbing. She ned to her moth
er's room, and when Bibbs came up, a
few minutes later, Mrs. Sheridan met
him at his door.
"Oh. Bibbs," she said, shaking her
head woefully, you'd oughtn't to dis
tress your SISTER! She says you drove
l1IStl OuAk 1lUA OAl III LII IOuSC. LOU u
ought to been more considerate."
Bibbs smiled family, noting that
Edlth's door was open, with Edith's
naive shadow motionless across it's
threshold. YES" he said. "IIe' doesn't
appear to be much OF q mans man.
lie ran at just q glimpse OF one"
Edlth's shadow moved: her voice
came ~quavering: You call yourself
one1"
mo. no." he answered. Il said Just
q glimpse OF one l didn't claim"
But her door slammed anarily; and he
turned to his mother.
There" he said. sighin:. That's
almost the first time IN my life l ever
tried to be q man OF action, mother,
and I succeeded perfectly In what I
tried to do. AZ 4 consequence l feel
like q horse thief!
You hurt her ~fee,in's,- she groancd.
You must n gone at it too rough,
Bibbs."
He looked upon her wanly. That's
my trouble. mother" he mur1nured.
I'm Q plain, blunt fellow. l have
rough ways, and I'm a rough man"
For Once she perceived some mean
ing In his qucerness. "Hush your nom
sense!" she said, good-naturedly, the
astral Of 4 troubled smile appearing.
"You go to bed"
He kissed her and obeycd.
Edith gave him q cold greeting the
next morning 1t the breakfast table.
"You mustn't do that under q mis-
apprehension" he warned her, when
they wero alono In the dining room.
.Do what under q what?" she asked.
Speak to me. l came into the
smoking Dom last night on purpose, ; !"
he told her, gravely. Il have = preju-
dics against that young man"
She laughed Il guess you think It
means q great deal who you have
pre1udices againstr' In mockery she
adopted the manner OF one who i'm
plores- gibbs, for PHYS sake promise
me. don't . your influence with papa
against him." And she laughed louder.
"Listen," be said, with peculiar earn
estncss. .IIl tell ron now. because
AAnn,,c> YsvA NAoAAAA r,n - 49,