Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-09-21
CHAPTER XIV,

Mary was the picture of a lady fius-
tered. Bibbs had paused in his slow
stride, and there elapsed an instant be-
fore either spoke Or moved-it was no
longer than that, and yet it sufficed
for each to seem to say, by look and at
titude, "Why, it's your
Then they both spoke at once, each
hurriedly pronouncing the others
name as if about to deliver a mes
sage Of Importance. Then both came
to a stop simultaneously, but Bibbs
made heroic effort, and as they be-
gan to walk on together he contrived
to find his voice.
"T-I-hate a frozen fish myself"
he said. Il think three miles was too
long for you to put up with one"
Good gracious" she cried, turning
to him a glowing face from which
restraint and embarrassment had sud
denly fed "Mr Sheridan, you're
lovely to put it that way. 1t was an
imposition for me to have made you
bring me home, and after l went into
the house l decided I should have
walked. Besides, it wasn't three miles
to the car line. never thought Of itr'
NO." said Bibbs, earnestly. 81
didn't, either. I might have said some
thing If I'd thought of anything. I'm
talking now, though; l must remember
that, and not worry about it later. 1
think I'm talking, though it doesn't
sound intelligent even to me. [ made
up my mind that if I ever met you
again I'd turn on my voice and keep it
going, no matter what it said. ID
She interrupted him with laughter,
and Mary Vertrees' laugh was one
which Bibbs' father had declared, after
the house-warming, "a cripple would
crawl five miles to hear, And at the
merry lifting of it Bibbs' fathers son
took heart to forget some of his trepi-
dation. "Ill be any kind Of idiot" he
said, 'if you'll laugh at me some more.
It won't be difficult for me-"
She did; and Bibbs' cheeks showed a
little actual color, which Mary per-
ceived. They had passed the new house
without either of them showing-or
pOsseSsfng-any consciousness that it
had been the destination Of one of
them.
''I'll keep on talking" Bibbs con-
tinted, cheerfully, ''and you keep on
laughing. I'm amounting to something
in the world this afternoon. I'm max
ing noise, and that makes you make
music. Don't be bothered by my bleat-
ing out such things as that. I'm real
ly frightened. | don't remember talk
Ing as much as this more than once
or twice in my life. I suppose 1t was
always in me to do it, though, the first
time 1 met anyone who didn't know
me well enough not to listen"
But you're not really talking to |
me-" said Mary. you're just think
ing aloud"
NO" he returned, gravely. I'm
not thinking at all; I'm only making |
vocal sounds. [ seem to be the sub |
ject of what little meaning they pos
sess, and I'd like TO change 1t, but + |
don't know how to manage it,
sYou needn't change the subject on |
my account, Mr.. Sheridan" she said.
Not even if you really talked about |
yourself" She turned her face toward |
him as she spoke, and Bibbs caught |
his breath; he was pathetically amazed |
by the look she gave him. It was
glowing look, warmly friendly and I'M
Outstanding, and, what almost shocked
aim, it was an eagerly interested look.
Bibbs was not accustomed to anything
ike that
I-you-I-I'm-" he stammered,
and the faint color in his cheeks grew
almost vivid.
She was still looking at him, and
she saw the strange radiance that