The Elk Mountain pilot., 1916-10-05

I haven't had scarcely even time to
write more than just a line to ask how
you were gettin' along, but told Edith
to write. the weeks 1 couldn't and l
asked Jim, too, and they both said
they would. SO suppose you've Kept
up pretty we'll on the home news"
"Oh, yes"
What l think you need" said the
mother, gravely. sis to uven up 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, too
He was talkin' over bis plans for
you-"
"Plans?' Bibbs, turning on his side,
shielded his eyes from the light with
his hand, so that he might see her bet
ter. "What-' He paused. What
plans is he making for me, motherT'
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.
| / don't feel as IL / had any call, ex-
actly, to go into 1t; 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 1t. "You
| get good nap, now. so as to be all
rested up for tonight"
| "You-you mean-he-" Bibbs STAN
mered. having begun to speak too
quickly. Checking himself, he drew a
long breath, then asked, quietly, Does
father expect me to come downstairs
this EVENING""
"well, I think he does" she an,
swered "You see, it's the house
warming as he calls 1t, and he said he
thinks all our 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 llven up. You don't feel too bad
TO come down, 90 your
| "Mother?"
"well?"
Take a good look at me-" he said
| "Oh, see here.' she cried with
brusk cheerfulness. You're not SC
bad OF as you think you are. BiDbs
| You're on the mend, and it won't do
you any harm to please your"
at isn't that" he interrupted. Hon
estly, I'm only afraid 1t might spoil
somebody's appetite. Edith"
~ told you the child was too sensi-
tive" she interrupted, in turn. You're
plenty good-lookln' enough young
man for anybody! You look like you
been through long spell and begun to
get well, and that's all there is to it,
"Al right. I'll come to the party.
II the rest of you can stand 1t, can!'
"Itll do you good" she returned,
| rustllng into the hall. "Now take a
nap, and I'll send one O. the help to
wake you in time for you to get
dressed up before dinner. You go to
sleep right away. now, Blbbs!'
He woke refreshed. stretched him
self gingerly-as one might have care
against too quick or too long pull
upon frayed elastic-and, getting to
his feet, went blinking to the window
and touched the shade so that it flew
up, letting in a pale sunset.
He looked out into the lemon-colored
light and smiled wanly at the next
house, as Edith's grandlose phrase
came to mind, 'the old Vertrees coun-
| try mansion" 1t stood in a broad
lawn which was separated from the
Sheridans' by a young hedge; and 1t
was big. square, plain old box Of a
house with a giant salt-cellar atop for
| cupola. Paint had been spared for n
| long time, and no one could have put
| name to the color of it, 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 little knoll upon which stood
small rustic summer house.' 1t
was almost on 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 thin light 1t was desolate. the color
Of dust, and hung with haggard vines
which had lost their leaves.
Bibbs looked at 1t with grave sym
pathy, probably feeling some kinship
with anything SO dismantled: then he
turned to cheval glass beside the