The Elk Mountain pilot., 1916-10-19
CHAPTER VII Continued.

"Bibbst" Ediths voice was angry,
and her color deepened suddenly as
she came into the room, preceded by a
scent Of viOlets much more powerful
than that warranted by the actual
bunch of them upon the lapel of her
coat
Bibbs did not turn his head. but
wagged it solemnly, seeming depressed
By the poem. Pretty young, isn't it?'
he said. There must have been some
thing about your looks that got the
prize, Edith; can't believe the poem
did it,
She glanced hurriediy over her shoul-
der and spoke sharply, but in n low
voice: II don't think it's very nice of
you to bring 1t up at all, Bibbs. didn't
want them to frame it, and 1 wish to
goodness papa'd quit talking about 1t;
but here, that night. after the dinner,
didn't he go and read 1t aloud to the
whole crowd of 'eml l thought I'd die
sf shamer'
Bibbs looked grieved. "The poem
sn't that bad, Edith. You see, you
we're only seventeen when you wrote
It"
.Oh. hush upr' she snapped. II wish
1t had burnt my fingers the first time
{ touched It. Then 1 might have had
sense enough to leave it where it was.
I had no business to take it, and I've
been ashamed"
mo, no." ne said, comfortingly. "It
vas the very most flattering thing ever
happened to me. 1t was almost my
last flight before I went to the machine
shop, and it's pleasant to think some
body liked it enough to"
"But don't like it," she exclaimed.
Il don't even understand it-and papa
made SO much fuss over its getting the
prize. just hate it! The truth is 1
oever dreamed it d get the prize
"You have to live 1t down, Edith.
Perhaps abroad and under another
oame you might find"
"Oh. hush up! I'll hire someone to
steal it and burn it the first chance 1
get" She turned away petulantly.
moving to the door. "Id like to think
I could hope to hear the last of it be-
tore der
Edith he called, as she went into
he hall.
whats the matter?"
II want to ask you: Do really look
better. or have you just got used to
meT'
What on earth do you mean?" she
said, coming back as far as the thresh-
old.
when I first came you couldn't look
at me-" Bibbs explained, in his imper-
sonal way. But I've noticed you look
at me lately. l wondered if I'd"
Its because you look so much bet
ter" she told him, cheerfully. This
month you've been here's done you no
end of good. Anybody could look at
you now. Bibbs, and not-not get"
"Sick9"
"Well-aImost thatv' she laughed.
"And you're getting a better color
every day, Bibbs; you really are.
You're really getting along splendidly."
Tin afraid So" he said, ruefully.
Afraid SO! Well. II you aren't the
queerest! 1 suppose you mean father
might send you back to the machine
shop II you get well enough. 1 heard
him say something about 1t the night of
the" The Jingle of u distant bell In
terrupted her, and she glanced at her
watch. Bobby Lamhorn! I'm going
!, TO motor him out to look at place in
the country. Afternoon, Bibbs"
When she had gone. Bibbs mooned
pessimistically from shelf to shelf. his
eye wandering among the titles of the
books. The library consisted almost
entirely of handsome uniform edi-
lions" They made an effective deco
ration for the room. all these big. ex.
pensive books. with glossy binding
here and there twinkling a reflection OF
~ flames that cracked in tho splendid