The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-07-06
CHAPTER xiI-continued.

There came a second explosion, and
Uncle Gideon ran out into the hall.
Bibbs went to the head Of the great
staircase, and, looking down, discov-
cred the source of the disturbance.
Gldeon's grandson. a boy Of fourteen.
had brought his camera to the funeral
and was taking flashlights" Of the
Moor. Uncle Gideon, treasured by
Bibbs' explanation, would have re-
turned to finish his quotation from Bill
dad the Shuttle, but Bibbs detained
him, and after a little argument per-
suaded him to descend to the dining
room whittier Bibbs followed, after
closing the door of his fathers room.
He kept his eyes On Gideon after
ainner. automatically preventing sew
eral attempts on the part of that com
fortcr TO roascend the stairs; and II
was n relief to Bibbs when George an
nounced that an automobile was wait
ing to convey the ancient man and
his grandson to their train. They were
the last to leave, and when they had
gone Bibbs went signing to his own
room.
He stretched himself YEARLY upon
the bed, but presently rose, went to
the window, and looked for a long time
at the darkcned house where Mary
vertrees lived. Then he opened his
trunk, took therefrom a small notebook
half filled with fragmentary scrib-
blings, and began to write:
Laughter after q funeral. In this re-
action people will laugh at anything and
Mt nothing. The Band plays a dirge on
the way to the cemetery. but when II
turns back, and the mourning carriages
are out OF hearing. 1t strikes up. Dark
town Is Out Tonight" That Is natural
but there are women whose laughter is
Ike the whirring of whips. -.
Beauty IL mo- out OF place among grave
zones. 1t Ii not out Of place anywhere.
Gut a woman who has been betrothed to
. man would not look beautiful at his
funeral. A woman might look beautiful,
though. at the funeral of a man whom
she had known and liked. And In that
case, too. she would probably not want
TO talk II she drove horne from the ceme-
terry with his brother: nor would she
want the brother to talk. . Neverthe-
hess. too much silence Is open to suspi-
cion. II may be r~eticence. or 1t may be a
vacuum. 1t may be dignity. or It may be
false teeth. -.
silence can be golden? Yes. But per-
haps II q woman OF the world should find
herself by accident sitting beside a man
for the length Of time II must necessarily
take two slow old horses to jog three
miles. she might expect that man 10 say
something of some sort! II he did not
even try, but sat every step of the way
as dumb as q frozen fish. she might
think him a frozen fish. And she might
be right. h might be right II she
thought him about as pleasant a COM
panion-as Bildad the shuhite!
Bibbs closed his notebook, replacing
u In his trunk. Then. after a period
sf melancholy contemplation, he un-
dressed, put on q dressing gown and
ssippers. and went softly out into the
Aall-t0 his fathers door. Upon the
haoor was q tray which Bibbs had sent
George, earlier IN the evening, to place
9pon q table In ~Sheridan's room-but
<he food was untouched. Bibbs stood
Matching outside the door for several
|minutes. There came no sound from
within, and he went back to his own
|eoem ana to bed.
In the morning 10 woke to a state
~ being Hitherto unknown In his ex-
|peyience. Sometimes In the process
Ok waking there II q little pause
|s1eep his gone. but coherent thought
Has not begun. It a the moment. az
- eax hefosn Ne Aromembers and
~ tbs mt time A Bibbs' life 1t came
"a him bringing Z vague happiness.
fToWever, X was q brief visitation and
~ cono before ne ha1 1nished dress
Iar. Il IN 3 1fffIs trail, TIE pleased
f~6cn11ection ~ n AMI the puzzle Of II,
,rh(2> remnined nnsoIved. And, In
fnnk vakips uapokly = ~ mornins =