Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-09-28

Mary gaze was averted from Btbbs
now; she sat with her elbow resting on
the arm Of the chair, her lifted hand
pressed against her cheek. She was
staring at the wall, and her eyes had
a burning brightness in them.
at doesn't seem possible anyone
could do that to you" she said, in
low voice. mo. He's not kind. He
ought to be proud to help you to the
leisure to write books; it should be his
greatest privilege to have them pub
lished for you"
Cant you see him?' Bibbs inter
rupted, faint ripple of hilarity in his
voice. mo. It's just as we'll he never
got the But Wha. . the use? I've
never written anything worth print
ing, and l never SHALL
"You could.' she said.
That's because you've never seen
the poor little things I've tried to do"
"You wouldn't let me, but I know
you could! All, it's a pityw
''It Isn't said Bibbs, honestly. 81
never could-but you're the kindest
lady in this world, Miss Vertrees"
She gave him a flashing glance, and
it was as kind as he said she was.
THAT sounds wrong" she said, i'm
pulsively II mean Miss Vertrees.'
I've thought of you by your first name
ever since I met you. Wouldn't you
rather call me 'Mary'?"
Bibbs was dazzled; he drew a long,
deep breath and did not speak.
wouldn't your she asked, without
trace Of coquetry.
eff I CAM he said, in low voice.
"Ah, that's very pretty she
laughed You're such an honest per-
son, it's pleasant to have you gallant
sometimes, by way of variety" She
became grave again Immediately. 81
hear myself laughing as If it were
someone else 1t sounds like laughter
on the eve Of a great calamity" She
got up restlessly, crossed the room and
leaned against the WALL facing him.
you've got to go back to that placer
He nodded.
"And the other time you did it"
Gust over It," said Bibbs. 1.-TWO
years. But I don't mind the prospect
of repetition so much as"
$50 much as what?" she prompted,
as he stopped.
Bibbs looked up at her shyly. 81
want to say it, but-but I come to a
| dead balk when try. /"
go on. Say, it. whatever it is"
1t,
| how to say anything I shouldn't like"
II doubt If you'd either like or dis
like what want to say" he returned,
moving uncomfOrtably in his chair and
looking at his feet-he seemed to feel
awkward, thoroughly. You see, all
my lfe-until 1 met you-if l ever
felt like saying anything, wrote it in
stead. Saying things is a new trick
for me, and this-well, it's just this:
l used to feel as If I hadn't ever had
any sort of a life at all. I'd never
been Of use to anything or anybody,
and I'd never had anything, myself,
except a kind of haphazard thinking.
But now it's different-Pm still of no
use to anybody, and l don't see any
prospect of being useful, but I have
had something for myself. I've had
a beautiful and happy experience, and
it makes my life seem to bel mean
I'm glad I've lived 1t! That's all; it's
| your letting me be near you sometimes,
as you have, this strange, beautiful,
happy little while"
He did not once look up, and reached
| silence, at the end Of what he had to
| say, with eyes still awkwardly regard
ing his feet. She did not speak, but
| a soft rustling of her garments let him
| know that she had gone back to her
| chair again. The house was still; the
shabby old room was so quiet that the
sound of a creaking in the wall
seemed sharp and loud.
And yet when Mary spoke at last
her voice was barely audible. eff you
| think 1t has been-happy-to be
friends with me-you'd want Toto
make it last"
YES" he gulped.
'Rut you make that kind of speech
to me because you think it's over"
He tried to evade her "Oh, a day
laborer can't come in his overalls-"
mo" she interrupted, with a sud
den sharpness. you said what you
did because you think the shops going
to kill you"
"No, nor
Eyes, you do think thatr' She rose
to her feet again and came and stood
before him. Don't deny it, Bibbs
Well, if you meant what you said
| and you did mean it, 1 know It'll
you're not going to go back to the san
itarium. The shop shan't hurt you.
It shan'tp'
And now Bibbs looked up. She stood
before him, straight and tall, splendid
in generous strength, her eyes shining
and wet.
IF l mean that much to you,' she
cried, "they can't harm you! Go back
to the shop-but come to me when
your days work is done. Let the ma
chimes crash their sixty-eight times a
| minute, but remember each crash that
| deafens you is that much nearer the
evening and mer
He stumbled to his feet. "You say"
he gasped
every evening, dear Bibbsw