Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-05-13
CHAPTER XIV.

- S'"v -" ~sv'
Mary was the picture Of a lady aus.
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 sufhced
for each to seem to say. by look and at. Z
titude "Why, it's you!"
Then they both spoke at once, each
hurriediy pronouncing the others
name as If about to deliver a mes
sage Of Importance. Then both came
to stop simultaneously, but Bibbs
made a heroic effort, and as they be
gan to walk on together be contrived
10 find his voice.
"I-I-hate a frozen fish myself"
he said. II think three miles was too
long for you to put up with one"
Good gracious" she cried. turning
10 him 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 decided I should have
walked. Besides, it wasn't three miles
to the car line. never thought of itv1
mo-" said Bibbs, earnestly. II
didn't, either. might have saidsome-
thing If I'd thought Of anything. I'm
talking now, though; ! must remember
that, and not worry about IL later. \
think I'm talking, though It doesn't
sound intelligent even to me. I made
up my mind that IL l ever. met you
again I'd turn on my voice and keep IL
going, no matter what it said. l."
She interrupted him with laughter.
and Mary vertrees' laugh was one
which Bibbs' father had declared, after
the house-warming, "a cripple would
crawl hve miles to hear" And at the
merry lifting of It Bibbs' fathers son
took heart to forget some Of his trepi.
dalton. "I'll be any kind Of idiot,, he
said, III you'll laugh at me some more.
It won't be difficult for me-" ts
She did; and Bibbs' cheeks showed
little actual color, which Mary per.
ceived. They had passed the new house
without either Of them showing-ol
possesslng-any consciousness that II
had been the destination Of one Of
them.
"I'll keep on talking" Bibbs con.
tinued, cheerfully, "and you keep on
laughing. I'm amounting to something
in the world this afternoon. I'm max.
ing a noise. and that makes you make
music Don't be bothered by my bleat.
Ing out such things as that. I'm real.
" frightened. don't remember talk.
ing az much as this more than once
or twice in NY life. suppose It was
always in me to do It. though, the first
time 1 met anyone who didn't know
me we'll enough not to listen"
but you're not really talking 70
me- said Mary. You're just think.
Ing aloud"
mo" he returned, gravely ''I'm
not thinking at all; I'm only making
vocal sounds. l seem to be the sub.
ject Of what little meaning they pos
sess. and I'D like to change it, but !
don't know how to manage It,"
"You needn't change the subject on
my account, Mr.. Sheridan she said.
Not even il you really talked about
YOURSELF" She turned her face toward
him as she spoke, and Bibbs caught
bis breath; he was pathetically amazed
by the look she gave him. 1t was .
glowing look. warmly friendly and IN.
Outstanding. and, what almost shocked
him, it was an eagerly interested look.
Bibbs was not accustomed to anything
like that.
"I-you-I-l'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
came into his face. There was some
thing about him. too, that explained
how queer" many people might think
him: but he did not seem queer" to
Mary vertrees; he seemed the most
quantity natural person she had ever
met.
He waited, and became cohefeat.
you say something now he said. II
don't even belong in the chorus. an
here am. trying to sing the funny
mans solo! You"
no." she interrupted. I'D rathee
play your accompaniment"
"I'll stop and listen to 1t, Thea
.Perhaps-". she began. but aftQ
pausing thoushtfully she made Z -
ture with her mum. indicating 3 hfUo
brick church which they wefe ~
preaching. do you zee that church.
tr. Shefidany' #
Ito be CoatinueO