Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1916-09-29

"WelI-you mean he was so much
fn-you mean he thought so much OF
you" The words were fAe0nceivably
awkward upon Sheridan's tongue; he
seemed to be in doubt even about pro-
nouncing them, but after a CHASTITY
pause he bravely repeated them. "You
mean he thought so much of you that
you just couldn't stand him aroundy
mo! He was sorry for me. He
cared for me; he was fond of me; and
he'd respected me-too much! In the
finest way he loved me, If you like,
and he'd have done anything on earth
for me, as / would for him, and as
he knew / would. It was beautiful,
Mr.. Sheridan she said. But the
cheap, bad things one has done seem
always to come back-they wait, and
pull you down when you're happiest.
Bibbs found me out, you see; and he
wasn't in love- with me at all"
"He wasn't? Well, it seems to me
he gave up everything he wanted to
dot was fool stuff, but he certainly
wanted it mighty bad-he just threw
it away and walked right up and took
the job he swore he never would
just for you. And it looks to me as
if a man that'd do that must think
quite heap o. the girl he does it for!
You say it was only because he was
sorry, but let me tell you there's only
one girl he could feel that sorry for!
| Yes, sir!''
mo, no." she said. gibbs isn't like
other men-he would do anything for
anybody"
Sheridan grinned. Perhaps not so
much as you think, nowadays he said
For instance, got kind Of suspicion
he doesn't believe in sentiment in bust
ness But that's 'neither here nor
there. What he wanted was, just plain
and simple, for you to marry him.
Well, was afraid his thinkin' so much
OF you had kind o. sickened you of
him-the way it does sometimes. But
| from the way you talk, understand
| that amt the trouble" He coughed,
and his voice trembled q little. "Now
here, Miss Vertrees, / don't have to
tell you-because you see things easy
know I got no business comm to
you like this. but had to make Bibbs
go my way instead of his own had
to do it for the sake o. my business
and on his own account, too-and |
expect you got some idea how it hurt
him to give up. Well, he's made good.
He didn't come in half-hearted or
| ho 0o1 3n-
there isn't anything in it to hrns, You
can see he's just shut his teeth on it
and goin' ahead with dust in his mouth.
You see, one way of lOokin' at it, he's
got nothin' to work for. And 1t seems
to me like it cost him your friendship,
and l Observation-Disclosures what
hurt him the worst. Now you said
we'd talk plain. Why can't you let
| him come back?"
| She covered her face desperately
with her hands. 81 can't!'
He rose, defeated. and looking it.
"Well, I mustn't press you," he said.
gently.
At that she cried out, and dropped
her hands and let him see her face.
l"Ah! He was only sorry for mel"
He gazed at her intently. Mary was
proud, but she had fatal honesty, and
it confessed the truth OF her now; she
was helpless. 1t was SO clear that
even Sheridan, marveling and amazed.
was able to see it. Then a change
came over him; gloom fell from him,
and he grew radiant
'Don't! Don'tg' she cried. .You
mustn't"
81 won't tell him." said Sheridan,
from the doorway. II won't tell any
body anything!"