Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-08-17
CHAPTER xxx.


upon the sidewalk: An ample young
woman, placid of face; black-clad,
thin young man, whose expression was
one Of habitual anxiety, habitual wari-
ness and habitual eagerness. He pro-
PEELED perambulator containing the
third-and all three were newly
cleaned, Sundayfed, and made fit to
dine with the wife's relatives.
How'd you like for me to be that
young fella, mamma?" the husband
whispered. He's one of the sons, and
there amt but two left now"
The wife stared curiously at Bibbs
well, l don't know" she returned.
He looks to me like he had his own
troubles"
Il expect he has, like anybody else"
said the young husband, 'but guess
we could stand a good deal if we had
his money"
well, maybe, if you keep on the
way you been, baby III be as we'll fixed
as the Sheridans. You can't tell" She
glanced back at Bibbs, who had turned
stopped over, like"
$50 much money in his pockets it
makes him sag, guess" said the
young husband, with bitter admira
ton.
Mary, happening to glance from a
window, saw Bibbs coming. and she
started, clasping her hands together
in a sudden alarm. She met him at
the door,
"Bibbsr' she cried. "What is the
wrong when L You look" She
paused, and he came in, not lifting his
eyes to hers. Always when he crossed
that threshold he had come with his
head up and his Wistful gaze seeking
hers. "Ah. poor bOy!' she said, with a
gesture of understanding and pity. g!
know what it isv'
He followed her into the room where
they always sat, and sank into chair
"YOu needn't tell me-" she said
''They've made you give up. Your ia
theirs won-you're going to do what
he wants. You've given up"
Still without looking at her, he in
clined his head in affirmation.
She gave a little cry of compassion,
and came and sat near him. "Bibbs,"
she said. II can be glad of one thing,
though it's selfish. can be glad you
came straight to me. It's more to me
than even if you'd come because you
were happy" She did not speak again
for a little while; then she said
"Bibbs-dear-could you tell me about
it? Do you want to-"
Still he did not look up, but in a
voice, shaken and husky, he asked her
a question so grOtesque that at first she
thought she had misunderstood his
words.
Mary" he said, "could you marry
me?"
''What did you say, Bibbs?" she
asked, quietly.
His tone and attitude did not change.
"Wil you marry me?"
Both her hands leaped to her cheeks
she grew red and then white. She
rose slowly and moved backward from
him, staring at him, at first incred-
ulously, then with an intense perplex-
ity more and more luminous in her
wide eyes; it was like spoken ques-
ton. The room filled with strange
ness in the long silence-the two were
so strange to each other. At last she
said:
"What made you say that?"
He did not answer.
gibbs, look at me" Her voice was
loud and clear. "What made you say
that? Look at me!'
He could not look at her, and he
could not speak.
"What was it that made your? she
said. Il want you to tell me-"
She went closer to him, her eyes
ever brighter and wider with that in
tensity of wonder. you've given up
to your father" she said, slowly,
"and then you come to ask me-" She
broke off. gibbs, do you want me to
marry your
Yes he said, just audibly.
Nor she cried. ''YOu do not. Then
what made you ask me? What is it
that's happened?"
Nothing"
"Wait," she said. "Let me think.
It's something that happened since our
walk this morning-yes since you left
me at noon. Something happened
that She stopped abruptly, with
tremulous murmur of amazement and
dawning comprehension. She remem-
bered that Sibyl had gone to the new
house.