Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-06-29
CHAPTER xvIII--contInued.

"How often Is that?"
The thing should make about sixty
eight disks a minute--a little more
than one second"
'And you're close to it?'
"0b, the workman has to sit in fits
lap" he said, turning to her more
gayly. 'The others don't mind. You
see. it's something wrong with me.
have an idiotic way Of fiinching from
the COMPOUNDED thing-I finch and
duck a little every time the crash
comes, and couldn't get over 1t.
was a treat to the other workmen in
that room; they'll be glad to see me
back. They used to laugh at me all
day long" N{
Mary's gaze was ayerted from Bibbs
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.
ut doesn't seem possible anyone
could do that to you," she said, in a
low voice. mo. He's not kind. He
ought to be proud to help you to the
leisure to write books; 1t should be mis-
greatest privilege to have them pub
lished for you"
Cant you see himT Bibbs inter
rupted, faint ripple of hllarity in his
voice. mo. It's just as well he never
got the But what's the use? I've
never written anything worth print
ing, and / never shall"
'.'You couldr she said
That's because you've never seen
the poor little things I've tried to do"
you wouldn't let me, but know
you could! All, it's pityw
at isn't" said Bibbs, honestly. az
never could-but you're the kindest
lady in this world, Miss Vertrees."
She gave him a flashing glance, and
At was as kind as he said she was.
s'That sounds wrong" she said, i'm
pulsively. II mean Miss vertrees.'
I've thought of you by your first name
ever since met you. Wouldn't you
rather call me 'Mary'?"
j Blbbs was dazzled; he drew long,
heep breath and did not speak.
!; Wouldn't you?" she asked, without
a trace Of coquetry.
'If cant" he said, in low voice.
4 "Ah, that's very prettyw 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 1t were
someone else. 1t sounds like laughter
on the eve Of 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.
1 NAnd the other time you did it"
Just over it," said Bibbs. 1.-TWO
years. But | don't mind the prospect
&Of a repetition SO much as"
\ $50 much as what?" she prompted.
Yas he stopped.
B Bibbs looked up at her shyly. 81
y1want to say 1t, but--but / come to
dead balk when try. L"
go on. Say, IT, whatever it is"
aout Uduc DiIu. lou WOuluuI KNOW
fhow to say anything shouldn't like"
81 doubt II you'd either like or dis
bike what I want to say" he returned,
fmoving uncomfortably in his chair and
: Hooking at his feet-he seemed to feel
awkward, thoroughly. "You see. all
1my llfe-until l met you-if l ever
Melt like saying anything, l wrote 1t in
kstead. Saying things is a new trick
4for me, and this-well, it's just this:
I used to feel as IL hadn't ever had
sAny sort Of life at all. I'd never
been OF use to anything or anybody,
and I'd never had anything, myself,
Except kind OF haphazard thinking.
,lBut now it's different-rm still of no
use to anybody. and don't see any
prospect of being useful, but | have
had something for myself. I've had
beautiful and happy experience, and
II 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 tile end of what he had to
sav with ewes still aWkwardly regard