The Elk Mountain pilot., 1917-01-04
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 a perambulator containing the
third-and all three were newly
cleaned, Sundayfied. and made fit to
dine with the wite's relatives.
How'd you like for me to be that
young fella, mamma?" the husband
whispered. Hes 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"
II expect he has, like anybody else"
said the young husband, "but l guess
we could stand a good deal If we had
his money"
"Well, maybe, If you keep on the
way you been. baby II be as well fixed
as the Sheridans. You can't tell" She
glanced back at Bibbs, who had turned
north. He walks kind of slow and
stopped over, like"
80 much money in his pockets it
makes him sag. l guess" said the
young husband. with bitter admira-
ton.
Mary. happening to glance from
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
matter? I saw something was terribly
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. 81
know what 1t ISL
He followed her into the room where
they always sat. and sank into a chair.
You needn't tell me-" she said.
They've made you give up. Your IA
Tiers 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. l can be glad you
came straight to me. It's more to me
than even II you'd come because you
were happy" She did not speak again
for little while; then she said:
"Bibbs-dear-could you tell me about
It? Do you want tor"
Still he did not look up, but in n
voice. shaken and husky, he asked her
n question SO grotesque that at first she
thought she had misunderstood his
words.
Mary" he said, could you marry
meY
What did you say, Bibbs7' she
asked, quietly.
His tone and attitude did not change.
"will you marry mef"
Both her hands leaped to her cheeks
I-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; 1t was like spoken ques-
ton. The room filed with strange
ness in the long silence-the two were
80 strange to each other. At last she
said:
What made you say thatT
He did not answer.
"Bibbs, 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 1t that made you ~ she
said. Il want you to tell me-"
She went closer to him, ber 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 of. "Bibbs, do you want me to
marry your
"Yes," he said, Just audibly.
Nor she cried. You do not. Then
what made you ask me7 What is it
that's happenedT
Nothing"
| Wait" she said. Let me think.
I It's something that happened since our
walk this morning-yes, since you left
me at noon. Something happened
that" She stopped abruptly. with n
tremulous murmur Of amazement and
dawning comprehension. She reDlem-
bered that Sibyl had gone to the new
| house.
Bibbs swallowed painfully and con-
trived to say, Il do do want you to
marry me, if-if-you could"
She looked at him. and slowly shook
her head. "Bibbs, do you" Her
voice was as unsteady as his-little
more than a whisper. do you think
Pm-in love with your"
NO" he said.
Somewhere in the still air of the
room there was whispered word; 1t
| did NO. seem to coma from Maru,a