Show I i BOOTH OR OF DF i N M MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE i LATHE THE CONQUEST EST OF CANAAN PENROD ETC j 1 jars jars- BY YI HARPER 1 EQ I SYN SYNOPSIS SIS I CHAPTER I I ans an's attempt to a business man of ot his son BOH Bibbs Bibb by taming starting him In the machine shop ends and In Ibba b. b going Iu to a sanitarium a nervous wreck leck I CHAPTER On II his return Bibbs Bibba la Is Lot coet t at too tho tb station by his sister Edith i CHAI CHATTER CHAPTER TEn He Ill finds himself an InQ In Inconsiderable In- In Q considerable and unconsidered figure inthe In Inthe tb the New House of ot the Sheridan He lie Rees Bees Mary MarT Vertrees looking at him him from froma II a summer I h house hous iuso next door 1 Roscoe was a literal you young g wan man all and bonds and be he had bad been brought rought up to believe that when a man J be he married and settled down be tie knew that t young married people might Ight have friendships like his hla wife's wite's Z for lor Lamborn Lamhorn but bat Sibyl and Lamborn never l they were re always very fact of with each other Roscoe Rosco would have boea troubled if it Sibyl had firer ter told Lamhorn Lamborn she hoped ho he w wad were Yes Yea were we're neighbors he said Bald awkwardly I live Il rosa Why nor nol she sho exclaimed and Seemed ze m d startled Your mother told me this tola afternoon that you lived at Dome me Slowly a deep color came into mer cheek No he said my wife and I 1 lived with the old folks the first year year- but floats fats all aJl Edith and Jim Jim live Uve with them 0 of t course I 1 I I see she abe said the deep color mill deepening as she abe turned from him and saw BAW written upon a iii card before i Ithe 10 gentleman at her left lett the name name Mr James Sheridan Jr And from t moment Roscoe had little enough cause Quae for wondering what he ought to reply to her disturbing coquetries lit Ur James Sheridan had bad been waiting for tor the dazzling visitor to o get through with old Roscoe Boscoe and andye give ye ve a bachelor a chance Old Roe Roscoe Ros Ros- coe oe e was the younger but he had al alays always al- al ways prays ays been the steady wheel horse of ot ote the e family As their father habitually boasted both brothers were capable working bard ard working young business businessmen men Physically neither was of ot the height breadth or depth of ot the father Both wore wore ore young business mens men's mustaches and nd either could have sat for the tailor tailor- hop shop lithographs of ot young business men wearing caring rich In dark mix ures tures I Jim approving warmly of ot hi hl ble G t or ra profile perceived her ber wrens acceus of 01 color which Increased his jion lon on that old Roscoe saying ito you yon Miss Vertrees he asked These e young married men are mighty forward orward nowadays but you let em em made make you blush Am I blushing she said Are you ou sure surer And with that she gave him Im ample opportunity to make sure sore repeating with interest the look wasted upon Roscoe Rosco I think you yoa must FIust must be mistaken she continued I think its it's your brother who is s blush blush- Ing g. g Ive I've thrown him Into Ioto confusion contusion How now She laughed and then leaning to him ja p little said in a tone as confidential as t s she could make it under cover of ot the uproar By Dy trying to begin with tim m a courtship I meant for tor you I This might well be a style new to Jim and it was He supposed it a nonsensical form of ot badinage and yet it took his breath He realized that he be wished what she said to be the literal truth and he was instantly snared b bj that at realization By George he said I guest youre you're the kind of ot girl that can cnn say yes any tiling yes and get away awal with It too I II 1 I She laugh laughed again In In her way so that he be could not tell lell whether she was laughing at him or at herself herselt or at the nonsense she was talking and she aha shei shet t ald i But you see I 1 dont don't care whether I get zet a away with it or not I wish wish y you'd ud f tell IJ me frankly if It you think Ive I've got aas a aas as chance to get away with you your 1 More ore Uk like if youve you've got a chance to to- to get away from me mel Jim was inspired to reply Not one In Jn the world especially espe espe- dally after beginning gf by making fun of f t me like that I mightn't be so 80 much in fun tun aa as 8 you Jon ou think she said regarding him with sudden gravity Well Wel said Id Jim I In simple honesty youre you're a funny fancy Her gravity continued an instant longer loner I 1 mai may not turn out to be funny tunny for you So long as aa you yoa turn tom out ut to be anything anything any any- thing at nt all for me I expect I can to be satisfied satisfied- ed And With that to his own surprise it was his bla turn to blush whereupon she laughed again Yes he he said plaintively not wholly lacking intuition I can see nee youre you're the tho sort of ot girl that would laugh the minute you see a man mall really means Anything LaughT Laughr she cried gayly Why It might be a mutter matter of ot life lICe and death But If It you want tra tragedy edy Id I'd better put I the question at once considering the I eI i made d brother b I Jim was dazed She seemed to be playing a little game of ot mockery and nonsense with him but he had bad glimpses of or a Hashing flashing danger In it ho was but too sensible of ot being outclassed out cJ classed and had bad somewhere a consciousness consciousness con con- that he could never quito quite know this giddy and alluring lady no matter how long it pleased her fc t. play with him But he be mightily wanted her herto herto to keep on playing with him Put what question 1 he said breath breath- lessly lessy As you yoa are a new neighbor of ot mine and of ot my family she returned speaking slowly and with a cross ex severity I think It would be bewell bewell bewell well for me we to know at once whether you are already walking out with any young oung lady or n not t. t Mr Sheridan think well Are you spoken spoken- fort fori fortNot for Not yet he be gasped Are you yoa Nor she cried and rid with that they both beth laughed again apio and the pastime proceeded Increasing both In 10 its g ty and in its gravity Observing Its IbI continuance Mr I Robert Robert Rob Rob- ob obert ert Lamhorn opposite turned from a alively alively lively conversation with Edith and remarked remarked remarked re re- re- re marked co covertly to Sibyl that Miss Mw Vcrs Vertrees Vertrees Vcr Ver Ver- Ver trees s was waa starting rather picturesquely picturesque picturesque- ly with Jim And he added languid languid- languidly ly 17 Do you yoa suppose e she would For the moment gave no sign o of f having heard beard him but brit seemed Interested Inter inter- e ested sted In la the clasp of ot a long rope of ot pearls a loop of ot which she was allowing allow ing lag to swing awing from her fingers restIng restIng resting rest- rest Ing her elbow upon the table and following fol tot l owing lowing with her eyes the twinkle of ot diamonds and platinum In the clasp at atthe atthe atthe the end of ot the loop She wore many Jewels She was pretty but hers was not the kind of ot prettiness to be he loaded with too sumptuous accessories and Jeweled head-dresses head are dangerous dangerous- they may emphasise the wrongness of ot the wrong wearer I said Miss Vertrees seems to be starting pretty strong strung with Jim repeated repeated re re- re- re p Mr Ir Lamborn I heard beard you you There was a latent I discontent always somewhere In 10 her eyes ees no matter what she threw upon I I t the he surface to cover It It and Just now I she did not care to cover it she looked sullen Starting any stronger than you did with Edith she Inquired Oh Ob keep the he be said cross cross- l ly y off of ot course course You haven't been making her ber see it this evening precisely evening precisely said Sibyl looking at him steadily Youve talked to her for for tor- For rH heavens heaven's sake he ha began I Keep Creep me we peace i Well what have you Just been doIng do- do tog Ing t Sh he said Listen to your our fa fa- ther ln W. W Sheridan was booming and braying louder than ever the orchestra having begun to play The Rosary to his vast content contentI I count them tee la over dum he be roared beating the measures measures' with his bis fork J Each ach hour a pearl each pearl tee tee-dum tee du tum-dum tum What's the matter of all you folks you sing Miss Vertrees I bet a thousand thou thou- thousand sand dollars you sing II Mr Ir SherI Sheridan n ll she said turning cheerfully from the ardent Jim you I dont don't know what you Interrupted Your son isn't used to my rough ways and my soldiers soldier's wooing frightens him but I think he was about to say something some some- something thing important Ill say iy something Important to him if It he be dO doesn't suU the father tather threatened more mOle delighted with her than ever By UBy gosh if It I was his age or age or a widower right norv now now- Oh cried Mary If It they'd only make less Jess noise I I 1 want Mrs Mra Sheridan to hear Shed say the same he shouted Shed tell me rne I was mighty slow if It I 1 couldn't get get ahead o o 0 Jim Why when I 1 was his hla age age age- You must listen n to your our father tather Mary Iary Interrupted turning to Jim who had grown red again Hes going to tell us how bow wh when n he was your age uge he be made wade those two blades of grass grow out oat of a teacup teacup and and you could see lee ee for tor yourself he be didn't get let them out of ot his sleeve r At that herldan Sheridan po n the tare e table i till it Jumped Look here young lady he roared Some o 0 these days Im I'm either to slap you or Jou-or you you-or or Im I'm to kiss you yoa I Edith looked aghast haat she was afraid this was Inde Indeed d too awful but Mary Vertrees VertreS burst into ringing laughter Both Doth she cried cried Both The oneto one oneto ne neto to make mate me forget the other otherl But Dut which which- be he began beian and th then n suddenly gave forth such stentorian of ot mirth that for once the tho whole table stopped to listen Jim he roared if It you dont don't propose to that girl tonight Ill I'll send end you back to the machine shop with And down down yn among the retainers retainers retain retain- ers era by the sugar pump works and watching Mary Vertrees as a ragged boy in the street ml might bt watch a rich little girl in IQ a garden garden garden-Bibbs a e eBl Bl Bibbs bs beard 1 A He he heard heard and rd- rd and nd I h he e knew what what his 1 ia- ia tiler's ther's plans were now CHAPTER VI Mrs Vertrees sat up for tor her daughter daugh ter tar Mr lr Vertrees having retired after atter a restless evening not much soothed by bythe bythe the society of ot his But Mrs Vertrees had a long vigil of ot it t She sat through the slow night hoorIn hours hoor In a stiff little chair under the gaslight in her own room which was directly over the front hall There book in hand she employed the time In her own though it was her belief that she was reading Madame de do Her lIer thoughts went backward Into Ioto her life Ilfe and Into her husbands husband's and the deeper Into the past they went the tha brighter the pictures they brought her herand herand herand and and there Is la s tragedy Like her husband husband hus hus- band she thought backward because she did not dare think forward definite ly Iy What thinking forward this troubled troubled troubled trou trou- bled couple ventured took the form o on oC of oCa ofa a n slender hope bope which neither of ot them them could have borne to hear bear put in words word and yet they had talked it over day dad after day from the very hour wh when n they tIley heard Sheridan was to build his new house next door For For so so quickly quickly quick quick- ly Jy does any Ideal of ot human behavior become an antique their antique their youth was of ot the Innocent old days so dead of breeding and gentility ft and no craft cratt had been more trained upon them than that of ot talking about things without mentioning them Herein Here Here- in was marked the most vital difference differ dUrer- ence between Mr and Mrs Mrss Vertrees and their big new neighbor Sheridan though his youth was of ot the same ame epoch knew nothing of such matters He had dad been chopping wood for tor the morning fire Ore in the country grocery while they were still dancing I It was after atter- one o'clock when Mrs lira I Vertrees heard beard steps and the deU ate clinking of ot the the- key in th the s I then with the opening of ot tt me door I Marys Mary's laugh and Yes Yes f If you arent aren't afraid tomorrow afraid I The door closed lOe and she ebe rushed upstairs upstairs up up- stairs b bringing with her ber a breath of t tc c cold ld and bracing air Into her mothers mother's room Yes ahe she said Mid before Mrs Mra Vertrees could speak he brought me borne She let Jet her cloak fall tall upon the bed I end Ind nd drawing an old velvet red rocking chair forward sat beside her mother After giving her a light pat upon tie the e shoulder and a hearty kiss upon the cheek Mar Mary exclaimed when Mrs Vertrees had expressed a hope r I Ill I'll II I Why Dont Don't You Ask Me Mel that she had enjoyed the evening and had bad not caught cold Why dont don't you youa a ask k me This Inquiry obviously made her mother uncomfortable I 1 don't dont dont don't- she faltered Ask you what Mary How I got along and what hes he's like n Mary Oh Ob it Isn't distressing said Mary And I 1 got along long so fast fast tast- She broke broko off to laugh continuing then But I that's the way I went at it of or course We Weare are are in 10 a hurry arent aren't we My y dear I dont don't know what to to- to What to make of ot anything Mary finished for her So that's all right Now Ill I'll tell you all about it t It was gorgeous and deafening and teetotal We could have lived a year on it ft I think the orchids alone would have lasted us os a couple of ot months There they were before me but I couldn't steal em and sell em and so well so-well well BO so BOI soI I did what I could She leased back and laughed reassuringly reassuringly reas reas- to her troubled mother mollier It seemed to be a success what success what I could she be said clasp clasping log her ber hands bands behind her neck and stirring the rocker to motIon mo mo- tIon as a rhythmic accompaniment to her narrative The Tho girl Edith and her sister law law tn-law w Mrs Roscoe Sheridan were too anxious about the effect of things on me The fathers father's worth a bushel of ot both of ot them If he knew koew ItSe's It ItHe's Hes He's what he ho is ls I like him She paused reflectively continuing interested In that Lamhorn Lamborn boy hes he's good looking good and not stupid but I think he's hes hes he's She Interrupted herself with a cheery outcry OhI Oh I mustn't be calling him names Ithe's If It hes he's trying to make Edith like him I 1 ought to respect him as a colleague I dont don't understand a thing youre you're talking about Mrs Mra Vertrees corn com L I pl In a. a I All AU the better Well Wen hes he's mesa a bad Jo lot that Lamborn Lamhorn boy everybody's always known that but the dont don't know the that know He Be sat between Edith and Mrs Roscoe Sheridan She's like those people you wondered about at the theater the last Jast time we went went dressed dressed in bound boond to show their clothes and Jewels somewhere I She flatters the c father tather and so 80 did I for tor that matter matter but but not Slot that way I treated him outrageously Mary what flattered nattered him After dinner he made the whole regiment of ot ofas ofus otus us as follow tollow him all nil over the house while he lectured like a guide on the Pala Pala- tine He gave dimensions and costs coats and the whole bIlia of ot em listened as asIt asif asif if It they thought |